Principal Investigator
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Santiago Ortega-Gutiérrez, MD, MSc, FAHA, FSVIN
Dr. Santiago Ortega-Gutiérrez is a physician who specializes in Neurointerventional Surgery. He currently serves as the Director of Neurointervention for Neurology at UIHC, and is the president elect of the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology. He hopes to develop prominent research to improve the care and management of stroke and cerebrovascular disease patients.
Investigator
Mario Zanaty, MD
Title/Position
Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
Lab Managers
Milagros Galecio-Castillo, MD
Title/Position
Scientific and Biostatistics Lead
Dr. Milagros Galecio-Castillo is a Peruvian neurologist pursuing advanced neurology training in the US. She is passionate about stroke, neurogenetics, and movement disorders, with a strong focus on applying clinical research and biostatistics to drive advancements in these fields. Her leadership has resulted in research grants, publications in high-impact journals, and presentations at key conferences such as SVIN, ISC, and AAN. Currently, she serves as a team leader and study coordinator, preparing for a long-term career as a physician-scientist.
Jorge Cespedes, MD
Title/Position
Clinical trials and Lab Operations
Dr Céspedes, is a Costa Rican physician and neurosciences researcher focused on advancing patient care through clinical research. He completed medical training at the Universidad Autónoma de Centroamérica, Postgraduate Medical Education at Harvard Medical School, and bioethics studies in Rome, Italy. He previously served as a Postgraduate Research Associate at Yale University. He has co-authored several publications in leading neurology and neurosurgery journals. His interests include neurosurgery, neurological disorders, and social work, with global experience in Colombia, Bolivia, and Africa. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, hiking, and Nordic skiing.
Assistant Manager
Carlos Contreras
Title/Position
Assistant Manager
Clinical Trials and Lab Operations
Carlos Contreras is a researcher at the Cerebrovascular & Neurointerventional Lab at the University of Iowa, where he contributes to the planning and execution of clinical trials, optimizing research processes, and ensuring regulatory compliance. His work focuses on integrating innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches to advance cerebrovascular research. In addition to his work in academia, he has experience in GovTech initiatives such as Jarín-Jarín, a project accelerated by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, which leverages artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to monitor public infrastructure and enhance transparency. He has also led international market research, particularly through the "Bean to Bar" project, which facilitated the commercialization of Colombian chocolate in Japan by integrating sustainability and innovation strategies.
Research Fellows
Leonardo Cruz-Criollo, MD
Dr. Leonardo Cruz-Criollo is a Peruvian neurologist who completed his residency at the renowned Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas through the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM). During his residency, he developed a deep interest in vascular neurology, endovascular neurology, and neurocritical care. As part of his residency training, he enhanced his expertise through observerships in Canada and Mexico, focusing on vascular and endovascular neurology.
Driven by his passion for advancing medical knowledge and innovative treatments, Dr. Cruz-Criollo came to the United States to collaborate on research in cerebrovascular diseases, neurocritical care and neurointervention. He is committed to driving innovations that transform clinical practices and improve patient outcomes.
Anderson Brito Alvarado, MD
Dr. Brito Alvarado earned his medical degree from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) in the Dominican Republic. He has a deep passion for clinical research and is dedicated to advancing patient care through innovative approaches in neurosurgery. Aspiring to become a neurological surgeon, his focus is on improving outcomes for patients with critical neurological conditions. Prior to joining the Cerebrovascular and Neurointerventional (CVNI) lab, Dr. Brito Alvarado served as a research fellow at the Dominican Gamma Knife Center, where he co-authored several publications on Gamma Knife radiosurgery.
Nashwa Abdelhakim, MD, PhD
Dr. Nashwa is an Egyptian neurologist who graduated from Minia University. She earned her MSc and PhD from the Department of Neurology, at Minia University before she moved to the USA to expand her experience and knowledge in Neurology. Dr. Nashwa has a great passion for vascular neurology, neurophysiology, and neuroimmunology. Her research aims to improve outcomes in cerebrovascular accidents. Her goal is to prepare for her career as a physician and significantly participate in clinical research that would be game-changing and improve patient care in clinical practice. Dr. Nashwa believes that passion, hard work, persistence, and communication are the cornerstone of being a good physician.
Undergraduate Students
Jenny Huynh
Jenny Huynh is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa studying Biology. Her interest in neurology research stems from her desire to learn more about the human brain and her past experiences volunteering with the hospital's neuroscience unit. She plans on going to medical school and hopes to make meaningful differences in the lives of patients.
Arsh Manazir
Arsh is an undergraduate student majoring in neuroscience. Passionate about medical research, he strives to assist with research projects focused on treating neurological disease. His experiences at the lab fuel his ambition to pursue a career in the medical field, with a keen interest in neurology.