Innovations & Research in Neurosciences

Home of the best ideas in medicine.

A university is about ideas. A university medical center is about bringing those ideas to you. The Stony Brook University Medical Center Advanced Institute for Neurosciences applies the innovation inherent in our academic setting to deliver the highest quality care to patients and their families. Through our institute, patients have access to our state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment; multidisciplinary, board-certified, and nationally recognized physicians and faculty; the latest therapeutic techniques and clinical trials; and researchers whose scientific discoveries have improved patient care at Stony Brook and around the world. Click the buttons at the top of this page to learn more about some of the innovations and advantages you'll find at the Advanced Institute for Neurosciences at Stony Brook, Long Island's only academic medical center.

Research

Stony Brook is deeply committed to our research mission, with more than 70 laboratories actively pursuing breakthroughs in neurobiology, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, alzheimer's, spine and brain trauma, and behavioral neurosciences, to name a few. Our researchers are engaged in basic, translational, and clinical research, which bring scientific discovery from the bench to the bedside. For more information on our Neurosciences Basic Research Programs and Laboratories, click here.

Clinical Trials

We offer our patients tomorrow's treatments today through our many clinical trials and investigator initiated trials. Our patients may elect to participate in ongoing, cutting-edge, clinical research trials that are being conducted at our institution. Participation in a clinical trial can provide patients with access to new research treatments before they are widely available. Click on the following website links to access more information on the current clinical trials offered at Stony Brook University Medical Center:

Office of Clinical Trials:

• List of Active Trials

General Clinical Research Center (GCRC):

• List of Current Studies

Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Our National Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center was the first multidisciplinary center dedicated to addressing the specific needs of multiple sclerosis patients in the United States. This program is one of six in the nation designated as a Center of Excellence by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Our center is a recognized founder of an international pediatric research program and has evaluated more than 400 children since its inception.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Spine

Our spine surgeons offer the latest surgical advances, such as alternative approaches to spine fusion surgery using "bone morphogenetic proteins," a bone-growth substance that avoids the need for painful hip bone grafts currently used during traditional spine fusion surgery. Our surgeons also offer advanced techniques in image guided surgery and intra-operative 3D CT.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Neuro-Oncology

Our physicians perform stereotactic radiosurgery, a non-invasive outpatient procedure in which a high dose of radiation is focused on a small target within the body, such as a brain tumor. This technology helps our physicians treat tumors with pinpoint precision and reduces discomfort, complications, and recovery time for patients compared to conventional surgery. Our physicians are also pioneering the intra-arterial cerebral infusion of Avastin directly into a patient's malignant brain tumor. This technique may expose the cancer to higher doses of the drug therapy, while possibly sparing the patient from common side effects of receiving the drug intravenously or throughout his or her body. Our team is also developing new implantable devices that release chemotherapy over a long period of time.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Cerebrovascular & Stroke

Our physicians were the first on Long Island to implant the Wingspan® Stent System with the Gateway® PTA Balloon Catheter to successfully open blocked arteries in the brain of a patient. We are the only hospital on Long Island enrolling in the National Institutes of Health Stenting vs. Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial. Our cerebrovascular physicians belong to an elite group of surgeons nationwide who are trained in both traditional and non-invasive techniques.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Epilepsy

The Epilepsy Team offers advanced services through our Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU). Through the EMU, staff can perform inpatient assessments for adults and children to develop the proper diagnoses for cases that have been resistant to therapy.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Autism

The Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities has developed a research consortium to collaborate on basic, translational, and clinical research. Our scientists use state-of-the-art methods to discover the genetic links to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They are investigating the differences in the brains of people with ASD compared to people without the condition. They are also performing more practical research that focuses on developing behavioral techniques to help ASD patients flourish. Serving more than 1,200 families on Long Island, the center is the primary clinical resource on Long Island for families affected by autism and related disabilities.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.

Adult Multiple Sclerosis

The Stony Brook Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center was the first such center on Long Island. Started in 1990, the center now sees approximately 1,700 patients per year. Patients have access to expert opinions for initial diagnosis and second opinions, current assessment, recommendations on best care, treatment for acute relapses, and treatment for bothersome multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. The Adult MS Center provides access to state-of-the-art facilities at Stony Brook University Medical Center, which include the latest in neuroimaging technology. Patients may also choose to participate in one of many ongoing cutting-edge clinical research trials for MS that are being conducted at Stony Brook.

For more information about the services offered at our center, click here.