Richard G. Ellenbogen, M.D., F.A.C.S.,

Professor and Chairman,
Theodore S. Roberts Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery,
Chief of Neurosurgery at H.M.C.

Dr. Ellenbogen is Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the Theodore S. Roberts Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery, the Chief of Neurological Surgery at Harborview Medical Center, and Professor of Radiology.

He received his medical degree from Brown University in 1983. After completing a residency in 1989 at Children’s Hospital, Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston/ Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ellenbogen then became Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Director of the Surgical Epilepsy Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. In addition, he was the Neurosurgical Director of the DOD/VA Head Injury Project. He became the Chief of Neurosurgery and Residency Program Director at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Chairman of the National Capital Area Neurosurgery Residency Consortium prior to being recruited to The University of Washington. He joined the UW Department of Neurological Surgery in 1997/1998.

Patient Care:

Dr. Ellenbogen’s clinical practice focuses on both Pediatric and Adult Neurosurgery:

Pediatric Neurosurgery -
- Pediatric Brain Tumors
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Chiari Malformations
- Trauma
- Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery and Spine Surgery.

For more information about Dr. Ellenbogen's Pediatric specialties, please visit his webpage at: Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center section.

For more information about Pediatric Neurosurgery please visit this website: Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center.

Sports Related Concussions: Watch Dr. Richard Ellenbogen's message about the symptoms and dangers of sports injuries and concussions as interviewed by King 5 TV "Health Link"

Adult Neurosurgery -
- Adult Brain Tumors
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Chiari Malformations
- Trauma

View Dr. Ellenbogen's 'Mini-Medical School" presentation on Innovations and Discoveries in Medicine.

In January 2008 Dr. Ellenbogen and Browd performed surgery on baby gorilla at our local Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Baby is doing great! Read story >>>

Research:

Dr. Ellenbogen's current extramural funded research (NIH and ACS) is in the field of hindbrain abnormalities/CSF physiology, and Brain Tumors.

Dr.Ellenbogen's translational research is done in collaboration with The UW Nanotechnology Brain Tumor Research Group. The Nanotechnology Project is a multidisciplinary team (Drs. Sze, Olson, Zhang, and Hallahan) who are performing translational research on imaging brain tumors using nanoparticles during surgery and during targeted molecular therapy.

For more information on Nanotechnology please follow these links:

• Nanotechnology Platform for Pediatric Brain Cancer Imaging and Therapy
• The Future of Intra-operative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Education and Training:

1980 BS in Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI

1983 MD, Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI

1984 Internship, General Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

1984-89 Residency, Department of Neurological Surgery, Children’s Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA

Honors and Awards:

2008 - "Top Doc" award in two categories: Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery by the annual Seattle Magazine poll.

2007 - "Top Doc" award in two categories: Adult and Pediatric Neurosurgery by the annual Seattle Magazine poll.

2006 - "Top Doc" award in Adult Neurosurgery by the annual Seattle Magazine poll.

2005-2006 - President of The Congress of Neurological Surgeons

2003 - Special Scientific Honoree: American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, 2003

2002 - Outstanding Alumni Award: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. 2001

1994 - NIH Consensus Committee on Syringomyelia

1996-1997 - "A" Designee-US ARMY; Top Neurosurgeon
Academic Consultant
Department of Defense

1989 - Sidney Farber Award
Outstanding Physician Award
The Children's Hospital/Longwood Medical Area
Harvard Medical School

1978-1983 - US Army Award: Health/Physicain Scholorship Program HPSP - (College/Medical School)

1977 - Research Award -
Parkinson's Disease Foundation
Fellow, Department of Neurology
Columbia University
College of Physicians and Surgeons

Current Research Grants:

1. UW Technology Gap Innovation Fund (TGIF): Co-investigator with Dr. Jim Olson in Pediatrics to develop a molecular probe named "Tumor Paint" to help surgeons distinguish brain tumors and other cancers from normal surrounding tissue. University of Washington TGIF funds will be used to further study the properties of Tumor Paint.


2. Mentor: “Clinical Neuroscience Training Grant” The purpose of this award is to offer advanced research training to MD and PhD post-doctoral fellows in clinically relevant areas of study in the neurosciences.


3. Investigator: “CPP Management Information Feedback and Nursing.” R01 NR004901-04A2. (P.I.: Pamela H Mitchell, PhD) Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is a clinical index that reflects global adequacy of blood delivery to the brain, and is defined as the difference between arterial blood pressure (ABP) and intracranial pressure (ICP). Inadequate cerebral perfusion may contribute to further brain injury beyond the initial injury. There may be optimal levels of CPP and its components, ICP and ABP that help prevent or reduce secondary brain injury due to brain ischemia. No CPP thresholds have been established that adequately predict grades of survival in either children or adults. In this study we extend our prior study of CPP in adults to determine if a critical threshold for CPP can be defined in children following brain injury based on outcome at 3, 6, and 12 months. In addition, we will examine variability and complexity of physiologic signals in the acute stage following brain injury in both adults and children to better understand their meaning in relation to risk for secondary brain injury and ability to predict outcome variation. We will also assess the cost of hospitalization and quality adjusted life year values attached to varying outcomes following brain injury across the life span.


4. Co-Principal Investigator: “Nanotechnology platform for pediatric brain cancer imaging and therapy”. 1R01CA119408-01 8/1/2005-7/31/2009 NIH/NCI The developmental aims of this proposal are to 1) Develop a tumor targeted dual MR and optical contrast agent that will negotiate the blood brain barrier to enable presurgical planning and inntraoperative visualization of tumor margins in mouse flank and intracranial models; 2) Evaluate pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, extravasation, intratumoral distribution, and toxicity of developed system to determine optimal preparation; 3) Complete preclinical research and development of best nanoparticle system for presurgical planning and intraoperative visualization of pediatric brain.


5. Co-Principal Investigator: “Multifunctional nanovector for diagnosis and treatment of pediatric brain cancer”. R01EB006043 9/1/2007-5/31/2011 NIH/NIBIB The major goal is to develop biopolymer based multifunctional nanovectors for effective DNA delivery. Specific aims of the proposed research are to (1) design, synthesize, characterize the nanovector core-shell structure immobilized with targeting agents, and validate its optical and MR contrast capability; (2) apply the optimal tumor targeted MRI/NIRF nanoconjugate to deliver therapeutic DNA encoding BMP-2 and study its efficacy in gene transfection and inducing apoptosis in vitro; (3) validate and quantify nanovector cell targeting, transfection, apoptosis, toxicity, biodistribution in vivo in mouse flank and intracranial models of medulloblastoma.


6. Co-Principal Investigator: “Nanovectors for brain tumor diagnosis and treatment” R01 CA134213-01A1 9/1/2007-8/31/2012 NIH/NCI Specific aims of the proposed research are to 1) Synthesize and characterize tumor-targeted MR and/or optical nanoconjugates for siRNA delivery; 2) Evaluate and optimize nanovectors for siRNA delivery in vitro against commercially-available siRNA delivery methods; 3) Demonstrate nanovector siRNA dlievery in medulloblastoma in vitro and in vivo against commercially-available siRNA delivery methods.
   

Recently Completed Research:

1. Investigator. Pediatric Brain Tumor Clinical Trials Consortium NIH/NCI 1 U01 CAB1454-01 (P.I.: JR Geyer). (5/1/00-4/30/04)


2. Investigator: “Are Fibromyalgia and Chiari I Malformation Related?” R01 NIH 91-6001537. (P.I.: D. Buchwald). (4/1/02-3/31/06)


3. Co-Principal Investigator: “Molecular Imaging Diagnosis and Treatment of Medulloblastoma.” N01-CO-37122. Olson, James, Ellenbogen, RG, Sze, Ray; Zhang, Miquin; and Andrew Hallahan ($1,692.593: 9/30/03-9/29/06)


4. Co-Principal Investigator: “Magnesium Sulfate for Neuroprotection After Brain Trauma.” R01 NS19643-21. (P.I.: N. Temkin) (9/01/2004-8/31/2006)


5. Investigator: "Are Fibromyalgia and Chiari I Malformation Related?" RO1 NIH 91-6001537. (P.I.: D. Buchwald). (4/1/02-3/31/06)

Selected Publications:

1. Ellenbogen RG, Armonda RA, Shaw DW, Winn HR. Toward a rational treatment of Chiari I malformation and syringomyelia. Neurosurg. Focus. 8:1-10, 2000.
   
   
2. Prahinski JR, Polly DW Jr., McHale KA, Ellenbogen RG. Occult Intraspinal Anomalies in Congenital Scoliosis, in Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 20:59-63, 2000. PubMed abstract
   
   
3. Salazar AM, Warden DL, Schwab K, Spector J, Braverman S, Walter J, Cole R, Rosner MM, Martin EM, Ecklund J, Ellenbogen RG. Cognitive Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury. A Randomized Trial. Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program. (DDVHIP) Study Group. JAMA. 2000 Jun 21;283(23):3075-81. PubMed abstract
   
   
4. Ellenbogen RG. Transcortical Surgery for Lateral Ventricular Tumors. Neurosurgery Focus. June 2001; 10(6):1-13. PubMed abstract
   
   
5. Feldman KW, Bethel R, Shugerman RP, Grossman DC, Grady MS, Ellenbogen RG. The Cause of Infant and Toddler Subdural Hemorrhage: A Prospective Study. Pediatrics, 2001 Sep:108 (3): 636-46. PubMed abstract
   
   
6. Mesiwala AH, Avellino AM, Ellenbogen RG. The Diagonal Ventricular Dimension: A Method for Predicting Shunt Malfunction on the Basis of Change in Ventricular Size. Neurosurgery, 2002 Jun:50(6);1246-51; discussion 1251-2.
   
   
7. Hallaham AR, Pritchard JI, Chandraratna RAS, Ellenbogen RG, Geyer JR, Overland RP, Strand AD, Tapscott SJ, Olson JM. BMP-2 mediates retinoid-induced apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells through a paracrine effect. Nature Medicine. 9(8):1033-8, 2003. PubMed abstract
   
8. Lemire RJ, Pendergrass TW, Beckwith JB, Ellenbogen RG. Tumors and malformations of the caudal spinal axis. Pediatric Neurosurgery. 38(4):174-80, 2003. PubMed abstract
   
   
9. Hallahan AR, Pritchard JI, Hansen S, Benson M, Stoeck J, Hatton BA, Russell TL, Ellenbogen RG, Bernstein ID, Beachy PA, Olson JM. The SmoA1 mouse model reveals that notch signaling is critical for the growth and survival of sonic hedgehog-induced medulloblastomas. Cancer Res. 2004 Nov 1;64(21):7794-800. PMID: 15520185 PubMed abstract
   
   
10. Connolly JP, Gruss J, Seto ML, Whelan MF, Ellenbogen R, Weiss A, Buchman SR, Cunningham ML. Progressive postnatal craniosynostosis and increased intracranial pressure. Plast Reconstr Surg. 113(5):1313-23, 2004 PubMed abstract
    
    
11. Ghatan S, Newell DW, Grady MS, Mirza SK, Chapman JR, Mann FA, Ellenbogen RG. Severe posttraumatic craniocervical instability in the very young patient. Report of three cases. J Neurosurg. 101:102-7, 2004. PubMed abstract
    
    
12. Avellino AM, Mann FA, Grady MS, Chapman JR, Ellenbogen RG, Alden TD, Mirza SK: The misdiagnosis of acute cervical spine injuries and fractures in infants and children: the 12-year experience of a level I pediatric and adult trauma center. Childs Nerv Syst 21:122-127, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
13. Bobola MS, Silber JR, Ellenbogen RG, Geyer JR, Blank A, Goff RD, O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, O6-benzylguainine, and resistance to clinical alkylators in pediatric primary brain tumor cell lines. Clin Cancer Res 11:2747-2555, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
14. Bolger WE, Tadros M, Ellenbogen RG, Judy K, Grady MS: Endoscopic management of cerebrospinal fluid leak associated with the use of bone wax in skull-base surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 132:418-20, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
15. Ploplys EA, Muzaffar AR, Gruss JS, Ellenbogen RG: Early composite cranioplasty in infants with severe aplasia cutis congenital: a report of two cases. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 42(4):442-7, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
16. Nemecek AN, Ellenbogen RG, Britz GW: Vertex epidural hematoma. Pediatric Neurosurgery, 41:170-2, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
17. Vennstra TD, Conrads TP, Hood BL, Avellino AM, Ellenbogen RG, Morrison RS: Biomarkers: Mining the biofluid proteome. Mol Cell Proteomics 4:409-18, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
18. Veiseh O, Sun C, Gunn J, Kohler N, Gabikian P, Lee D, Bhattarai N, Ellenbogen R, Sze R, Hallahan A, Olson J, Zhang M: Optical and MRI multifunctional nanoprobe for targeting gliomas. Nano Lett 5(6):1003-8. 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
19. Erickson JC, Ellenbogen RG, Khajevi K, Mulligan L, Ford GC, Jabbari B: Temporal lobectomy for refractory epilepsy in the U.S. military. Mil Med 170(3):201-5, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
20. Yeung LC, Cunningham ML, Allpress AL, Gruss JS, Ellenbogen RG, Zerr DM: Surgical site infections after pediatric intracranial surgery for craniofacial malformations: frequency and risk factors. Neurosurgery 56:733-39, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
21. Bobola MS, Finn LS, Ellenbogen RG, Geyer JR, Berger MS, Braga JM, Meade EH, Gross ME, Silber JR. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activity and response to radiation and chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 11(20): 7405-14, 2005. PubMed abstract
    
    
22. Sze RW, Hopper RA, Ghioni V, Gruss JS, Ellenbogen RG, King D, Hing AV, Cunningham ML: MDCT diagnosis of the child with posterior plagiocephaly. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005 Nov; 185(5): 1342-6. PubMed abstract
    
    
23. Douglas JG, Rockhill JK, Olson JM, Ellenbogen RG, Geyer JR. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by focal, reduced-dose irradiation for pediatric primary central nervous system germinomas. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2006; 28(1): 36-9. PubMed abstract
    
    
24. Greene S, Hawkins DS, Rutledge JC, Tsuchiya KD, Douglas J, Ellenbogen RG, Avellino AM: Pediatric Intradural Extramedullary Synovial Sarcoma: Case Report. Neurosurgery 59(6): E1339; discussion E1339, 2006.
    
    
25. Abel TJ, Chowdhary A, Gabikian P, Ojemann JG, Ellenbogen RG, Avellino AM: Spontaneous Subdural Fluid Collections Following Transection of a Fatty Filum Terminale. Case Report and Review of Literature. Pediatric Neurosurgery: in press, 2007.
    
    
26. Greene S, Nair MN, Ojemann JG, Ellenbogen RG, Avellino AM: Meningiomas in Children. Pediatric Neurosurgery (accepted), 2007.
    
    
27. Ko AL, Song K, Ellenbogen RG, Avellino AM: Retrospective Review of Multi-Level Spinal Fusion Comvined with Spinal Cord Transetion for Treatment of Kyphoscoliosis in Pediatric Myelomeingocele Patients. Spine: accepted, 2007.
    
    
28. Lynn AM, Bradford H, Kantor ED, Seng KY, Salinger DH, Chen J, Ellenbogen RG, Vicini P, Anderson GD: Postoperative Ketorolac Tromethamine Use in Infants Aged 6-18 Months: The Effect on Morphine Usage, Safety Assessment, and Stereo-Specific Pharamacokinestics. Anesth Analg 104(5): 1040-1051, 2007. PubMed abstract
    
    
29. Manning TC, Avellino AM, Symons J, Ojemann J, Ellenbogen RG: Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting in Children on Renal Dialysis: Report of Two Cases. Pediatric Neurosurgery: in press, 2007.
    
    
30. Miyagawa T, Sotero de Menzes M, Avellino AM, Kuratani JD, Saneto RP, Ellenbogen RG, Ojemann JG: Apnea Caused by Mesial Temporal Lobe Mass Lesions in Infants: Report of Three Cases. Journal of Child Neurology: 2007 Sep;22(9):1079-83. PubMed abstract
    
    
31. Seto ML, Hing AV, Chang J, Hu M, Kapp-Simon KA, Patel PK, Burton BK, Kane AA, Smyth MD, Hopper R, Ellenbogen RG, Stevenson K, Speltz ML, Cunningham ML: Isolated Sagittal and Coronal Craniosynostosis Associated with Twist Box Mutations. Am J Med Genet A. 143(7): 678-686, 2007. PubMed abstract
    
    
32. Temkin NR, Anderson GD, Winn HR, Ellenbogen RG, Britz GW, Schuster JM, Lucas TH, Newell DW, Mansfield PN, Machamer J, Barber JK, Dikmen SS: Magnesium Sulfate for Neuroprotection after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Lancet Neurol 6(1): 29-38, 2007. PubMed abstract
    
    
33. Valadka AB, Ellenbogen RG, Wirth Jr FP, Laws Jr ER: Acute Care Surgery: Challenges and Opportunities from the Neurosurgical Perspective. Surgery 14(3): 321-323, 2007.
    
    
34. Vavilala MS, Muangman S, Waitayawinyu P, Roscigno C, Jaffe K, Mitchell P, Kirkness C, Zimmerman JJ, Ellenbogen R, Lam AM: Neurointensive Care; Impaired Cerebral Autoregulation in Infants and Young Children Early after Inflicted Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Report. J Neurotrauma 24(1): 87-96, 2007.
    
    
35. Veiseh M, Gabikian P, Bahrami SB, Veiseh O, Zhang M, Hackman RC, Ravanpay AC, Stroud MR, Kusuma Y, Hansen SJ, Kwok D, Munoz NM, Sze RW, Grady WM, Greenberg NM, Ellenbogen RG, Olson JM: Tumor Paint: A Chlorotoxin:Cy5.5 Bioconjugate for Intraoperative Visualization of Cancer Foci. Cancer Res 67(14): 6882-6888, 2007. PubMed abstract
    
    
36. Sekhar LN, Natarajan SK, Ellenbogen RG, Ghodke B: Cerebral Revascularization for Ischemia, Aneurysms and Skull Base Tumors. in press, 2007.

1. Ellenbogen RG and Scott RM: Treatment of Moyamoya Syndrome in Children with Pial Synangiosis. In Neurosurgical Operative Atlas, edited by RH Wilkins and SS Rengachary Park Ridge:AANS Publications, 1995, Vol. 4:pp139-146.
   
   
2. McCormick P, Zeidman SM, and Ellenbogen RG. Syringomyelia Associated with Intraspinal Neoplasms in Syringomyelia and the Chiari Malformations (Neurosurgical Topics Book 26) edited by J. Anson, I. Award, and E. Benzel, 1996, pp113-124.
   
   
3. Gruss JS, Ellenbogen RG, Whelan M. Lambdoid Synostosis: In:Craniofacial Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Craniofacial Abnormalities. Ch. 17 Lin KY, Ogle RC, and Jane JA. (Eds.) WB Saunders , 2001
   
4. Ellenbogen RG, Scott RM. Choroid Plexus tumors. Ch. 232, Youman s Neurological Surgery, Winn HR (Ed)WB Saunders,2003.
   
   
5. Ellenbogen RG, Grant Gerald. Evaluation and Treatment of Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infections. Textbook of Neurological Surgery: Principles and Practice. 2002;101-108.

1. Clinical Neurosurgery. Ellenbogen RG, Associate Editor, Baltimore, MD; Williams and Wilkins, 1989.
   
   
2. SANS: The Congress of Neurological Surgeons and American Association of Neurologic Surgeons, Ellenbogen RG, Associate Editor, 1990.
   
3. Principles of Neurosurgery. Edited by Setti. S. Rengachary and Ellenbogen, RG; Elselvier Mosby 2005.

Contact Information

Patient Services:
Phone-
206-987-2544 (CHRMC) or
206-744-9300 (HMC)

Fax-
206-987-3925 (CHRMC) or
206-744-9944 (HMC)

Academic Office:
Phone-
206-987-4525 (CHRMC) or
206-744-9321 (HMC)

Fax-
206-987-3925 (CHRMC) or
206-744-9942 (HMC)

E-mail:
rge@u.washington.edu

Mailing Address:
Harborview Medical Center
UW Medicine, Dept. of Neurosurgery
325 Ninth Avenue,
Box 359924
Seattle, WA 98104-2499

Clinic Location:
Patricia Bracelin Steel Memorial Building
Neurosurgery Clinics
401 Broadway - 2nd floor
Seattle, WA 98122