ANA Investigates

There has been tremendous progress in recent decades in the management of ischemic strokes. Meanwhile, hemorrhagic strokes have stubbornly resisted this progress. Interventions for these types of strokes have failed again and again to show a benefit over standard medical management, until this year. The recently published ENRICH trial is the first to show that minimally invasive neurosurgery may improve functional outcomes for patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Study lead author, Dr. Gustavo Pradilla joins us today to talk about the differences between ENRICH and previous negative trials, and future neurosurgical approaches for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Pradilla is a Professor of Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology, and Head and Neck Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief of Neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital. He spoke to Dr. Masoom J. Desai, neurointensivist and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of New Mexico. Series 5, Episode 9

Featuring:

• Guest: Dr. Gustavo Pradilla, Emory University School of Medicine & Grady Memorial Hospital
• Interviewer: Dr. Masoom Desai, University of New Mexico

2024 has been a year of exciting trials on minimally invasive techniques in intracranial hemorrhage. This month we're focusing on Chronic Subdural Hematoma, where a minimally invasive strategy called Middle Meningeal Artery (MMA) Embolization is offering expanded treatment options for select patients. Dr. Chris Kellner is a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon and associate professor of neurosurgery at Mount Sinai. He'll talk about the promise of MMA embolization with Dr. Sarah Nelson, neurointensivist and neurohospitalist at Tufts Medical Center. We'll have more on these trials on the podcast in our June episode as well, with a focus next month on Minimally Invasive Techniques in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Series 5, Episode 8

Featuring:

• Guest: Dr. Chris Kellner, a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon from Mount Sinai
• Interviewer: Dr. Sarah Nelson, a neurointensivist and neurohospitalist at Tufts Medical Center
• Disclosures: Dr. Kellner is the PI for two studies discussed during the podcast funding was received from Medtronic and Cerenovus.

The role of genetics in both pediatric and adult epilepsies is expanding. Now, making a genetic diagnosis in epilepsy isn’t just important for family planning and prognostication - these diagnoses can also improve patients’ care starting at the moment of diagnosis. Our guest today, Ingrid Scheffer, is a leader in gene discovery in epilepsy. Dr. Scheffer is a Laureate Professor of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Melbourne, and she directs the Children's Epilepsy Research Center at Austin Health. She says while there’s still a long way to go before precision medicine is available for the hundreds of known genetic epilepsies, her patients are already benefiting from genetic testing, in many ways. Dr. Scheffer was interviewed by ANA Investigates Producer and epileptologist Dr. Rohit Das of UT Southwestern Medical Center. Series 3, Episode 12.

Featuring:

• Guest: Ingrid Scheffer, AO FRS FAA FAHMS, University of Melbourne
• Interviewer/Producer: Rohit Das, MD, UT Southwestern
• Disclosures: In the past 24 months, Ingrid Scheffer has consulted for Atheneum Partners, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Inc, Care Beyond Diagnosis, Epilepsy Consortium and Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, has served as an investigator for Anavex Life Sciences, Cerebral Therapeutics, Cerecin Inc, Cereval Therapeutics, Eisai, Encoded Therapeutics, EpiMinder Inc, Epygenyx, ES-Therapeutics, GW Pharma, Marinus, Neurocrine BioSciences, Ovid Therapeutics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Ultragenyx, Xenon Pharmaceutical, Zogenix and Zynerba; received speaker honoraria from Biocodex, BioMarin, Chiesi, Liva Nova and UCB; received funding for travel from Biomarin, Eisai and UCB; and served on scientific advisory boards for Bellberry Ltd, BioMarin, Chiesi, Eisai, Encoded Therapeutics, Knopp Biosciences, Rogcon, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and UCB. Ingrid Scheffer may accrue future revenue on pending patent WO2009/086591: Diagnostic And Therapeutic Methods For EFMR (Epilepsy And Mental Retardation Limited To Females); has a patent for SCN1A testing held by Bionomics Inc and licensed to various diagnostic companies (WO/2006/133508); she has a patent for a molecular diagnostic/therapeutic target for benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE) [PRRT2] WO/2013/059884 with royalties paid.

Recently on the podcast we’ve been talking about neurotechnology -- devices that interface with the brain to treat disease, for example by restoring speech function in people with locked-in syndrome, or motor function in people with paralyzed limbs. But listen to the media, and you’ll also hear buzz about neurotechnology for healthy people... Series 4, Episode 7

Featuring:

• Guest: Philip Sabes, PhD, UCSF
• Interviewer: Rohini Samudralwar, MD, UPENN
• Disclosures: This episode is non-CME.

AI is everywhere, whether you are a fan of it or not. This month, join us for a deep dive into the AI revolution with our guest Dr. Ethan Mollick, professor at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the New York Times bestseller, "Co-Intelligence." Discover how this AI revolution stands apart from past technological advancements and how it is transforming academic research. Ethan was interviewed for this episode by Dr. Zach London, an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School.