In the News - Neurosurgery

The Department of Neurosurgery keeps the public informed of developments via our e-newsletter, latest news releases and published academic articles. Our physicians have been featured often in local and national media outlets, including the prestigious PBS program The New Explorers. 

News Articles
2013

• Cedars-Sinai Principal Investigator and Neurosurgery Research Scientist, Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui, receives Pioneer in Medicine award from the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics at its 2013 convention in Baltimore, MD. (Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics via PRNewswire) (April 12, 2013)
• Brainworks Conference features Robot-Doc (ATVN Annenberg TV News) (March 11, 2013)
• Nobel laureate Roger Tsien, PhD, keynotes Cedars-Sinai’s nanomedicine conference (Nanotechnology Now) (March 8, 2013)
• Dr. Keith Black discusses innovative clinical trials for detecting and treating Alzheimer's disease in Discoveries magazine
• Dr. Keith Black shares his radical ideas about treating Alzheimer's disease at a Solve For X event.
• Washington Family scholar returns to Cedars-Sinai 4 years later as a neurosurgical resident (Feb. 6, 2013)
• Dr. Keith Black talks to the media about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent blood clot in her brain:
  • Fox 11 News: KTTV-TV (Jan. 2, 2013) 
  • Los Angeles Times (Jan.1, 2013)
  • USA Today (Jan. 1, 2013)
  • LifeScript.com (Jan. 3, 2013)
  • ABCNews.com (Dec. 31, 2012)
• Dr. Keith Black comments about former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's brain scan on CNN Health (Jan. 28, 2013).

2012

• A benign brain tumor, a malignant tumor, a love story and a doctor's reassuring presence (Nov.16, 2012)
• Cedars-Sinai study sheds light on bone marrow stem cell therapy for pancreatic recovery (Oct. 2, 2012)
• Study: Vaccine targets malignant brain cancer antigens, significantly lengthens survival (August 14, 2012)
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center studies galaxy-exploring camera in the operating room (July 11, 2012)
• Patient educational program on diagnosis, treatment, integrative medicine for brain tumors (June 21, 2012)
• Wengui Yu, MD, PhD, named director of Cedars-Sinai’s Neuroscience Critical Care Unit (June 6, 2012)
• LAPD detective feeling stronger every day after surgery takes pressure off his spinal cord (May 4, 2012)
• Accepting Mayor's Hope of Los Angeles' Award, Neurosurgeon Keith Black, MD, Speaks to the Next Generation of Hope (February 22, 2012)
• With Tumor Samples, High-Tech Tools and Practice Sutures, "Brainworks" Brings Scientific Discovery Into Students' Reach (January 18, 2012)
  

2011

• New Device Seals Off Once-Tough-to-Treat Wide-Neck Brain Aneurysm in Minimally Invasive Procedure (December 6, 2011)
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Neurosurgeon Named President-Elect of National Medical Society (September 26, 2011)
• Sorting Out Major Brain Stent Study: Cedars-Sinai Experts Say Procedure Effective for Some Patients (September 7, 2011)
• 2011 Mrs. Asia Pageant Contestant From Kyrgystan Credits Cedars-Sinai Neurosurgeons With Saving Her Life (August 17, 2011)
• Neurosurgery Chairman Keith L. Black, MD, to Receive Top Honor From National Urban League (July 21, 2011)
• Latest Data From Cedars-Sinai Vaccine Study Supports Immune Targeting of Brain Tumors (June 15, 2011)
• Patient Educational Conference Set on Diagnosis, Treatment, Integrative Medicine and New Therapies for Brain Tumors (May 3, 2011)
• Third Grader's Class Project Pays Tribute to Neurosurgeon Keith Black for Saving Mom's Life Nine Years Earlier (May 3, 2011)
• Simple Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp, Healthy (April 25, 2011)
• New "Nanodrug" Breaks Down Barriers to Attack Breast Cancer Cells From the Inside Out (March 29, 2011)
• For Potentially Crippling Dystonia, Earlier Deep Brain Therapy Gets Better, Quicker Results (March 28, 2011)
• "CBS Says Reporter Fine After On-Air Inchoherence - Serene Branson was doing report on Grammys when she struggled to find words", TODAY (February 15, 2011)
• Giffords in Key Period After Brain Injury", CNN (January 11, 2011)
• Gabrielle Giffords: Surviving a Gunshot Wound to the Head", iVillage (January 11, 2011)
• "How Neurosurgeons Size-Up Brain Injuries Like Giffords' ", NPR - All Things Considered (January 10, 2011)
• Gabrielle Giffords' Brain Injury: FAQ", WebMD (January 10, 2011)
• "A Key Series of Events Helped Giffords Survive a Gunshot Wound to the Head", Scientific American (January 9, 2011)
• "Giffords' Brain Functional Recovery May Take Months", Bloomberg Businessweek (January 9, 2011)

2010

• "Giving Thanks: A Man Gets His Life and Leg Back", Beverly Hills Weekly (November 25, 2010)
• "A Direct Hit of Drug to Treat Brain Cancer", New York Times (November 8, 2010)
• "They Fetch, They rollover, They Aid Tumor Research", New York Times (October 22, 2010)
• "They Mysterious Case of Vanishing Bones and A Mother's Hugs Delayed", Discoveries Magazine (Fall 2010)

News Releases

2010

• Cedars-Sinai "Nano-Drug" Hits Brain Tumor Target Found in 2001 (November 4, 2010)
• New Surgical Technology First Tested on Humans at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is Giving Fido a Second Chance Too - Some Dogs With Pituitary Tumors Are Living to Bark About It (October 19, 2010)
• Brain Tumor Conference for Patients, Families and Caregivers to be held at Cedars-Sinai (June 21, 2010)
• Drug Now Used to Treat Erectile Dysfunction May Enhance Delivery of Herceptin to Certain Brain Tumors (May 7, 2010)
• A Parent’s Worst Nightmare: Five-Year-Old Develops Rare Brain Cyst (March 11, 2010)

2009

• Minimally Invasive Surgery Corrects Scoliosis and Relieves Retired Teacher's Chronic Pain (November 23, 2009)
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis May Involve a Form of Sudden, Rapid Aging of the Immune System (October 8, 2009)
• Neurosurgeon Keith Black, MD, to Receive Research Award at Brain-Mapping Congress (August 28, 2009)
• After 11 Years of Back Pain Following an Auto Accident, Newport Beach Resident Finds Relief in Neurosurgery for the Spine (August 25, 2009)
• Stroke Tipsheet - Technology Can Reverse the Effects of Some Strokes, But Stroke Onset Needs to be Treated Like the Emergency Situation It Is (August 17, 2009)
• Stroke Survivor Talks Prevention to African-American Community and Anybody Who Will Listen (Greg Taylor hopes his eight-year struggle will provide motivation for others) (August 12, 2009)
• "Outsmarting Brain Tumors": Cedars-Sinai Researchers, Neurosurgeons and Other Experts Present Free Conference for Adult Brain Tumor Patients and Caregivers (June 1, 2009)
• "Loose Chains" Drummer Eddie Cleland Resumes Life After Brain Surgery (June 1, 2009)
• Pauletta and Denzel Washington Scholarships Awarded May 20 to Three Young Neuroscientsts; Sixth annual presentation takes place at the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Middle School in Los Angeles (May 18, 2009)
• With Endoscopic Surgery, Patient Has Large Pituitary Tumor Removed and Goes Home Two Days Later (April 21, 2009)
• Michael Alexander, MD, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Neurovascular Center featured in The Saturday Eventing Post for his work with the National Institutes of Health-funded SAMMPRIS stent that helps prevent recurrent stroke (March 2009)
• Energetic and Influential Members of "The Brain Trust" Draw Attention and Funds to Brain Disease Research (March 10, 2009)
• Study in Mice Identifies Molecular Target for Treatment of West Nile Encephalitis (February 5, 2009)

2008

Are cell phones dangerous?
To watch Larry King's interview with Johnnie Cochran's widow, Dale, and his neurosurgeon Dr. Keith Black, Chairman of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Neurosurgery, please click here.

Battling a Deadly Foe: Researchers at Cedars-Sinai are racing to develop experimental treatments, and even vaccines, for fast-growing malignant brain tumors like the one Senator Edward Kennedy has been diagnosed with (May 20, 2008). To read the complete article, please click here.

Black Enterprise Magazine: The May 2008 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine features their list of America's leading doctors including Cedars-Sinai's Dr. Keith Black, Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery; Director, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute. To read the complete article, please click here.

• Scientist Targeting Mechanisms and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders Receives Endowed Chair at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (December 22, 2008)

• Cedars-Sinai Researchers Present New Findings at Neuroscience Meetings (November 19, 2008)

• Trilogy Image-Guided Radiosurgery System Precisely Targets Tumors and Lesions Near The Spinal Cord and Other Critical Structures (October 1, 2008)

• New Methods Identify and Manipulate "Newborn" Cells in Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease (September 2, 2008)

• Drugs Commonly Used for Erectile Dysfunction Allowed More Chemotherapy to Reach Brain Tumors in Laboratory Animal Study (July 28, 2008)

• Brain Cancer Study: Magnitude of Post-Vaccine Immune Response Linked to Clinical Outcomes; Stronger Immune Response Correlates With Longer Survival, Giving Researchers a New Tool for Evaluating Effectiveness of Experimental Therapies (July 15, 2008)

• Unexpected Results From Study in Mice May Open New Strategy Against Alzheimer's Disease (May 30, 2008)

• Study in Mice Suggests Molecules in Plants Have Beneficial Effect on Alzheimer's Disease (May 6, 2008)

• Denzel Washington's Hometown Hosts Awarding of Scholarships Bearing Washington Family Name (April 29, 2008)

• UCLA Medical School Student and UCD Student to Receive Pauletta and Denzel Washington Family Scholars Awards (May 2, 2008)

• Scientists Seek to Defeat Brain Cancer by Chipping Away at Its Foundation From Various Angles (April 21, 2008)

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Opens Patient Trial of Virus That Attacks Brain Cancer Cells (April 14, 2008)

• Organization of Prominent Black Women Supports Medical History in the Making (February 12, 2008)

2007

In early May, Keith L. Black, MD, Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery and Director, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, presided over the dedication of the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Brain Tumor Center.

Dr. Black, Director of the Center, says "New discoveries and potential therapies will undergo the same extensive scrutiny as before, but the center and its dedicated personnel will allow us to streamline the process, efficiently advancing basic research findings into early human studies." To read about the Center and the event, click here.

• Two USC Students to Receive Pauletta and Denzel Washington Family Scholars Awards June 24 (June 18, 2007)
• Cedars-Sinai Stroke Team Earns Performance Award From American Heart Association (June 7, 2007)
• Comatose Patient Regains Consciousness After Biosynthetic "Glue" Seals Spinal Fluid Leak (May 25, 2007)
• Radiosurgery Allows Doug Fieger of The Knack to Perform While Battling Brain Tumors (May 11, 2007)
• On the Trail of a Killer for a Decade, and Closing In: July 1, 2007 Marks the 10th Anniversary of Cedars-Sinai's Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute (April 12, 2007)
• Fact Sheet and Research Timeline: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery; The Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute; The Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Brain Tumor Center (April 11, 2007)
• In Memory of Famed Attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Center Will Streamline Brain Tumor Studies (April 23, 2007)
• Stem Cells Cultured From Human Bone Marrow Behave Like Those Derived From Brain Tissue (January 25, 2007)

2006

The May 2006 issue of Los Angeles Magazine featured
an article on Keith L. Black, MD, Director of the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The four-page article is entitled, "Brain Power: for desperate
tumor patients, Cedars-Sinai surgeon Keith Black may be the
last, best hope."

To read the article, please click on the magazine cover to the
left.

• Gamma Knife Technology Now Available at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, New Center Adds to Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Options (November 28, 2006)
• Synthetic Version of Scorpion Venom Delivers Radioactive Iodine to Malignant Brain Tumors (July 28, 2006)
• Parents and Brother Rally to "Bring Back" 20-Year-Old Suffering Brain Injury in Car Crash (April 18, 2006)
• Neurosurgeon Adam Mamelak Brings Expertise in Pituitary Surgery, Epilepsy, Tumor Research (January 7, 2006)

Academic Articles*

• Academic Articles

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