Scientific Advisors
The ABTA relies on leaders and experts in the brain tumor community to make sure the work we do is meaningful and accurate. Our Scientific Advisory Council makes research funding recommendations to the ABTA Board of Directors and advises the ABTA about scientific trends and new areas of research
Scientific Advisory Council
SAC Chair
Maria Castro, PhD
R.C. Schneider Collegiate Professor of Neurosurgery and Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Institution: University of Michigan Medical School
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Manish Aghi, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurosurgery
Institution: University of California, San Francisco
Location: San Francisco, CA
Milan Chheda, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, and Director of Neuro-oncology
Institution: Washington University School of Medicine
Location: St. Louis, MO
Anita Hjelmeland, PhD
Associate Professor, Dept. of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, and Basic Science Co-Leader, Neurooncology Program, O’Neal CCC
Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Location: Birmingham, AL
Immediate Past Chair
Craig Horbinski, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Institution:Mayo Clinic Florida
Location:Jacksonville, Florida
Betty Kim, MD, PhD
Professor, Neurosurgery
Institution: University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center
Location: Houston, TX
Albert Lai, MD, PhD
Professor of Neurology
Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Justin Lathia, PhD
Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, and Scientific Director, Rose Ella Brain Tumor & Neuro-Oncology Center
Institution: Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Location: Cleveland, OH
Todd McDonald, EdD
Patient Advocate
Institution:Vice President of Accounting, The San Diego LGBT Community Center
Location: San Diego, CA
Josh Neman, PhD
Director, Brain Tumor Center, Director, Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center,Keck School of Medicine
Institution: University of Southern California
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Elias Sayour, MD, PhD
Professor for Pediatric Oncology
Institution: University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, FL
Soma Sengupta, MD, PhD, MBA
Chair of Neurology, Neurologist-in-Chief
Institution:Tufts Medical Center
Location: Boston, MA
Markus Siegelin, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology
Institution: Columbia University
Location: New York, NY
Monica Venere, PhD
Associate Professor
Institution: The Ohio State University
Location: Columbus, OH
Derek Wainwright, PhD
Associate Professor, Scientific Director of Brain Tumor Research, Program Leader of Cancer Biology & Therapeutics
Institution: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Location: Maywood, IL
Jennifer Yu, MD, PhD
Professor & Staff Physician-Scientist, co-Leader, Developmental Therapeutics Program
Institution: Cleveland Clinic
Location: Cleveland, OH
