Speakers: Dr. David Mikulis, Dr. Joanna Schaafsma, Dr. Hugo Andrade
Moderator: Dr. Leanne Casaubon
Dr. Mikulis is Full Professor, Senior Scientist, and Director of the JDMI Cerebrovascular Neuroimaging Lab at the UHN and University of Toronto. His primary emphasis is translational research focusing on the application of novel imaging into the clinical environment. He established one of the first Canadian fMRI labs in 1993 and is currently involved in developing advanced imaging methods including: 1) quantitative measurement and clinical application of cerebrovascular reactivity leading to the development of “the Brain Stress Test” that maps the effectiveness of the cerebral vasculature in meeting the metabolic needs of the brain, 2) high-resolution imaging of the blood vessel walls for improving the diagnostic accuracy for assessing vasculopathies, and 3) developing a “needle-free” method for mapping brain blood flow. His research has led to publication of over 325 peer reviewed papers with emphasis on the assessment of the structure, function, and performance of the vascular system in health and disease including steno-occlusive disease, dementia and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Joanna Schaafsma is a vascular neurologist who obtained her medical degree in the Netherlands followed by vascular neurology training in Paris. She returned to the Netherlands for a PhD program on brain aneurysm imaging while she completed her neurology residency including an elective in interventional and diagnostic neuroradiology. This was followed by a stroke fellowship in Toronto. Since 2018, she is a clinician investigator at UHN in Toronto and focuses her research on decision making and imaging in cerebrovascular diseases.
Dr. Hugo Andrade Barazarte obtained his medical degree and began neurosurgery residency training at the Universidad Centro-occidenral Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto – Venezuela in 2006. In 2012, he completed his training as neurosurgeon and became staff of the University Hospital Antonio Maria Pineda, in Venezuela. Dr. Andrade Barazarte joined in February 2013 the University of Helsinki, Neurosurgery department under the direction of Prof. Juha Hernesniemi as cerebrovascular/skull base fellow and PhD student.
After completing his fellowship in Helsinki, Dr. Andrade joined the Toronto Western Hospital as a cerebrovascular clinical fellow to expand his knowledge in vascular and skull base pathologies. In June 2016, Dr. Andrade Barazarte obtained his PhD at the University of Helsinki – Finland. Between 2016-2018, Dr. Andrade Barazarte was a staff neurosurgeon at Mannheim University Hospital in Germany. From February 2019 – December 2021 he worked as an Associate Professor at the Henan Provincial People’s Hospital in China and as co-director of the Moyamoya disease research and treatment center. He was recruited to the Division of Neurosurgery with a staff appointment at Toronto Western Hospital and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at The University of Toronto. His research is focused on the surgical management of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, AVMs, Moyamoya disease and revascularization procedures, dural arteriovenous fistulae.