Our Team
Adnan H. Siddiqui, MD PhD FACS FAHA
Director, Canon Stroke & Vascular Research Center
Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Adnan Siddiqui is Professor and Vice Chairman of Neurosurgery who joined UBNS in January 2007. He completed fellowship training in Interventional Neuroradiology, Cerebrovascular Surgery and Neurocritical Care from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Siddiqui has special interest and expertise in the performance of complementary microsurgical, radiosurgical and endovascular techniques for the comprehensive management of cerebrovascular conditions. This spectrum of disease includes aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, as well as dural, cavernous and spinal fistulae.
Jason M. Davies, MD PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery & Biomedical Informatics
Dr. Jason Davies is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Biomedical Informatics
at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, where he joined the department in 2016. His active research interests focus on using bioinformatics tools to advance personalized medicine. He is working to develop of bioinformatics tools to improve the quantity and quality of data available for medical research, and to lower barriers to entry for all clinicians to contribute to medical knowledge. Furthermore, he is working to bring to bear more advanced machine learning and data analytic methods to better understand the insights contained within these rich data resources.
Kenneth V. Synder, MD PhD FAANS
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Snyder joined UBNS in 2011 after completing his fellowship training in endovascular neurosurgery with UB Neurosurgery and spent 6 months as a research fellow at the Barrow Neurological Institute. He completed his neurosurgical residency at UB and received his PhD in biophysics, specializing in mechanoelectric transduction of cellular membranes. Active research interests include use of CT Perfusion (CTP) for acute stroke management, application of perfusion imaging to on table angiography, glasses free 3D imaging in both the operating room and endovascular suite, as well as basic science research on the role of mechanosensitive ion channels in both in aneurysm formation and vasospasm.
Stephen Rudin, PhD
Co-Director, Imaging Division
SUNY Distinguished Professor;
Director, Division of Radiation Physics
Education and research in medical imaging have been Dr. Rudin’s main interests during his rich career at CSVRC. His research pursuits have primarily involved the development of improved medical imaging methods to increase resolution and lower dose. His projects to develop high spatial resolution detectors that allow for better guidance and treatments during minimally invasive endovascular procedures have culminated in systems that are now in clinics world-wide. Current work is focused on high speed image development.
Daniel R. Bednarek, PhD
Professor, Department of Radiology
A specialist in radiological imaging physics and radiation safety, Dr. Bednarek is board certified in Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Medical Nuclear Physics by the American Board of Radiology. His research focus is on region-of-interest imaging including development and evaluation of limited-field-of-view, high resolution and, recently, high-speed imaging detectors with specific application to neuroimaging. Recent work has focused on methods for determination of patient and staff radiation dose and development of a real-time dose-tracking system (DTS) for interventional fluoroscopic procedures that culminated in a licensed, FDA approved product with worldwide distribution.
Ciprian N. Ionita, PhD
Co-Director, Engineering Division
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Within the scientific community, Dr. Ionita has become deeply involved with the effort to implement the new advances of 3D printing into a clinical setting. Using his experience in CT reconstruction algorithms and 3D data analysis, he has developed a complex 3D printed vascular patient specific phantom, based on 3D imaging. Current work includes development of a DICOM standard associated with the workflow and manufacturing of 3D printed medical objects, developing implantable devices, and improving printed models by creating digital structures capable of simulating vascular tissue.
Swetadri Vasan Setlur Nagesh, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurosurgery
Dr. Nagesh’s current work focuses on further improving quality of treatment by
proving superior imaging solutions are possible at lower x-ray doses. By using his novel artificial intelligence based image processing techniques, image quality can actually be restored in lower dose images. These images can then be used during interventions without compromising the safety of the procedure. Additionally, Dr. Nagesh collaborates closely with Dr. Rudin on the development of the new, 1,000 frames per second, high speed angiography project to image blood flow patterns in real time during interventions. The resulting flow pattern details provide critical information that aid in treatment of a variety of diseases and offer never before seen views into treatment outcome.
Vincent Tutino, PhD
Assistant Professor, Depts of Pathology and Antomical Sciences & Neurosurgery
There are several ongoing projects in Dr. Tutino’s lab that are focused on addressing clinical challenges related to acute ischemic stroke. Using advanced 3D analysis software and deep learning, he is automatically analyzing patient CT imaging, and coupling it with histology to create better tools for physicians to diagnose and treat strokes. He is also using cutting-edge molecular techniques to develop biomarkers of stroke pathogenesis and outcomes based on RNA expression profiles in patients’ blood and thrombotic tissue. Furthermore, in collaboration with other mechanical engineers, he is leading an effort to numerically model stroke treatments in order to enable in silico treatment planning and device development/prototyping and testing.
Johnathan P. Riley, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Riley began his career at UB in 2017. During his residency, he participated in translational and clinical research with a focus on biologic-based therapeutic delivery to the central nervous system. He has an interest in epilepsy models to develop and optimize neuromodulation based therapy for medically refractory epilepsy. In clinical practice, he specializes in surgical treatment of Movement Disorders, epilepsy, pain syndrome and emerging psychiatric indications. Dr. Riley serves as Medical Director for the Functional Neurosurgery and Fellowship Director for the Stereotactic & Functional Neurosurgery fellowship position.
Nandor Pinter, MD
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Pinter leads the neuroimaging research program at the Dent Neurologic Institute with the goal of promoting the clinical adaptation of advanced imaging techniques
and fostering clinically focused product development in radiology and now
joins his expertise with the CSVRC MRI group. Dr. Pinter’s primary area of practice is diagnostic neuroradiology, focusing on speed, reproducibility, and accuracy. His collaborations with Drs. Zhang and Ying round out a dynamic MRI research group within CSVRC, encompassing software, hardware, and clinical expertise that not only provides comprehensive solutions to current MRI challenges, but also envisions the future of MRI.
Leslie Ying, PhD
Clifford C. Furnas Chair Professor
Dr. Ying is currently a full professor of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical
Engineering at the University at Buffalo and an expert and technical leader in
the field of biomedical imaging. Her research interests include magnetic resonance imaging, compressed sensing, image deconstruction, and machine learning. Dr. Ying has been well recognized as one of the pioneers in compressed sensing MRI, which has recently been approved by FDA and will be the future in routine clinical MRI scans. More recently, she published the first paper on deep learning for MR image reconstruction, which opened up a completely new field in MRI. The paper has received more than 100 citations in two years.
Xiaoliang Zhang, PhD
Associate Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Zhang is currently the SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at University at Buffalo. Dr. Zhang is a pioneer and has made tremendous contributions in the development of the early ultrahigh field whole-body MR imaging instrumentation, a highly sensitive imaging tool for better delineating morphology, function, and metabolism of living systems non-invasively. He, as one of the key researchers, participated in the development of world’s first 8-Tesla whole body MR system and also the world’s first 7-Tesla whole body MR system. In the past 10 years, Dr. Zhang’s MR research has expanded to the technical development and clinical translation of hyperpolarized C-13 metabolic imaging and interventional neurovascular MR imaging.
Rosalind Lai, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Lai completed her Neuroendovascular Fellowship at UB in 2023 and has stayed on to specialize in the management of neurosurgical disorders and cerebrovascular diseases. Her research focus is on genetics and epidemiologic risk factors in cerebral aneurysms and vascular diseases in women.
Kerry E. Poppenberg, PhD
Research Scientist, Dept. of Neurosurgery
Kerry Poppenberg is a postdoctoral neurosurgery researcher, who received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Buffalo. Kerry joined the CSVRC during graduate school with an interest in aneurysm work. Currently, she is working on blood-based aneurysm identification and risk profiling using gene expression. She is performing similar work with stroke detection, identifying risk with blood testing and studying epigenetic mechanisms. Kerry plans to stay in Buffalo, continuing her work in translational research and her involvement in the start-up company “Neurovascular Diagnostics.”
Liza Gutierrez, LVT, MS
Laboratory Director
Liza joined CSVRC in 2009 as a Research Associate with the role of supporting in vivo research and general laboratory management. By 2014, she completed her graduate studies in Neuroscience, which rounded out her prior training in Veterinary Technology, Biology, and previous experience in cancer research and rodent models to uniquely equip her for a supportive role in the lab. Liza has experience in a wide range of both in vivo and in vitro models and is very passionate about supporting and improving the Center’s research. She has facilitated the variety of industry and internal projects that enter the lab, determining needs, addressing complications, and fostering communication between surgeons, staff, students, and collaborators. In 2018, Liza became CSVRC’s Laboratory Director, and as such has assisted in the growth and development of the Center under Dr. Siddiqui’s leadership.
Carmon Skinner, BS, LVT
Laboratory Manager
Carmon graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology. She has held a license in veterinary technology since 2004, became a Registered Laboratory Animal Technician in 2018 and completed a certificate in Clinical Trials Design and Management in 2020. Carmon is dedicated to research and expanding the goals of CSVRC. Her interests are in surgery and nursing care of laboratory animals, data organization, and laboratory management. Carmon previously worked with ovine models of transition at birth, in the Department of Pediatrics, before joining CSVRC in March of 2020. She played a major role in implementing Good Laboratory Practice guidelines for pre-clinical studies conducted at the Center and works to maintain compliance.
Donald Pionessa Jr., LVT, BS
Research Technician II
Donald graduated from Medaille College with a bachelor’s degree in science. He has been a Veterinary technician in private practice since 2002. Most of his time has been spent doing emergency and critical care work at various specialty animal hospitals across Western New York. Don's experience with porcine handling, anesthesia, surgical skills and necropsy are valuable assets to our lab. He has a great passion for providing the absolute best experience for every animal used in research. He considers himself a gentleman farmer who thoroughly enjoys his Kunekune pigs and emus.
Elaine Granica
Research Technician