Prof. Zaal Kokaia | Stem Cells | Best Researcher Award.

Lund University,Sweden

Professional Profiles:

👨‍🎓 Bio Summary:

Prof. Zaal Kokaia is a distinguished figure in experimental medical research, specializing in stem cells and restorative neurology. Currently serving as Professor of Experimental Medical Research at Lund University’s Faculty of Medicine since January 2008, he also heads the Laboratory of Stem Cells & Restorative Neurology at Lund Stem Cell Center, University Hospital BMC B10, Lund, Sweden.

🎓 Education:

He earned his Master of Sciences in Biology, specializing in Biology and Chemistry education, from Tbilisi State University in 1984. Following this, Prof. Kokaia completed his Candidate of Biological Sciences (PhD) at the I. Beritashvili Institute of Physiology, Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1987. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lund, Sweden, in 1995, and later achieved his Doctor of Sciences (DSc) from the I. Beritashvili Institute of Physiology in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1997. In 1999, he was appointed Docent of Experimental Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University.

🔍 Research Focus:

Prof. Kokaia’s research primarily focuses on stem cells and their applications in restorative neurology, aiming to develop innovative therapies for neurological disorders. His work has significantly contributed to understanding neuronal replacement and regeneration mechanisms in the adult brain, particularly after stroke.

🏆 Honors & Awards:

Throughout his career, Prof. Kokaia has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Research Award from the King Gustav V and Queen Victoria’s Foundation in 2004, the Petre Sarajishvili Medal for his contribution to neuro-education in Georgia in 2009, and the Bengt Falck Prize in Neuroscience by Lund University in 2020.

Professional Experience: 💼

His professional journey includes pivotal roles such as Coordinator of the EU consortium StemStroke (2006-2009) and Coordinator of the EU consortium TargetBraIn (2011-2016). He has also served as Director of the Lund Stem Cell Center (2011-2020) and held memberships in various scientific advisory boards and policy committees.

📚 Top Noted Publications :

Neuronal replacement from endogenous precursors in the adult brain after stroke

Authors: A Arvidsson, T Collin, D Kirik, Z Kokaia, O Lindvall

Journal: Nature Medicine

Volume: 8

Issue: 9

Pages: 963-970

Citations: 3636

Year: 2002

Inflammation is detrimental for neurogenesis in adult brain

Authors: CT Ekdahl, JH Claasen, S Bonde, Z Kokaia, O Lindvall

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Volume: 100

Issue: 23

Pages: 13632-13637

Citations: 1879

Year: 2003

Stem cell therapy for human neurodegenerative disorders–how to make it work

Authors: O Lindvall, Z Kokaia, A Martinez-Serrano

Journal: Nature Medicine

Volume: 10

Supplement: 7

Pages: S42-S50

Citations: 1244

Year: 2004

Stem cells for the treatment of neurological disorders

Authors: O Lindvall, Z Kokaia

Journal: Nature

Volume: 441

Issue: 7097

Pages: 1094-1096

Citations: 1055

Year: 2006

Apoptosis and proliferation of dentate gyrus neurons after single and intermittent limbic seizures

Authors: J Bengzon, Z Kokaia, E Elmér, A Nanobashvili, M Kokaia, O Lindvall

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Volume: 94

Issue: 19

Pages: 10432-10437

Citations: 975

Year: 1997

Author Metrics 📊 :

He holds an impressive H-index of 74 (Web of Science) and 81 (Google Scholar), with total citations exceeding 32,000. His publications have been cited over 24,000 times, highlighting the influence and relevance of his work in academia.

📅 Research Timeline:

His research timeline spans from foundational academic training in Georgia and Sweden in the late 1980s to his current leadership and pioneering research at Lund University. Prof. Kokaia’s contributions have consistently pushed the boundaries of stem cell research and restorative neurology, impacting both scientific understanding and clinical applications.

👨‍🎓 Bio Summary:

Dr. James Edmund Baumgartner is a distinguished pediatric neurosurgeon known for his pioneering work in stem cell therapy for pediatric brain injuries and hearing loss. He currently serves as the Surgical Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at the Walt Disney Pavilion, Florida Hospital for Children, and as a Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Baumgartner’s extensive research and clinical expertise have significantly advanced the field of pediatric neurosurgery.

🎓 Education:

Dr. Baumgartner completed his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Michigan in 1979. He then pursued an MPhil in Pharmacology at Cambridge University, England, graduating in 1981. He returned to the University of Michigan to earn his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in 1985. His postgraduate training includes a surgical internship and a neurosurgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed by a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at UCSF.

🔍 Research Focus:

Dr. Baumgartner’s research primarily revolves around pediatric neurosurgery, with a significant focus on the application of stem cell therapy for treating traumatic brain injuries and hearing loss in children. He has contributed to groundbreaking publications on the use of stem cells and has extensively studied the neurosurgical treatment of central nervous system (CNS) mass lesions in AIDS patients and the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus and primary CNS lymphoma in AIDS.

🏆 Honors & Awards:

Throughout his career, Dr. Baumgartner has received numerous honors and awards, including the prestigious Power Exchange Scholarship at Cambridge University from 1979 to 1981. His innovative research has been recognized with significant funding from national institutes and foundations.

Professional Experience: 💼

Dr. Baumgartner began his professional career as a Clinical Instructor in Neurosurgery at UCSF. He later served as an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In 2011, he became the Surgical Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Florida Hospital, Orlando, and has held the position of Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Central Florida since 2013. He is also the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at AdventHealth for Children.

📚 Top Noted Publications :

Title: Palliation for catastrophic nonlocalizing epilepsy: a retrospective case series of complete corpus callosotomy at a single institution
Authors: Baumgartner, J.E.; Ajmal, F.Q.; Baumgartner, M.E.; Manthripragada, L.; Lee, K.H.
Journal: Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics
Citations: 0
Index: 32(5)
Year of Publish: 2023

Title: Deep neural networks and gradient-weighted class activation mapping to classify and analyze EEG
Authors: Gireesh, E.D.; Skinner, H.; Seo, J.; Baumgartner, J.; Gurupur, V.
Journal: Intelligent Decision Technologies
Citations: 1
Index: 17(1)
Year of Publish: 2023

Title: Efficacy of laser interstitial thermal therapy for biopsy-proven radiation necrosis in radiographically recurrent brain metastases
Authors: Chan, M.; Tatter, S.; Chiang, V.; Piccioni, D.; Laxton, A.
Journal: Neuro-Oncology Advances
Citations: 5
Index: 5(1)
Year of Publish: 2023

Title: Intracranial EEG and laser interstitial thermal therapy in MRI-negative insular and/or cingulate epilepsy: Case series
Authors: Gireesh, E.D.; Lee, K.; Skinner, H.; Castillo, E.; Baumgartner, J.
Journal: Journal of Neurosurgery
Citations: 20
Index: 135(3)
Year of Publish: 2021

Title: Progenitor cell therapy for acquired pediatric nervous system injury: Traumatic brain injury and acquired sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Baumgartner, J.E.; Baumgartner, L.S.; Baumgartner, M.E.; Seidman, M.D.; Shook, D.R.
Journal: Stem Cells Translational Medicine
Citations: 4
Index: 10(2)
Year of Publish: 2021

Author Metrics 📊 :

Dr. Baumgartner’s research has garnered significant academic attention, with numerous citations and recognition in the medical community. He has been involved in multiple funded protocols and grants, leading to advancements in pediatric neurosurgery and stem cell therapy.

📅 Research Timeline:

1991-1992: Clinical Instructor in Neurosurgery at UCSF

1992-2006: Assistant and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston

2006-2011: Research Collaborator in Pediatric Surgery at The University of Texas Medical School-Houston

2011-Present: Surgical Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Florida Hospital, Orlando

2013-Present: Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Central Florida

2019-Present: Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at AdventHealth for Children