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Master of Advanced Studies in Precision Medicine Therapeutics in Oncology MAS in PMTO
  1. Precision Medicine Therapeutics in Oncology
  2. Curriculum
  3. Precision Neurosurgical Oncology Course

Precision Neurosurgical Oncology

Course Information

PMTO 213 Precision Neurosurgical Oncology

  • 1 unit
  • Quarter Offered: Spring
  • Instructors: Alexander A. Khalessi, MD, MBA, Chief Innovation Officer, UC San Diego Health | Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Innovation and AI, UC San Diego and Arjun Khanna, MD, Assistant Professor Of Clinical, Neurological Surgery, UC San Diego

Course Description & Learning Objectives

Traditional neurosurgical workflows are rapidly evolving to facilitate precision neuro-oncologic treatment. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of two emerging tenets in the field of neurosurgical oncology: developing personalized neurosurgical approaches to tumors in the brain based on patient-specific anatomy and physiology, and harnessing an expanding neurosurgical toolkit to deliver precision oncologic therapeutics to the central nervous system. These topics will be explored through a series of lectures, readings and discussions of key contemporary papers, and case-based discussions. Furthermore, students will engage with guest speakers from industry leaders for real-world insights into the development and translation of these technologies. Spanning topics ranging from connectomics and surgical robotics to intraoperative genomics and viral vector gene therapy, this course will explore the synergies between neurosurgical technologies and benchtop innovations that are poised to revolutionize precision neuro-oncology.

Learning Outcomes & Skills Acquired from the Course

  • Understand the dual tenets of precision neurosurgical oncology: personalized surgical approaches and precision drug delivery
  • Become familiar with state-of-the-art imaging technologies used to guide precision neurosurgical workflows
  • Learn how a variety of precision medicine technologies are implemented in the operating room to provide personalized and actionable information
  • Understand the role of neurosurgery in the delivery of gene and cell therapies to the central nervous system
  • Review modern “minimally invasive” techniques in neurosurgical oncology
  • Explore the role of artificial intelligence and related technologies in neurosurgery