Associate Professor

Graduate Training: New York University
Residency: George Washington University

Director, Cranial Base Surgery & Neurosurgical Research
Department of Neurosurgery
West Virginia University School of Medicine
One Medical Center Drive
PO Box 9183 Health Sciences Center
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9183
t: 304-293-5041
f: 304-293-4819
e: crosen@hsc.wvu.edu

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Research Interests

The neurosurgical research laboratory has three main research interests, including stroke pathophysiology, neuroprotection, and neurosurgical anatomy and cranial-base surgery approaches.

We have developed a model of embolic stroke utilizing a microcatheter and aged female rats. Our animals experience an ischemic insult and response that we believe is more representative of the clinical entity of stroke as compared to young animals challenged with filamentous occlusion. Understanding the mechanistic differences between young and old animals' ischemic injury is a major focus of our work. In addition, we have also been studying a multifunctional neuroprotective agent and how it may improve neurologic outcome following various insults. Currently we are investigating its role in cyanide toxicity and cerebral ischemia. Future studies will include subarachnoid hemorrhage and trauma. Techniques used include animal surgery, histology, and behavioral testing.

Furthermore, we also use human specimans to study microsurgical anatomy and cranial-base approaches. Operating microscopes and high speed bone dissection tools are available for studying the cranial base anatomy. Joint projects with otolaryngologists and opthalmologists are encouraged.  Evaluation of new techniques and instruments are commonly performed.