Emory Functional Neurosurgery Program
for Movement Disorders
Vision & Mission
Our Vision
The Emory Functional Neurosurgery Program brings together neurosurgeons, neurologists, and allied health professionals to deliver state-of-the-art care for patients with movement disorders – such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and forms of tremor.
Our Mission
The Emory Functional Neurosurgery Program seeks to deliver the highest quality care for patients requiring neurosurgical treatment for disorders of neurological function. The mission is propelled by active research into the underlying mechanisms of disease, novel therapies and technologies, in order to improve the care of our patients.
Program Directors
Mahlon
R. DeLong, M.D., Professor, Dept. Neurology
Advanced training: Harvard University; Boston City Hospital; National Institutes of Health; Johns Hopkins University.
Research interests: pathophysiology and surgical treatment of movement disorders; anatomy and physiology of the basal ganglia
Dr. DeLong’s research is focused on the functional organization of the basal ganglia and the pathophysiologic basis of movement disorders of basal ganglia origin, especially Parkinson’s disease and related disorders. Studies are carried out in primate models of a variety of movement disorders and in patients undergoing neurosurgical treatments using the combined techniques of single cell recording and ablation with behavioral characterization. In recent years, attention has been given to translational research in the area of movement disorders and to controlled clinical trials of surgical treatments.
Robert E. Gross, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant
Professor, Dept. Neurosurgery
Advanced Training: Albert Einstein College of Medicine; University of Toronto; Yale University.
Clinical Expertise: Surgical treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease, dystonia, and essential tremor; surgical treatment of epilepsy.
Research interests: Surgical treatment of Parkinson's disease and epilepsy; neural repair; stem cells; gene therapy.
Dr. Gross’ research concerns the basic research topic of potential reconstruction of the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson's disease, with a focus on factors that may promote or inhibit axon guidance and outgrowth. Other basic research interests include gene therapy and cell therapy using stem cells and viral vectors for neurodegenerative diseases. His clinical research focuses on transplantation for Parkinson's disease, and the use of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinsonism and epilepsy.
Aviva
Abosch, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. Neurosurgery
Advanced Training: University of California, San Francisco, Montreal Neurological Hospital/McGill University, Toronto Western Hospital/University of Toronto
Clinical Expertise:
Surgical treatment of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease,
dystonia, and essential tremor; surgical treatment of epilepsy, peripheral nerve
surgery and repair.
Research interests: Functional
imaging of disorders of the basal ganglia and limbic system, including the
movement disorders, epilepsy, and depression.
Dr. Abosch’s research interests include the use of deep brain stimulation for movement disorders, epilepsy, and other applications. She is also interested in the repair and regeneration of injured peripheral nerves.
Thomas
Wichmann, M.D., Associate Professor, Dept. Neurology
Advanced training: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg; Heidelberg (Germany); Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Research interests: Physiology of the basal ganglia; pathophysiology of movement disorders; pharmacologic and surgical treatments of movement disorders
Dr. Wichmann’s research focuses on evaluating the role of abnormal activity in the basal ganglia in the development of parkinsonian motor signs. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the subthalamic nucleus and the substantia nigra pars reticulata in parkinsonism. The studies are carried out with an integrative approach using electrophysiologic recording, focal brain lesioning, behavioral observation techniques and microdialysis methods.
Contact:
James R. Stanton, Patient Coordinator
Phone: (404)712-8485
Fax: (404)712-8576 or (404)727-3157
Address: Woodruff Memorial Research Building
Suite 6000, P. O. Drawer V
Atlanta, GA 30322