My research interests have always been centered on glioblastoma (GBM) tumors, a particularly devastating brain tumor. My current research interests are centered around discovering new therapies for patients with GBM, which include pharmacological inhibition of the JAK/STAT pathway in patient-derived xenograft models, exploiting inflammatory (anti-tumor) macrophages to enhance standard of care in immunocompetent models, and understanding how the gut microbiome is altered by the diet as well as by...
Dr. Rocque has a primary focus in pediatric neurosurgery, including care for hydrocephalus, spina bifida, pediatric brain tumors, spasticity, peripheral nerve injuries, and Chiari malformation. In addition, Dr. Rocque practices general adult neurosurgery at the Birmingham VA Medical Center, with a focus on care for spinal disorders.
Dr. Rocque was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. He attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of the NCAA top-ten men’s swim team and graduated su...
My clinical, translational, and basic research focuses on the most common and malignant primary brain tumors, gliomas. We use cutting-edge mouse models, human models and tissues, and molecular, genetic, neurobiological, genomic, and proteomic approaches to dissect the effect of cellular origin, intracellular signaling networks, and tumor microenvironment on glioma biology.
Dr. Beierle received her undergraduate degree and medical degree from the University of North Dakota, graduating in 1989. She completed a general surgery internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and subsequently completed her surgical residency at the University of Florida in 1996. She completed her pediatric surgery fellowship training in Philadelphia at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in 1998. Dr. Beierle came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009, after spendin...
The Van Meir research team strives to understand the molecular basis for human tumor development and develop new therapeutic agents with the ultimate goal of improving cancer patient treatment.
To help cancer patients, decoding the molecular puzzle of how tumors develop is imperative. Cells form tumors when oncogenes are activated and tumor suppressors are inactivated, and Dr. Van Meir’s team is seeking ways to block oncogenes and reactivate silenced tumor suppressors to block tumor gro...
Dr. Markert received an A.B. degree cum laude in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University, where he also pursued graduate studies in Applied Mathematics. He then obtained his M.D. degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1988 with a simultaneous award of a Masters in Public Health, also from Columbia University. He performed his general surgery internship, as well as his neurological surgery residency, at the University of Michigan Medical Center under Dr. Julian...
Dr. Leavenworth joined UAB Neurosurgery as an Assistant Professor on Oct. 1, 2016. Previously, Dr. Leavenworth was at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard University. Dr. Leavenworth completed medical school at Nantong University (NTU) School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China. She then finished her PhD training in molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry with a focus on immunology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. She was at Harvard Medical School since 2009 ...
As an immunologist by training, my ongoing research focuses on immunogenetic factors in several infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Riley grew up in Huntsville, AL, attended undergraduate at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and medical school at University of Alabama School of Medicine. She completed Neurosurgery Residency at UAB and a fellowship in Epilepsy Surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, England.
Dr. Riley joined the Neurosurgery faculty in 2004.
Dr. Riley specializes in non-vascular, cranial neurosurgery including general cranial neurosurgery and:
Endoscopic Pituitary Tumor a...
Dr. Nabors, originally from Columbus, Mississippi, obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1985. He then obtained his Medical Doctorate from the University of Tennessee in 1991. Dr. Nabors was active in the United States Navy as a Flight Surgeon from 1992-95. Afterwards, he completed a Neuro-oncology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2000 and is board certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
<...
Dr. Chambers earned her Bachelor's and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Auburn University and her M.D. degree from UAB. She completed the Halsted Surgical Internship at Johns Hopkins University and Neurosurgical Residency at Vanderbilt University. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons.
Clinical interests include all areas of neurological surgery involving brain, spine and periph...
Richard Whitley, M.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Microbiology, Medicine and Neurosurgery; Loeb Eminent Scholar Chair in Pediatrics; Co-Director, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Vice-Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Senior Scientist, Department of Gene Therapy; Scientist, Cancer Research and Training Center; Faculty, Gene Therapy Center; Associate Director for Drug Discovery and Development and Senior Leader, Pediatric Oncology Program, O’Neal Comprehensi...
Dr. Etty (Tika) Benveniste was the Founding Chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (2012-2017). Benveniste served as Chair of the Department of Cell Biology (2000-2011). Benveniste also holds the Alma B. Maxwell-University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF), Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research. In January 2015, Benveniste was appointed interim Senior Associate Dean for Research Administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of M...
