Ali Alaraj, MD
Assistant Professor Endovascular/Cerebrovascular
Biographical Info
CAVE2: Visualizing in 3D
Each year, when the National Science Foundation (NSF) sends its budget request to Congress, it includes about a dozen research “nuggets:” short descriptions of the very best NSF-funded research results across all the areas of science and engineering. This year CAVE2, a highly novel large-scale virtual environment developed by the UIC Computer Science Department’s Electronic Visualization Laboratory, along with Dr Linninger team (Biomedical-Engineering), was one of those nuggets. In particular, the report highlights CAVE2’s use by a team of UIC College of Medicine led by Dr Alaraj for 3-D brain modeling
NSF nugget/budget to the Congress
Associated Press Release
Featured on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight
Experience
Fellowship:
Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
University of Illinois at Chicago County, Chicago, IL
Chief Residency:
American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Residency:
American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Internship:
American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Education
Medical School:
American University of Beirut – Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Certification
Medical Licensure:
Illinois
Appointments
Clinical:
- Assistant Professor, Section of Endovascular/Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago
Hospital:
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
- Adventist Hinsdale Hospital, IL
Academic:
- Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago
Awards/Achievements
- World association of Lebanese Neurosurgeons Travelers award, 2004
- Best research presentation, American College of Surgeons, Lebanon chapter 2003
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
- Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Student Teaching Award, University of Illinois at Chicago
Clinical Interests
- Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Surgery: including Acute and chronic Stroke disease, intracranial altherosclerosis, intracranial aneurysms, cervical and intracranial Carotid Artery disease, arteriovenous malformations, Cavernous-carotid Fistula, and dural fistulas.
- Skull base and eloquent brain tumors surgery
Research Interests
- Development and testing of new devices for Endovascular Neurosurgery
- Outcome measure of endovascular coiling/stenting of intracranial aneurysms
- Outcomes after intracranial vasospasm secondary to subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Virtual reality simulators for neurosurgical training
- Computer modeling for simulation of balloon test occlusion
- Use of quantitative MR technology in evaluation of arteriovenous malformation
Selected Publications
Alaraj A., Wallace A., Tesoro T., Ruland S., Amin-Hanjani S., Charbel F., Aletich V. Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia: Diagnosis, and Management . In Press Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery.
Alaraj A., Wallace A., Mander N., Aletich V., Charbel F., Amin-Hanjani S. Effect of Acute Cocaine Use on Vasospasm and Outcome in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. In press World Neurosurgery.
Alaraj A., Wallace A., Mander N., Aletich V., Charbel F., Amin-Hanjani S. Outcome following Symptomatic Cerebral Vasospasm on Presentation in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Coiling vs. Clipping. In press World Neurosurgery.
Bauer A, Amin-Hanjani S, Alaraj A, Charbel F. Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Angiography in the Evaluation of the Subclavian Steal Syndrome: Report of 5 patients. Journal of Neuroimaging. 2008; 20(9).
Ashley WW Jr., Amin-Hanjani S, Alaraj A, Shin J, Charbel FT. Flow Assisted Surgical Cerebral Revascularization. Neurosurgical Focus. 2008;24(2): E20.
Alaraj A, Ashley WW Jr., Charbel F, Amin-Hanjani S. The Superficial Temporal Artery Trunk as a Donor Vessel in Cerebral Revascularization: Benefits and Pitfalls. Neurosurgical Focus. 2008;24(2):E7.
Chan M, Alaraj A, Calderon M, Herrera S, Gao W, Ruland S, Roitberg B. Prediction of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Dependency in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2009 Jan;110(1):44-9.
Alaraj A, Charbel F, Amin-Hanjani S. Perioperative Management for Treatment and Prevention of cerebral Vasospasm following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Neurological Research.2009 Jul; 31(6) 651-9.
Roitberg B, Hardman J, Urbaniak K, Merchant A, Mangubat E, Alaraj A, Mlinarevich N, Watson K, Ruland S. Prospective Randomized Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Nicardipine and Nitroprusside Drip for Control of Hypertension in the Neurosurgical ICU. Neurosurgery. 2008 Jul;63(1):115-20.
Amin-Hanjani S, Alaraj A, Charbel F. Flow Replacement Bypass for Aneurysms: Decision Making Using Intraoperative Blood Flow Measurements. Acta Neurochirurgica (Wien). 2010 Jun;152(6):1021-32;
Calderon-Arnulphi M, Alaraj A, Slavin K. Near-Infrared Technology in Neuroscience: Past, Present and Future. Neurological Research. 2009. July:31(6):605-14.
Selected Chapters
Charbel F, Alaraj A, Amin-Hanjani S. Extracranial Vertebral Artery Disease. In Youman’s Neurological Surgery. Chapter 359. Sixth Edition. Editor-in-Chief H. Richard Winn, MD. In Press.
Charbel F, Alaraj A, Amin-Hanjani S. Advanced Strategies and Techniques for Surgical Aneurysm Treatment. Proccedings of the 8th International Conference on Cerebrovascular Surgery. Nov30- Dec 3, 2006, Taipei, Taiwan.
Charbel F, Alaraj A, Amin-Hanjani S. Surgical Treatment of Intracranial Atherosclerosis: Update on the State of the Art. Proccedings of the 8th International Conference on Cerebrovascular Surgery. Nov30- Dec 3, 2006, Taipei, Taiwan Lebanese Neurosurgeons Travelers award, 2004
Alaraj A, Roitberg B. Intracranial Venous Sinus Thrombosis Management. “World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies” Continuing Education Subspecialties, Critical Care Section Website. 2006.
Alaraj A, Roitberg B. Critical Care Management of Extracranial Carotid Dissections. “World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies” Continuing Education Subspecialties Critical Care Section Website. 2006.