Developing New Approaches to Treat Spinal Cord Injury

What biomedical issue did you address in your research, and what did your studies find?

My Ph.D. research was driven by a vision to bring hope to patients who are paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, who often hear the words, "You will never walk again." I arrived at Mayo Clinic after completing my M.D. degree with high honors at Lebanese University, followed by two years of residency in surgery and neurosurgery in Beirut, Lebanon. My training gave me exposure to complex neurosurgical challenges, fueling my desire to develop better solutions for people facing devastating neurological conditions.

My research focused on the semi-permeable structure that exists between the blood and spinal cord, known as the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), which can block treatments from reaching and repairing damaged nerves. I used low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), an emerging, non-invasive technology that can create minute, transient openings in the blood-spinal cord barrier. In a preclinical model of spinal cord injury, I demonstrated that LIFU can enable a cellular therapy consisting of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells to penetrate the injury site. Our study found infused stem cells resulted in improved motor function, reduced glial scarring and increased nerve remyelination, all of which are signs of tissue repair.

To monitor the effects of the treatment in real time, I integrated ultrasound localization microscopy, a state-of-the-art technique capable of imaging blood flow in capillaries. With the microscopy technique, we not only showed vascular remodeling and blood flow dynamics within the injured spinal cord but also demonstrated a potential new tool to assess vascular responses to therapy. Combining therapeutic ultrasound and cellular therapy along with real-time vascular imaging created a unique, multimodal approach, paving the way for precision-based, image-guided therapies in spinal cord injury.

What aspects of Mayo's culture helped you grow as a scientist and as a thinker?

Another defining aspect of Mayo's culture is its spirit of collaboration. I had direct access to neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists, regenerative medicine experts, and biomedical engineers — all leaders in their fields — who welcomed my questions and challenged me to think beyond my comfort zone. I worked on several publications in my field. Mayo taught me that being a scientist isn't just about technical skills — it's about curiosity, resilience, teamwork, and the unwavering commitment to improving human health. This mindset will guide me throughout my career as a physician-scientist.

What's next?

My goal is to become a leader in academic neurosurgery who pioneers neuromodulatory techniques, intraoperative imaging technologies and regenerative cell-based therapies. The next step in my training is a postdoctoral research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where I am continuing to work on ultrasound-based neuromodulation and developing tools that can enhance drug delivery and improve surgical outcomes for patients with spinal cord injuries and other complex pathologies.