When I was a child, my father required a spinal fusion resulting from a work-related injury. I was fascinated by the neurosurgeon's ability to repair such a complex and vital component of the human body and the ability to restore my father's livelihood. From that moment on, I dedicated myself to studying and ultimately practicing neurosurgery. Today, I love what I do and am grateful for the opportunity to serve neurosurgical patients. A patient-centered medical practice is my top priority and I treat each and every one of my patients as though they were a member of my own family.

As a general neurosurgeon I perform all neurosurgical related procedures of the brain, spine, and peripheral nerve. I have a particular interest in neuro-oncology and have been dedicated to neuroscience and brain tumor research since 2008. My current lab at UIC focus on investigating and developing immunotherapeutic strategies for brain tumors.

1. Hou D, Wan H, Katz J, Wang S, Castro BA, Vazquez-Cervantes GI, Arrieta VA, Dhiantravan S, Najem H, Rashidi A, Chia T, Arjmandi T, Collado J, Billingham L, Lopez-Rosas A, Han Y, Sonabend AM, Heimberger AB, Zhang P, Miska JM, Lee-Chang C. Antigen-presenting B cells promote TCF-1⁺ PD1^– stem-like CD8⁺ T-cell proliferation in glioblastoma. Frontiers in Immunology. 2024;14:1-13.
2. Rashidi A, Zolp A, Billingham LK, Chia T, Markwell SM, Dmello C, Arrieta VA, Jacob IM, Lopez-Rosas A, Zhang P, Hou D, Castro BA, Katz JL, Zhao J, Ahmed AU, Brat DJ, Heiland DH, Lee-Chang C, Lesniak M, Chandel NS, Miska J. Myeloid cell-derived creatine in the hypoxic niche promotes glioblastoma growth. Cell Metabolism. 2024;36(1):62-77.
3. Zhang P, Rashidi A, Zhao J, Silvers C, Wang H, Castro BA, Ellingwood A, Han Y, Lopez-Rosas A, Zannikou M, Dmello C, Levine R, Xiao T, Cordero A, Sonabend AM, Balyasnikova IV, Lee-Chang C, Miska J, Lesniak MS. STING agonist-loaded, CD47/PD-L1-targeting nanoparticles potentiate antitumor immunity and radiotherapy for glioblastoma. Nature Communications. 2023;14(1610):1-19.
4. Johnson M, Bell A, Lauing KL, Ladomersky E, Zhai L, Penco-Campillo M, Shah Y, Mauer E, Xiu J, Nicolaides T, Drumm M, McCortney K, Elemento O, Kim M, Bommi P, Low JT, Memon R, Wu J, Zhao J, Mi X, Glantz MJ, Sengupta S, Castro B, Yamini B, Horbinski C, Baker DJ, Walunas TL, Schiltz GE, Lukas RV, Wainwright DA. Advanced age in humans and mouse models of glioblastoma show decreased survival from extratumoral influence. Clinical Cancer Research. 2023;29(23):4973-4989.
5. Dmello C, Sonabend A, Arrieta VA, Zhang DY, Kanojia D, Chen L, Gould A, Kane JR, Zhang J, Kang SJ, Winter J, Horbinski C, Amidei C, Gyorffy B, Cordero A, Lee-Chang C, Castro BA, Hsu P, Ahmed AU, Lesniak MS, Stupp R, Sonabend AM. Translocon-associated protein subunit SSR3 determines and predicts susceptibility to paclitaxel in breast cancer and glioblastoma. Clinical Cancer Research. 2022;28(14):3156-3169.
6. Cordero A, Ramsey MD, Kanojia D, Fares J, Schwartz CW, Burga R, Zhang P, Rashidi A, Castro BA, Xiao T, Lee-Chang C, Miska J, Balyasnikova IV, Ahmed AU, Lesniak MS. Combination of tucatinib and neuro stem cells secreting anti-HER2 antibody prolongs survival of HER2+ breast cancer brain metastases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). 2021;119(1).
7. Dapash M, Castro BA, Hou D, Lee-Chang C. Current immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of glioblastoma. Cancers. 2021;13(4548).
8. Dapash M, Hou D, Castro BA, Lee-Chang C, Lesniak MS. The interplay between glioblastoma and its microenvironment. Cells. 2021;12(2257).
9. Raphael I, Kumar R, McCarl LH, Shoger K, Wang L, Sandlesh P, Sneiderman CT, Allen J, Johnson KE, Zhai S, Campagna ML, Foster A, Bruno TC, Agnihotri S, Hu B, Castro BA, Lieberman FS, Broniscer A, Diaz AA, Amankulor NM, Rajasundaram D, Pollack IF, Kohanbash G. TIGIT and PD-1 immune checkpoint pathways are associated with patient outcome and anti-tumor immunity in glioblastoma. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021;12.
10. Miska J, Rashidi A, Lee-Chang C, Gao P, Lopez-Rosas A, Zhang P, Burga R, Castro BA, Xiao T, Han Y, Hou D, Sampat S, Cordero A, Stoolman JS, Horbinski CM, Burns M, Reshetnyak YK, Chandel NS, Lesniak MS. Polyamines drive myeloid-cell survival by buffering pH to cause immunosuppression in glioblastoma. Science Advances. 2021;7(8).
11. Mansour A, Loggini A, Goldenberg FD, Kramer C, Naidech AM, El Ammar F, Vasenina V, Castro BA, Das P, Horowitz PM, Karrison T, Zakrison T, Hampton D, Rogers SO, Lazaridis C. Coagulopathy as a surrogate of severity of injury in penetrating brain injury. Journal of Neurotrauma. 2021;38(13):1821-1826.
12. Shih DJ, Nayyar N, Bihun I, Dagogo-Jack I, Gill CM, Aquilanti E, Bertalan M, Kaplan A, D’Andrea MR, Chukwueke U, Ippen FM, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Camarda ND, Lastrapes M, McCabe D, Kuter B, Kaufman B, Strickland MR, Martinez-Gutierrez JC, Nagabhushan D, De Sauvage M, White MD, Castro BA, Hoang K, Kaneb A, Batchelor ED, Paek SH, Park SH, Martinez-Lage M, Berghoff AS, Merrill P, Gerstner ER, Batchelor TT, Frosch MP, Frazier RP, Borger DR, Iafrate AJ, Johnson BE, Santagata S, Preusser M, Cahill DP, Carter SL, Brastianos PK. Genomic characterization of human brain metastases identifies novel drivers of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Nature Genetics. 2020;52(4):371-377.
13. Williams SR, Juratli TA, Castro BA, Lazaro TT, Gill CM, Nayyar N, Strickland MR, Babinski M, Johnstone SE, Frosch MP, Silverman IM, Ely HA, Kaplan AB, D’Andrea MR, Bihun IV, Hoang K, Batchelor E, Christiansen J, Cahill DP, Barker FG, Brastianos PK. Genomic analysis of posterior fossa meningioma demonstrates frequent AKT1 E17K mutations in foramen magnum meningiomas. Journal of Neurological Surgery-Part B. 2019;80(06):562-567.
14. Castro BA, Jahangiri A, Flanigan P, Kuang R, De Lay M, Chen W, Yagnik G, Shrivastav S, Mascharak S, Sidorov M, Wagner J, Kohanbash G, Okada H, Aghi MK. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor downregulation: a novel mechanism of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. Oncogene. 2017;36(26):3749-3759.
15. Kuang R, Mascharak S, Jahangiri A, De Lay M, Yagnik G, Sidorov M, Wagner JR, Castro BA, Garcia JLI, Eriksson P, Ronen A, Koliwad S, Aghi MK. GLUT3 upregulation drives the metabolic reprogramming that hallmarks anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. 2017;2(2):e88815.
16. Castro BA, Kuang R, Brastianos PK. Novel approaches in genetic characterization and targeted therapy for brain metastases. Discovery Medicine. 2016;22(122):237-250.
17. Castro BA, Imber BS, Chen BS, McDermott MW, Aghi MK. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting for glioblastoma: risk factors, indications, and efficacy. Neurosurgery. 2016;0(0):1-10.
18. Thompson EM, Hielscher T, …Castro BA, Gupta N, Weiss WA, …Ramaswamy V, Taylor MD. Prognostic value of medulloblastoma extent of resection after accounting for molecular subgroup: an integrated clinical and molecular analysis. The Lancet Oncology. 2016;17(4):484-95.
19. Castro BA and Aghi MK. Bevacizumab for glioblastoma: current indications, surgical implications, and future directions. Neurosurgical Focus. 2014;37(6):E9.
20. Castro BA and Aghi MK. Getting more out of radiation therapy in glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncology. 2014;16(1):4-6.
21. Walcott BP, Kamel H, Castro BA, Kimberly WT, Sheth KN. Tracheostomy after severe ischemic stroke: a population-based study. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease. 2014;23(5):1024-9.
22. Castro BA, Walcott BP, Redjal N, Coumans JV, Nahed BV. Cerebrospinal fluid fistula prevention and treatment following frontal sinus fractures: a review of initial management and outcomes. Neurosurgical Focus. 2012;32(6):E1.

Northwestern University School of Medicine: Postdoctoral Neuro-Oncology Fellow
University of Chicago Medicine: Residency in Neurological Surgery
Boston University School of Medicine: Doctor of Medicine (MD) Medicine
University of California, San Francisco: HHMI Research Fellow
University of Southern California: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Neuroscience, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration, Minor in Natural Sciences

Board Eligible, American Board of Neurological Surgery

Permanent Medical Licensure, State of Illinois

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Certification

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification

Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification

Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO)

Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)

Women in Neurosurgery (WINS)

1. Castro BA, Fischietti M, Zolp A, Zhao J, Hou D, Nguyen L, Wan H, Rashidi A, Zhang P, Han Y, Lopez-Rosas A, Platanias L, Stupp R, Miska J, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. Harnessing a B cell therapy to promote anti-glioblastoma humoral immunity. 2022 Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Conference. Poster presentation. 2022.
2. Castro BA, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. B-cell-based vaccine anti-glioblastoma humoral response. University of Chicago Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Oral presentation. 2022.
3. Castro BA, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. B-cell-based vaccine anti-glioblastoma humoral response. Northwestern University Stupp Think Tank. Oral presentation. 2022.
4. Castro BA, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. Introducing a B-cell-based vaccine as a potential therapy for glioblastoma. 2022 United Conference of Neurology and Neurological Disorders. Keynote oral presentation. 2022.
5. Castro BA, Fischietti M, Zolp A, Nguyen L, Hou D, Dapash M, Rashidi A, Miska J, Zhao J, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. Identification of targetable glioblastoma specific antigens using a B-cell-based vaccine. 2022 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Conference. Oral presentation. 2022.
6. Castro BA, Fischietti M, Zolp A, Dapash M, Hou D, Nguyen L, Rashidi A, Kanojia D, Zhang P, Han Y, Lopez-Rosas A, Balyasnikova I, Stupp R, Miska J, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. B-cell-based vaccine produces glioblastoma-reactive antibodies that contribute to tumor clearance. 2021 Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Conference. Poster presentation. 2021.
7. Castro BA, Hou D, Dapash M, Rashidi A, Han Y, Lopez-Rosas A, Miska J, Lee-Chang C, Lesniak M. B-cell-based vaccine, an effective immunotherapy for preclinical models of glioblastoma. 2021 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Conference. Oral presentation and Ronald L Bittner Award on Brain Tumor Research. 2021.
8. Castro BA, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. Anti-glioblastoma B cells: production of antibodies and potential therapeutic applications. Northwestern University Stupp Think Tank. Oral presentation. 2021.
9. Castro BA, Lesniak M, Lee-Chang C. B-cell vaccine: production of antibodies and potential therapeutic applications. University of Chicago Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Oral presentation. 2021.
10. Castro BA, Aghi MK. Investigating mechanisms of Avastin resistance in glioblastoma. University of Chicago Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Oral presentation. 2018.
11. Castro BA, Jahangiri A, Flanigan P, Kuang R, De Lay M, Chen W, Yagnik G, Shrivastav S, Mascharak S, Sidorov M, Wagner J, Kohanbash G, Okada H, Aghi MK. Bevacizumab-induced MIF depletion: a novel resistance mechanism in glioblastoma. 2015 Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Conference. Oral presentation. 2015.
12. Castro BA, Jahangiri A, Flanigan P, Kuang R, De Lay M, Chen W, Yagnik G, Shrivastav S, Mascharak S, Sidorov M, Wagner J, Kohanbash G, Okada H, Aghi MK. Bevacizumab-induced MIF depletion: a novel resistance mechanism in glioblastoma. HHMI Annual Meeting, HHMI Investigator Meeting at Janelia, and UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Retreat. Poster presentation. 2015
13. Lyman K, Castro BA, Sundaram S, et al. Exercise by Students, for Students: A Novel Approach to Facilitate Improved Academic Focus and Stress Reduction on Campus. 2012 John McCahan Medical Campus Education Day. Research Award. 2012.
14. Castro BA, Petzinger G, and Jakowec M. Protein Receptor Trafficking of GluR2 in an Animal Model of Parkinson’s Disease. 2009 University of Southern California Annual Research Symposium. Poster presentation. 2009.