Dr. Isaacs, as the principal investigator at the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, leads an advanced Translational Neurosurgery Lab. This lab is dedicated to tackling significant challenges in neonatal medicine, specifically neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage and perinatal sepsis, which frequently result in post-hemorrhagic or postinfectious hydrocephalus. The lab blends clinical expertise with experimental research to investigate the inflammatory pathways contributing to these neurodevelopmental disorders. State-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques and comprehensive genomic and proteomic analysis tools are employed to deepen the understanding of the disease mechanisms at a molecular level. Innovatively, the lab uses nanoparticles for cellular studies and targeted therapy delivery, as well as pioneering the use of cerebrospinal fluid as a liquid biopsy tool in pediatric neurosurgery. The research team, led by Dr. Isaacs, also focuses on genetic and epigenetic factors, aiming to develop personalized treatment strategies. With the use of experimental models for both in vitro and in vivo experiments, the lab strives to translate its research findings into enhanced clinical and neurodevelopmental outcomes for neonates affected by these conditions.
Publications
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Batista S, Koester S, Bishay AE, Bertani R, Oberman DZ, de Abreu LV, Bocanegra-Becerra JE, Amaral D, Isaacs AM, Dewan M, Figueiredo EG. Complications associated with combined direct and indirect bypass in Moyamoya Disease: A meta-analysis. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Jan 20; 47: 58.
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Lang S, Dimond D, Isaacs AM, Dronyk J, Vetkas A, Conner CR, Germann J, Fasano A, Kalia S, Lozano A, Hamilton MG. Use of cortical volume to predict response to temporary CSF drainage in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg. 2023 Dec 1; 139: 1776-1783.
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Akinnusotu O, Isaacs AM, Stone M, Bonfield CM. Neurosurgical management of cervicomedullary compression, spinal stenosis, and hydrocephalus in pediatric achondroplasia: a systematic review. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 Nov 1; 32: 597-606.
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Isaacs AM, Narapareddy A, Nam A, Hutcheson K, Stone M, Bonfield CM. Surgical treatment of craniovertebral junction instability in children with Down syndrome: a systematic review. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2023 Aug 1; 32: 163-172.
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Dewan MC, Isaacs AM, Cools MJ, Yengo-Kahn A, Naftel RP, Jensen H, Reeder RW, Holubkov R, Haizel-Cobbina J, Riva-Cambrin J, Jafrani RJ, Pindrik JA, Jackson EM, Judy BF, Kurudza E, Pollack IF, Mcdowell MM, Hankinson TC, Staulcup S, Hauptman J, Hall K, Tamber MS, Cheong A, Warsi NM, Rocque BG, Saccomano BW, Snyder RI, Kulkarni AV, Kestle JRW, Wellons JC 3rd, Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network. Treatment of hydrocephalus following posterior fossa tumor resection: a multicenter collaboration from the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network. J Neurooncol. 2023 May; 163: 123-132.
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Garcia-Bonilla M, Nair A, Moore J, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Zwick SH, Dilger RN, Fleming SA, Golden RK, Talcott MR, Isaacs AM, Limbrick DD Jr, McAllister JP 2nd. Impaired neurogenesis with reactive astrocytosis in the hippocampus in a porcine model of acquired hydrocephalus. Exp Neurol. 2023 May; 363: 114354.
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Isaacs AM, Yang R, Cadieux M, Ben-Israel D, Sader N, Opoku-Darko M, Frizon L, Yong H, Premji Z, Nagel S, Hamilton MG, Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (AHCRN), Other Adult Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network Site Principal Investigators. Characteristics of shunt failure in 38,095 adult shunt insertion surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Focus. 2023 Apr; 54: E2.
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Muram S, Isaacs AM, Sader N, Holubkov R, Fong A, Conly J, Hamilton MG. A standardized infection prevention bundle for reduction of CSF shunt infections in adult ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery performed without antibiotic-impregnated catheters. J Neurosurg. 2023 Feb 1; 138: 494-502.
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Koester SW, Bishay AE, Batista S, Bertani R, Naik A, Haizel-Cobbina J, Isaacs A, Figueiredo EG, Paiva WS, Dewan MC. The current state of global contribution to open access publishing in neurosurgery: A bibliometric analysis. Brain Spine. 2023; 3: 101720.
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Hehnly C, Shi A, Ssentongo P, Zhang L, Isaacs A, Morton SU, Streck N, Erdmann-Gilmore P, Tolstoy I, Townsend RR, Limbrick DD, Paulson JN, Ericson JE, Galperin MY, Schiff SJ, Broach JR. Type IV Pili Are a Critical Virulence Factor in Clinical Isolates of Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus. mBio. 2022 Dec 20; 13: e0268822.
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Isaacs AM, Ball CG, Hamilton MG. Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus. J Vis Exp. 2022 Oct 14;
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Ben-Israel D, Mann JA, Yang MMH, Isaacs AM, Cadieux M, Sader N, Muram S, Albakr A, Manoranjan B, Yu RW, Beland B, Hamilton MG, Spackman E, Ronksley PE, Riva-Cambrin J. Clinical outcomes in pediatric hydrocephalus patients treated with endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 May 6; 1-13.
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Isaacs AM, Ball CG, Sader N, Muram S, Ben-Israel D, Urbaneja G, Dronyk J, Holubkov R, Hamilton MG. Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: a shunt outcomes quality improvement study. J Neurosurg. 2022 Mar 1; 136: 877-886.
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Garcia-Bonilla M, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Zwick S, Talcott M, Otun A, Isaacs AM, Morales DM, Limbrick DD Jr, McAllister JP 2nd. Acquired hydrocephalus is associated with neuroinflammation, progenitor loss, and cellular changes in the subventricular zone and periventricular white matter. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2022 Feb 22; 19: 17.
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Isaacs AM, Neil JJ, McAllister JP, Dahiya S, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Merisaari H, Botteron HE, Alexopoulos D, George A, Sun P, Morales DM, Shimony JS, Strahle J, Yan Y, Song SK, Limbrick DD, Smyser CD. Microstructural Periventricular White Matter Injury in Post-hemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation. Neurology. 2022 Jan 24; 98: e364-e375.
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Otun A, Morales DM, Garcia-Bonilla M, Goldberg S, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Yan Y, Isaacs AM, Strahle JM, McAllister JP 2nd, Limbrick DD Jr. Biochemical profile of human infant cerebrospinal fluid in intraventricular hemorrhage and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2021 Dec 24; 18: 62.
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Isaacs AM, Hamilton M. Natural History, Treatment Outcomes and Quality of Life in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH). Neurol India. 2021 Nov-Dec; 69: S561-S568.
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McAllister JP 2nd, Talcott MR, Isaacs AM, Zwick SH, Garcia-Bonilla M, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Hartman AL, Dilger RN, Fleming SA, Golden RK, Morales DM, Harris CA, Limbrick DD Jr. A novel model of acquired hydrocephalus for evaluation of neurosurgical treatments. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2021 Nov 8; 18: 49.
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Dunn JF, Isaacs AM. The impact of hypoxia on blood-brain, blood-CSF, and CSF-brain barriers. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2021 Sep 1; 131: 977-985.
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Yang R, Isaacs AM, Cadieux M, Hirmer TJ, CreveCoeur TS, Lapointe AP, Opoku-Darko M, Premji Z, Riva-Cambrin J, Gallagher CN. Primary and metastatic glioblastoma of the spine in the pediatric population: a systematic review. Childs Nerv Syst. 2021 Jun; 37: 1849-1858.
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Isaacs AM, Morton SU, Movassagh M, Zhang Q, Hehnly C, Zhang L, Morales DM, Sinnar SA, Ericson JE, Mbabazi-Kabachelor E, Ssenyonga P, Onen J, Mulondo R, Hornig M, Warf BC, Broach JR, Townsend RR, Limbrick DD Jr, Paulson JN, Schiff SJ. Immune activation during Paenibacillus brain infection in African infants with frequent cytomegalovirus co-infection. iScience. 2021 Apr 23; 24: 102351.
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Hamilton MG, Krahn D, Walker AM, Isaacs AM, Hurdle H. In Reply: Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided Ventriculoatrial Shunt Insertion. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Dec 15; 20: E74.
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Paulson JN, Williams BL, Hehnly C, Mishra N, Sinnar SA, Zhang L, Ssentongo P, Mbabazi-Kabachelor E, Wijetunge DSS, von Bredow B, Mulondo R, Kiwanuka J, Bajunirwe F, Bazira J, Bebell LM, Burgoine K, Couto-Rodriguez M, Ericson JE, Erickson T, Ferrari M, Gladstone M, Guo C, Haran M, Hornig M, Isaacs AM, Kaaya BN, Kangere SM, Kulkarni AV, Kumbakumba E, Li X, Limbrick DD Jr, Magombe J, Morton SU, Mugamba J, Ng J, Olupot-Olupot P, Onen J, Peterson MR, Roy F, Sheldon K, Townsend R, Weeks AD, Whalen AJ, Quackenbush J, Ssenyonga P, Galperin MY, Almeida M, Atkins H, Warf BC, Lipkin WI, Broach JR, Schiff SJ. Paenibacillus infection with frequent viral coinfection contributes to postinfectious hydrocephalus in Ugandan infants. Sci Transl Med. 2020 Sep 30; 12:
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Hamilton MG, Krahn D, Walker AM, Hurdle H, Isaacs AM. In Reply: Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided Ventriculoatrial Shunt Insertion. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Sep 1; 19: E334.
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Isaacs AM, Bezchlibnyk YB, Dronyk J, Urbaneja G, Yong H, Hamilton MG. Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Third Ventricle Colloid Cyst Resection: Case Series With a Proposed Grading System. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Aug 1; 19: 134-142.
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Keough MB, Isaacs AM, Urbaneja G, Dronyk J, Lapointe AP, Hamilton MG. Acute low-pressure hydrocephalus: a case series and systematic review of 195 patients. J Neurosurg. 2020 Jul 31; 135: 300-308.
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Castaneyra-Ruiz L, McAllister JP 2nd, Morales DM, Brody SL, Isaacs AM, Limbrick DD Jr. Preterm intraventricular hemorrhage in vitro: modeling the cytopathology of the ventricular zone. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2020 Jul 20; 17: 46.
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Isaacs AM, Krahn D, Walker AM, Hurdle H, Hamilton MG. Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided Ventriculoatrial Shunt Insertion. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Jul 1; 19: 25-31.
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Isaacs AM, Han RH, Smyser CD, Limbrick DD Jr, Shimony JS. Semi-automated segmentation of the lateral periventricular regions using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. MethodsX. 2020; 7: 101023.
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Isaacs AM, Williams MA, Hamilton MG. Current Update on Treatment Strategies for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2019 Dec 3; 21: 65.
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Opoku-Darko M, Eagles ME, Cadieux M, Isaacs AM, Kelly JJP. Natural History and Growth Patterns of Incidentally Discovered Diffusely Infiltrating Low-Grade Gliomas: A Volumetric Study. World Neurosurg. 2019 Dec; 132: e133-e139.
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Zanaty M, Banu M, Flouty O, Grady S, Holland MT, Isaacs A, Kung D, Limbrick DD Jr, McKhann G 2nd, Nagahama Y, Zipfel GJ, Howard MA 3rd. The Wishbone: A Cranial Midline Localizing Device. World Neurosurg. 2019 Aug; 128: 600-605.e1.
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Isaacs AM, Shimony JS, Morales DM, Castaneyra-Ruiz L, Hartman A, Cook M, Smyser CD, Strahle J, Smyth MD, Yan Y, McAllister JP, McKinstry RC, Limbrick DD. Feasibility of fast brain diffusion MRI to quantify white matter injury in pediatric hydrocephalus. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019 Jul 19; 1-8.
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Isaacs AM, Smyser CD, Lean RE, Alexopoulos D, Han RH, Neil JJ, Zimbalist SA, Rogers CE, Yan Y, Shimony JS, Limbrick DD Jr. MR diffusion changes in the perimeter of the lateral ventricles demonstrate periventricular injury in post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity. Neuroimage Clin. 2019; 24: 102031.
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Isaacs AM, Riva-Cambrin J, Yavin D, Hockley A, Pringsheim TM, Jette N, Lethebe BC, Lowerison M, Dronyk J, Hamilton MG. Correction: Age-specific global epidemiology of hydrocephalus: Systematic review, metanalysis and global birth surveillance. PLoS One. 2019; 14: e0210851.
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