Redefining Global Standards in Neurosurgery Research and Clinical Procedures

Gamma Knife: just one of the leading-edge technologies used by our neurosurgeons

Recent research highlights spotlight ongoing advancements in vascular and functional neurosurgery. A defining strength is the launch of several high-impact clinical trials, with University of Alberta neurosurgical faculty serving as Principal Investigators on the global stage.

Vascular Neurosurgery
Under the leadership of Dr. Tim Darsaut, the following international, multicentre, registered clinical trials are at various stages of completion:

The RISE trial comparing use of the woven endo-bridge (WEB) device vs endovascular coiling for wide-necked cerebral aneurysms has nearly completed recruitment and will soon be ready to report (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03936647).

The Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Trial (MCAAT): A Randomized Care Trial Comparing Surgical and Endovascular Management of MCA Aneurysm Patients (surgery vs endovascular treatments for MCA aneurysms) is now active in 3 centers (Canada, Qatar, Australia), with 5 new French centers IRB-approved and scheduled to open https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03936647

TATAM, a trial on the trans-venous treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), was reported in June 2025 in Stroke. The last word has not been said for this innovative treatment, and the team has now finalized the design of TATAM-2 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03691870).

Two international studies, the Comprehensive Aneurysm Management (CAM) care trial on unruptured aneurysms and the Treatment of Brain AVMs (TOBAS) study continue to recruit.

Gamma Knife
Principal Investigator Dr. Tejas Sankar, along with neurosurgical co-Investigators Dr. Gregory Bowden and Dr. Matt Wheatley, co-investigators from Neurology and Radiation Oncology, and neurosurgery graduate student and lead study coordinator Amanda Lussoso, have recently launched the URGEnt-TN trial for patients with newly diagnosed Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06949436

TN is one of the most painful conditions known, characterized by sudden, severe attacks of stabbing or shocking facial pain in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve. Typically, it is initially treated with neuropathic pain medication, but >50% of patients stop responding to medication or can no longer tolerate medication-related side effects, and may be considered for surgery, with Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery being the least-invasive option. The rate of recurrent pain after Gamma Knife in TN is known to be higher in patients who are treated several years after the onset of the disease, as opposed to those treated earlier. The URGEnt-TN study seeks to test—for the first time ever—the hypothesis that ultra-early Gamma Knife, administered shortly after TN diagnosis, will result in superior long-term pain relief with fewer side effects compared to standard medical management.

The full clinical trial protocol has recently been published: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-025-09321-8