People
The Miami Project’s international team of over 175 scientists, researchers, clinicians, and support staff is dedicated to improving the quality of life and, ultimately, finding a cure for paralysis.
Search by name, title or
research interest
Scientific
Leadership
W. Dalton Dietrich, III, PH.D.
Scientific Director
Scientific Director, The Miami Project
Kinetic Concepts Distinguished Chair in Neurosurgery
Senior Associate Dean for Discovery Science
Co-Director, Institute for Neural Engineering
Professor, Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Biomedical Engineering and Cell Biology
Research Interests: Neuroprotection and Improved Recovery of Function following Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
(305) 243-8182
Barth A. Green, M.D.
Chairman and Co-Founder
Chairman, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Executive Dean, Global Health and Community Service
Professor, Departments of Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Radiology, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine
Research Interests: Translational Research for Spinal Cord Injury including Cellular Transplantation and Neural Tissue Protection, especially as applies to mild Hypothermia
(305) 243-6946
Allan D. Levi, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.
Clinical Director
Clinical Director, The Miami Project
Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurological Surgery
Professor, Departments of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine
Chief of Neurosurgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital
Robert M. Buck Distinguished Chair in Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Spinal Cord Injury, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Neuroprotection, Schwann Cells, Exosomes & Hypothermia
(305) 243-4572
A Message From Scientific Leadership
The Miami Project therapeutic pipeline is helping to move new discoveries to the clinic with treatment interventions targeting the acute, subacute and chronic phases of injury. Significant progress is being made in the area of acute care where the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroprotective interventions such as therapeutic hypothermia are being clarified to enhance our human trials.
Meet the Researchers
The Miami Project Team has undertaken a video series entitled Meet the Researcher. These videos are designed to share information about each researcher, help us understand the specific research program or programs the scientists are most excited about currently, and help us understand what piqued their interest in a career in science.
Scientific
Faculty
Hassan A Ali, Ph.D., M.S.M.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and Medicine
Research Interests: Understanding the signaling pathways that regulate axon growth, and identifying components of those pathways that can be targeted with drugs to induce robust axon regeneration
(305) 243-4875
Coleen M. Atkins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Developing Novel Therapies for Traumatic Brain Injury
(305) 243-4698
Roberta Brambilla, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Neuroinflammation and neuro-immune interactions in neurological disease
(305) 243-7131
Helen M. Bramlett, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: The Pathophysiology and Treatment of CNS Injury
(305) 243-8926
S. Shelby Burks, M.D., FAANS
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Spinal Cord Injury, Peripheral Nerve Regeneration, Schwann Cells, and Exosomes
(305) 243-3276
Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari, Ph.D., M.S.B.A.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Innate Immunity in CNS injury and Disease
(305) 243-1252
Courtney M. Dumont, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests:
(305) 243-6142
Gary J. Farkas, Ph.D., MSCTI
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Research Interests: Neurogenic Obesity, Energy Metabolism, and Appetite in Spinal Cord Injury
(305) 243-4518
Patrick D. Ganzer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests: Neural Engineering, Brain-Computer Interfaces, Bioelectronic Medicines and Machine Learning
(305) 243-7112
Mousumi Ghosh, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Altering Host Glial Responses Following CNS Injury and Disease to Promote Repair
(305) 243-9846
James D. Guest, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Augmented Recovery after SCI; Application of Therapeutic Combinations in Preclinical Studies, and Early Phase Clinical Trials
(305) 243-7059
Gillian A. Hotz, Ph.D.
Research Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Director, KiDZ Neuroscience Center
Director, Concussion WalkSafe®, BikeSafe®, and SkateSafe® Programs
Research Interests: Injury Prevention and Concussion Management
(305) 243-4004
Emad Ibrahim, M.D., HCLD
Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Urology and Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Male Fertility Following Spinal Cord Injury
(305) 243-9082
Jonathan R. Jagid, M.D., BS ME
Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery, Departments of Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine
Chief and Fellowship Director, Functional and Epilepsy Neurosurgery
Chief and Fellowship Director, Neuro-Trauma Division
Research Interests: Deep Brain Stimulation and Hypothermia
(305) 243-3562
Stanislava Jergova, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Advancing Chronic Pain Relief: Recombinant Human Cells and Gene Strategies
305-243-6038
Vivek V. Kanumuri, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Otolaryngology and Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests: Neural Engineering and Bioelectronic Medicines
Robert W. Keane, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neurological Surgery and Microbiology and Immunology
Research Interests: Regulation of Innate Immunity after CNS Trauma
(305) 243-5726
Nadine A. Kerr, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Mechanisms of systemic organ dysfunction after Central Nervous System Injury
Jae K. Lee, Ph.D.
Christine E. Lynn Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Glial and Fibrotic Scar Formation in the CNS; Axon Regeneration
(305) 243-2646
Vance Lemmon, Ph.D.
Walter G. Ross Distinguished Chair in Developmental Neuroscience
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: High Content Screening and Functional Genomics of the Nervous System
(305) 243-6793
Daniel J. Liebl, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Molecular Mechanisms that Regulate Cellular Dysfunction and Regeneration Following CNS Injury
(305) 243-8183
Alberto Martinez-Arizala, M.D.
Clinical Professor, Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Research Interests: Pathophysiology and Treatment of Secondary Complications in Spinal Cord Injury
(305) 243-7108
David W. McMillan, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Outreach, The Miami Project
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Understanding and treatment of secondary complications of SCI; community research partnership
(305) 243-5569
Matija Milosevic, Ph.D.
Director of Neuromotor Rehabilitation, The Miami Project
Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurological Surgery and Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests: Neuromotor Rehabilitation
305-243-3572
Jennifer C. Munoz Pareja, M.D.
Associate Professor Pediatric Critical Care & Associate Program Director, Pediatric Critical Care, University of Miami
Research Interests: Biomarkers in Acute Brain Injury
Mark S. Nash, Ph.D., FACSM
Associate Scientific Director for Research, The Miami Project
Vice-Chair for Research, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Professor, Departments of Neurological Surgery, Physical Medicine & Medicine and Physical Therapy
Co-Director, DHHS-NIDILRR South Florida SCI Model System
Research Interests: Physiological Assessment of Secondary Complications following SCI: Cardiometabolic and Vascular Physiology, Cardiovascular Pathology, Exercise and Nutritional Biochemistry, Electrical Stimulation and Bionics for Movement and Health
(305) 243-7108
Brian R. Noga, Ph.D.
Research Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Brain and Spinal Mechanisms Controlling Walking
(305) 243-6155
Damien D. Pearse, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
The John M. and Jocelyn H.K. Watkins Distinguished Chair in Cell Therapies
The Neuroscience Program, The Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute
Research Interests: Repairing the Injured Nervous System with Cell-Based Approaches and Modulators of Protein Modification Pathways
(305) 243-8185
Abhishek Prasad, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests: Brain and spinal cord machine interfaces for spinal cord injury
(305) 243-4886
Suhrud M. Rajguru, Ph.D.
Professor, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology
Assistant Vice Provost for Research Workforce Development, University of Miami
Director, University of Miami CTSI Workforce Development
Research Interests: NeuroTherapeutics Lab
(305) 243-7946
Jacqueline Sagen, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapies for Alleviation of Chronic Pain
(305) 243-5618
Pantelis Tsoulfas, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and Cell Biology & Anatomy
Research Interests: Neurotrophins: Specificity of Action
(305) 243-3433
Michael Y. Wang, M.D.
Chief of Neurosurgery, University of Miami Hospital
Professor, Departments of Neurological Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine
Research Interests: Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes
Eva Widerstrom-Noga, Ph.D.
Research Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuroscience Program
Health Scientist, Veterans Affairs
Research Interests: Interdisciplinary Neuropathic Pain Research Program
(305) 243-7125
Emeritus
Faculty
John L. Bixby, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Departments of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology and Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Phenotypic Screening, Axon Regeneration, and Drug Discovery
(305) 243-4874
M. Ross Bullock, M.D., Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery
Research Interests: Preclinical Mechanistic and Neuroprotection Research in Traumatic Brain Injury and Clinical trials, and Neuromonitoring Techniques in the Injured Brain
(305) 243-8183
Mary Bartlett Bunge, Ph.D.
Christine E. Lynn Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience; Professor Emerita, Departments Cell Biology & Anatomy, Neurological Surgery and Neurology
Research Interests: April 3, 1931 - February 17, 2024
Thomas J. Sick, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita, Department of Neurology and Physiology & Biophysics
Research Interests: Cellular and Neuronal Circuit Alterations after Traumatic Brian Injury That Contribute to Cognitive Decline and Epilepsy