Clinical Focus

• Cancer> Neuro Oncology
• Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors
• Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors - Neuro Oncology
• Brain / Central Nervous System Tumors - Neurosurgery
• Neurological Surgery

Administrative Appointments

• Editorial Board, World Neurosurgery (2010 - present)
• Co-Director, Stanford Cyberknife Program, Stanford (2003 - present)
• Neuroscience Service Line Committee, Stanford (2003 - present)
• Topic Review Editor, Editorial Board, Neurosurgery (2005 - present)
• Capital Asset Management Committee, Stanford (2005 - present)
View All 6administrative appointments of Steven Chang

Honors and Awards

• Robert C. and Jeannette Powell Professor in the Neurosciences, Stanford University (2008-)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Lorelei Shoemaker

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Neurosurgery

Current Research Interests

The Stanford Neurogenetic Innovation Program (SNIP) brings together clinical experts with the goal of developing new technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients affected by neurological conditions. Dr. Steven D. Chang, M.D., Professor of Neurosurgery, is leading SNIP’s research efforts, which can be divided into three broad categories: (1) Neural Stem Cells, (2) New Blood Vessel Growth and Response to Radiosurgery, and (3) Nanotechnology and Microfluidic Biochips

1. Neural Stem Cells
SNIP researchers recently found that the ability of stem cells in the brain to regenerate themselves and produce new nerves is a process guided by signals from neighboring cells, in particular the cells that make up our blood vessels. SNIP researchers have succeeded in isolating stem cells from brain tumor tissue. It is possible that errors in the programming of these tumor stem cells may result in abnormal growth of tissue and the development of brain tumors. Similar to neural stem cells, these tumor stem cells are located around the blood vessels that feed the tumor. SNIP researchers are currently studying the stem cells present in brain tumors and vascular malformations to determine what changes occurred in these cells to cause them to produce or promote disease. With this knowledge, it may soon be possible to discover new therapies for affected patients, prevent recurrent tumor growth, identify genetic risk factors, and develop preventative therapies to protect against development of disease.

2. New Blood Vessel Growth and Response to Radiosurgery
Understanding the process by which new blood vessels grow in the brain is important for research on (1) stroke recovery, 2) Blood vascular malformations that are characterized by overgrowth or dysfunction of vascular elements, e.g. arteriovenous malformations, and (3) brain tumors, which grow on the basis of new blood vessel formation to feed the tumor. SNIP researchers have recently found...

Clinical Trials

• Minimally Invasive Surgery Plus rt-PA for ICH Evacuation (MISTIE) Recruiting
• Phase I/II Study of Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery to Treat Large Brain Metastases Recruiting

Publications

• Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Treatment of Spinal Metastases Recurring in Close Proximity to Previously Irradiated Spinal Cord. Choi CY, Adler JR, Gibbs IC, Chang SD, Jackson PS, Minn AY, Lieberson RE, Soltys SG. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2010
• Peritumoral edema after stereotactic radiosurgery for meningioma. Hsieh CT, Tsai JT, Chang LP, Lin JW, Chang SD, Ju DT. J Clin Neurosci. 2010; 17 (4): 529-31
• Nonisocentric radiosurgical rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia. Adler JR, Bower R, Gupta G, Lim M, Efron A, Gibbs IC, Chang SD, Soltys SG. Neurosurgery. 2009; 64 (2 Suppl): A84-90
• Cyberknife image-guided radiosurgery. Adler JR, Chang SD. Neurosurgery. 2009; 64 (2 Suppl): A1
• Pathogenesis and radiobiology of brain arteriovenous malformations: implications for risk stratification in natural history and posttreatment course. Achrol AS, Guzman R, Varga M, Adler JR, Steinberg GK, Chang SD. Neurosurg Focus. 2009; 26 (5): E9