Positions

Overview

  • Dr. Johnston specializes in pediatric neurosurgery. His practice includes all aspects of patient care related to neurological surgery, including neurosurgical oncology (brain and spine tumors), complex spinal surgery, craniosynostosis, vascular neurosurgery (including revascularization for moyamoya), radiosurgery, neurocritical care and trauma, and congenital disorders.
    Dr. Johnston is an active researcher, and is currently the co-investigator at Children’s in a trial of intratumoral viral therapy for the treatment of recurrent malignant brain tumors in children. He is also working with colleagues on the development and FDA-approval of a rapid complement-based diagnostic device for bacterial meningitis and shunt infection.
    Dr. Johnston received his M.D. degree from Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis in 2002. He completed an internship in General Surgery at Washington University in 2003 and residency in the Washington University Department of Neurosurgery from 2003-2006. He pursued post-doctoral training in functional and diffusion tensor MR imaging at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology Neuro-Imaging Laboratories from 2006-2008. During this time, he also served as neurosurgical registrar at the National Referral Centre for Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland from July to December 2007. He was then named Chief Resident in Neurosurgery at Washington University/Barnes Hospital from 2008-2009 and went on to complete fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at Saint Louis Children's Hospital in 2010.
  • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2022 Clinical advances in oncolytic virotherapy for pediatric brain tumorsPharmacology and Therapeutics.  239. 2022
    2022 Outcomes of endovascular embolization for Vein of Galen malformations: An individual participant data meta-analysisFrontiers in Pediatrics.  10. 2022
    2022 Complications and outcomes of posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty versus without duraplasty for pediatric patients with Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia: a study from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research ConsortiumJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  30:39-51. 2022
    2022 Endoscopic third ventriculostomy revision after failure of initial endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid plexus cauterizationJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  30:8-17. 2022
    2022 Establishing collaborations in global neurosurgery: The role of InterSurgeonJournal of Clinical Neuroscience.  100:164-168. 2022
    2022 Care for Chiari malformation type I: the role of socioeconomic disadvantage and raceJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  29:305-311. 2022
    2022 Socioeconomic and demographic factors in the diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation type I and syringomyeliaJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  29:288-297. 2022
    2022 The utility and post-operative evolution of head circumference in nonsyndromic single-suture craniosynostosis: a prospective study in Vietnamese childrenChild's Nervous System2022
    2021 Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis in Vietnam: initial surgical outcomes of subspecialty mentorshipJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  28:508-515. 2021
    2021 Comparison of aesthetic outcomes between open and endoscopically treated sagittal craniosynostosisJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  28:432-438. 2021
    2021 Extradural decompression versus duraplasty in Chiari malformation type I with syrinx: Outcomes on scoliosis from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research ConsortiumJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  28:167-175. 2021
    2021 Imaging characteristics associated with surgery in Chiari malformation type IJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  27:620-628. 2021
    2021 Objective Craniometric Versus Subjective Outcome Ratings in Endoscopic and Open Sagittal Synostosis SurgeryJournal of Craniofacial Surgery.  32:1090-1093. 2021
    2021 Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 Immunovirotherapy for Pediatric High-Grade GliomasNew England Journal of Medicine.  384:1613-1622. 2021
    2021 Oncolytic HSV-1 G207 immunovirotherapy for pediatric high-grade gliomasNew England Journal of Medicine.  384:1613-1622. 2021
    2021 Dural augmentation approaches and complication rates after posterior fossa decompression for Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia: A Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research Consortium studyJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  27:459-468. 2021
    2021 Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Caregivers and Children with HydrocephalusWorld Neurosurgery.  148:e66-e73. 2021
    2021 Shunt failure clusters: An analysis of multiple, frequent shunt failuresJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  27:287-293. 2021
    2021 A model for global surgical training and capacity development: the Children’s of Alabama–Viet Nam pediatric neurosurgery partnershipChild's Nervous System.  37:627-636. 2021
    2021 Occipital-Cervical Fusion and Ventral Decompression in the Surgical Management of Chiari-1 Malformation and Syringomyelia: Analysis of Data from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia Research ConsortiumNeurosurgery.  88:332-341. 2021
    2020 Robust deep learning classification of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma from limited preoperative radiographic imagesScientific Reports.  10. 2020
    2020 Styloidogenic jugular venous compression syndrome: a case report and review of the literatureChild's Nervous System.  36:3135-3139. 2020
    2020 Anxiety, depression, fatigue, and headache burden in the pediatric hydrocephalus populationJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  26:483-489. 2020
    2020 Exome sequencing implicates genetic disruption of prenatal neuro-gliogenesis in sporadic congenital hydrocephalusNature Medicine.  26:1754-1765. 2020
    2020 Quantification of translaminar pressure gradient (TLPG) with continuous wireless telemetry in nonhuman primates (NHPS) 2020
    2020 Design and Rationale for First-in-Human Phase 1 Immunovirotherapy Clinical Trial of Oncolytic HSV G207 to Treat Malignant Pediatric Cerebellar Brain TumorsHuman gene therapy. Clinical development.  31:1132-1139. 2020
    2020 Effect of body position on intraocular pressure (IOP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and translaminar pressure (TLP) via continuous wireless telemetry in nonhuman primates (NHPs) 2020
    2020 Hydrocephalus-related quality of life as assessed by children and their caregiversJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  26:353-363. 2020
    2020 Concussion in soccer: A comprehensive review of the literatureConcussion.  5. 2020
    2020 Factors associated with syrinx size in pediatric patients treated for Chiari malformation type I and syringomyelia: A study from the Park-Reeves Syringomyelia research consortiumJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  25:629-639. 2020
    2020 Transcriptional analyses of adult and pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma reveals similar expression signatures regarding potential therapeutic targetsActa Neuropathologica Communications.  8. 2020
    2020 Functional outcomes at 2 years of age following treatment for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus of prematurity: What do we know at the time of consult?Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  25:453-461. 2020
    2020 Myxoid glioneuronal tumor, PDGFRA p.K385-mutant: clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic featuresBrain Pathology.  30:479-494. 2020
    2020 Incidence of delayed intracranial hypertension in children with isolated sagittal synostosis following open calvarial vault reconstructionChild's Nervous System.  36:545-550. 2020
    2020 The initial experience of InterSurgeon: An online platform to facilitate global neurosurgical partnershipsNeurosurgical Focus.  48. 2020
    2020 Treatment of pediatric high-grade central nervous system tumors with high-dose methotrexate in combination with multiagent chemotherapy: A single-institution experiencePediatric Blood and Cancer.  67. 2020
    2020 Diurnal cycle of translaminar pressure in nonhuman primates quantified with continuous wireless telemetry 2020
    2020 The growth of pediatric neurosurgery in southern Vietnam and the first separation of pygopagus twins: Case reportJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  25:445-451. 2020
    2019 A novel in situ multiplex immunofluorescence panel for the assessment of tumor immunopathology and response to virotherapy in pediatric glioblastoma reveals a role for checkpoint protein inhibitionOncoImmunology.  8. 2019
    2019 Soluble membrane attack complex is diagnostic for intraventricular shunt infection in childrenJCI Insight.  1. 2019
    2019 Stereotactic Placement of Intratumoral Catheters for Continuous Infusion Delivery of Herpes Simplex Virus -1 G207 in Pediatric Malignant Supratentorial Brain TumorsWorld Neurosurgery.  122:e1592-e1598. 2019
    2019 Radiological and clinical predictors of scoliosis in patients with chiari malformation type i and spinal cord syrinx from the park-reeves syringomyelia research consortiumJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  24:520-527. 2019
    2019 Treatment-induced remission of medulloblastoma using a chemotherapeutic regimen devoid of vincristine in a child with charcot–marie–tooth disease 2019
    2018 Pediatric neurosurgical workforce, access to care, equipment and training needs worldwideNeurosurgical Focus.  45. 2018
    2018 Surgical treatment of epilepsy in Vietnam: Program development and international collaborationNeurosurgical Focus.  45. 2018
    2018 Myxoid glioneuronal tumor of the septum pellucidum and lateral ventricle is defined by a recurrent PDGFRA p.K385 mutation and DNT-like methylation profileActa Neuropathologica.  136:339-343. 2018
    2018 De Novo Mutation in Genes Regulating Neural Stem Cell Fate in Human Congenital HydrocephalusNeuron.  99:302-314.e4. 2018
    2017 Extremely large sinus pericranii with involvement of the torcular and associated with Crouzon’s syndromeChild's Nervous System.  33:1445-1449. 2017
    2017 Molecular analyses reveal inflammatory mediators in the solid component and cyst fluid of human adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomaJournal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.  76:779-788. 2017
    2017 A review of the literature on pediatric concussions and Return-to-Learn (RTL): Implications for RTL policy, research, and practiceRehabilitation Psychology.  62:300-323. 2017
    2017 Extreme aplasia cutis congenita involving the skullChild's Nervous System.  33:1395-1398. 2017
    2017 State of global pediatric neurosurgery outreach: Survey by the International Education SubcommitteeJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  20:204-210. 2017
    2017 A never before reported variant of the sacrum 2017
    2017 Risk factors for surgical site infection following nonshunt pediatric neurosurgery: A review of 9296 procedures from a national database and comparison with a single-center experienceJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  19:407-420. 2017
    2017 Rationale and Design of a Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Evaluate HSV G207 Alone or with a Single Radiation Dose in Children with Progressive or Recurrent Malignant Supratentorial Brain TumorsHuman gene therapy. Clinical development.  28:7-16. 2017
    2017 Youth helmet design in sports with repetitive low- and medium-energy impacts: a systematic reviewSports Engineering.  20:29-40. 2017
    2017 Rationale and Design of a Phase I Clinical Trial to Evaluate HSV G207 Alone or with a Single Radiation Dose in Children with Progressive or Recurrent Malignant Supratentorial Brain Tumors.Human gene therapy. Clinical development2017
    2017 Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: A historical reviewBritish Journal of Neurosurgery.  31:28-32. 2017
    2017 Academic Difficulty and Vision Symptoms in Children with ConcussionOptometry and Vision Science.  94:60-67. 2017
    2017 Classification and Management of Pediatric Subaxial Cervical Spine InjuriesNeurosurgery Clinics of North America.  28:91-102. 2017
    2016 Radiographic markers of clinical outcomes after endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization: Cerebrospinal fluid turbulence and choroid plexus visualizationJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  18:287-295. 2016
    2016 Risk factors for unplanned readmission within 30 days after pediatric neurosurgery: A nationwide analysis of 9799 procedures from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement ProgramJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  18:350-362. 2016
    2016 Predictors of delayed recovery following pediatric sports-related concussion: A case-control studyJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  17:491-496. 2016
    2016 Virtual Interactive Presence in Global Surgical Education: International Collaboration Through Augmented RealityWorld Neurosurgery.  86:103-111. 2016
    2016 Gynecomastia and hyperprolactinemia secondary to advanced allergic fungal rhinosinusitis in a pediatric patientTurkish neurosurgery.  26:166-168. 2016
    2016 Rate of shunt revision as a function of age in patients with shunted hydrocephalus due to myelomeningoceleNeurosurgical Focus.  41. 2016
    2016 Two-stage surgical resection of an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor occupying the infratentorial and supratentorial compartment in children under two years: Report of two casesInternational Journal of Surgery Case Reports.  20:49-52. 2016
    2015 Chiari malformation Type 1 and atlantoaxial instability: A letter from the Pediatric Craniocervical SocietyJournal of Neurosurgery: Spine.  23:820-821. 2015
    2015 The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Second Edition and its Relationship with Attention and Verbal Learning in a Pediatric PopulationJournal of Pediatric Neuropsychology.  1:14-20. 2015
    2015 Clinical Presentation of Chiari I Malformation and Syringomyelia in ChildrenNeurosurgery Clinics of North America.  26:509-514. 2015
    2015 Encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis and encephalomyoarteriosynangiosis for treatment of moyamoya syndrome in pediatric patients with sickle cell diseaseJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  16:64-73. 2015
    2015 Simulation, fabrication and impact testing of a novel football helmet padding system that decreases rotational accelerationSports Engineering.  18:11-20. 2015
    2015 Identification of targets for rational pharmacological therapy in childhood craniopharyngiomaActa Neuropathologica Communications.  3. 2015
    2014 Endoscopic third ventriculostomy with/without choroid plexus cauterization for hydrocephalus due to hemorrhage, infection, Dandy-Walker malformation, and neural tube defect: A meta-analysisChild's Nervous System.  30:571-578. 2014
    2014 Establishment of a multidisciplinary concussion program: Impact of standardization on patient care and resource utilization: Clinical articleJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  13:82-89. 2014
    2014 Fast-sequence MRI studies for surveillance imaging in pediatric hydrocephalusJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  13:440-447. 2014
    2014 Lambdoidal synostosis in dizygotic twins with a family history of an undiagnosed connective tissue disorderChild's Nervous System.  30:1117-1120. 2014
    2013 Technology preferences among caregivers of children with hydrocephalus: Clinical articleJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  11:26-36. 2013
    2012 Clinical evaluation and surveillance imaging in children with spina bifida aperta and shunt-treated hydrocephalus: Clinical articleJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  9:621-626. 2012
    2011 Massive pediatric neurosurgical injuries and lessons learned following a tornado disaster in Alabama: Clinical articleJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  8:588-592. 2011
    2011 Extratemporal, nonlesional epilepsy in children: Postsurgical clinical and neurocognitive outcomesJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  7:179-188. 2011
    2010 Complete versus anterior two-thirds corpus callosotomy in children: analysis of outcome.Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  6:257-266. 2010
    2010 Neurosurgical treatment of progressive posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation in preterm infants: A 10-year single-institution studyJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  6:224-230. 2010
    2010 ResponseJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  6:622-623. 2010
    2010 Passive real-time identification of speech and motor cortex during an awake craniotomyEpilepsy and Behavior.  18:123-128. 2010
    2009 Preoperative sensorimotor mapping in brain tumor patients using spontaneous fluctuations in neuronal activity imaged with functional magnetic resonance imaging: Initial experienceNeurosurgery.  65. 2009
    2009 Isolated cerebellar Rosai-Dorfman granuloma mimicking Lhermitte-Duclos disease: Case reportJournal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.  4:118-120. 2009
    2009 Resting-state Spontaneous Fluctuations in Brain Activity. A New Paradigm for Presurgical Planning Using fMRIAcademic Radiology.  16:578-583. 2009
    2008 Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and acute paraparesisNeurosurgery.  63:1119-1124. 2008
    2008 Loss of resting interhemispheric functional connectivity after complete section of the corpus callosum 2008
    2007 Prolonged target deprivation reduces the capacity of injured motoneurons to regenerate: CommentaryNeurosurgery.  60:732. 2007
    2007 Giant intracranial teratoma with epignathus in a neonate. Case report and review of the literature.Journal of Neurosurgery.  106:232-236. 2007
    2007 Giant intracranial teratoma with epignathus in a neonate: Case report and review of the literatureJournal of Neurosurgery.  106:232-236. 2007
    2006 Depressed skull fracture.Journal of Neurosurgery.  105:515-516. 2006
    2006 Complications of invasive subdural electrode monitoring at St. Louis Children's Hospital, 1994-2005.Journal of Neurosurgery.  105:343-347. 2006
    2006 Complications of invasive subdural electrode monitoring at St. Louis Children's Hospital, 1994-2005Journal of Neurosurgery.  105 PEDIATRICS:343-347. 2006
    2006 Depressed skull fracture.Journal of Neurosurgery.  105. 2006
    2006 Surgical techniques of selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy. Technical note.Neurosurgical Focus.  21. 2006

    Chapter

    Year Title Altmetric
    2020 The chiari malformations and hydrocephalus.  181-190. 2020
    2019 Terminal Syringomyelia and Occult Spinal Dysraphism.  233-241. 2019
    2013 The Chiari malformations and hydrocephalus.  273-282. 2013

    Research Overview

  • Intratumoral immunovirotherapy for recurrent pediatric brain tumors with HSV G207
    Development of rapid complement-based meningitis diagnostic
  • Investigator On

  • Approaches and Decisions for Acute Pediatric TBI  awarded by University of Pittsburgh The
  • Continuous Telemetric Measurement and Chronic Control of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure  awarded by BRIGHT FOCUS FOUNDATION
  • Development of Complement-based Diagnostics (soluble MAC) for Bacterial Meningitis and Shunt Infections  awarded by CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
  • Endoscopic Versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants (ESTHI)  awarded by University of Utah
  • Enhanced Senior Design through Clinical Industrial Immersion and Entrepreneurship  awarded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH/DHHS
  • Expansion of G207 Trial  awarded by CANNONBALL KIDS' CANCER FOUNDATION
  • FET-PET/MRI for Surgical Assessment of Pediatric Brain Tumors  awarded by St. Baldrick's Foundation
  • IOP and Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure-related Risk Factors for Glaucoma  awarded by National Eye Institute/NIH/DHHS
  • Ph1 Study of HSV G207 in Pediatric Malignant Cerebellar Tumors IND 16294 01/05/18  awarded by Food & Drug Administration
  • Ph1 of HSV G207 and Radiation to Treat Pediatric Brain Tumors IND 16294 (12/10/14)  awarded by Food & Drug Administration
  • Phase 1 Trial of Engineered HSV G207 in Children with Malignant Cerebellar Brain Tumors  awarded by CANNONBALL KIDS' CANCER FOUNDATION
  • Pilot Study of HSV G207 Alone or with Radiation in Children with Recurrent Brain Tumors  awarded by KAUL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Private Grant  awarded by TREOVIR, LLC ^
  • Education And Training

  • Washington University School of Medicine, Internship
  • Washington University School of Medicine, Residency
  • St. Louis Children's Hospital, Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Doctor of Medicine, Washington University/St. Louis 2002
  • Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature, Washington & Lee University 1995
  • Full Name

  • James Johnston
  • Fax

  • 205-638-9972