Gregory A Helm, MD, PhD
Department: Neurological Surgery Division: General Neurological Surgery Appointment Title: Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery ABMS Certification: Neurological Surgery, 2003 Other Appointment: Biomedical EngineeringContact Information
Primary Location:Spine Center Third Floor Suite 3100 415 Ray C. Hunt Dr. Charlottesville, VA 22908 Phone: 434.924.1642
Biography
Dr. Helm was born in Fort Belvoir, Va. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, from Virginia Tech.
He has a large clinical practice in general neurosurgery, in addition to performing the acoustic neuroma surgeries within the department. He directed the molecular neurosurgery and neurotrauma laboratories.
The molecular neurosurgery lab focused on tissue engineering, especially for the induction of bone in the paraspinal regions to obtain spinal fusions. These studies involved gene therapy approaches using a variety of vectors, including AAV and adenovirus. In addition, the application of mesenchymal stem cells for the induction of bony and ligamentous tissues was also of interest to the lab.
The neurotrauma laboratory focused on apoptotic pathways involved in traumatic axonal injury, as well as neuronal injury. The lab was involved with several projects involving blast-induced traumatic brain injury, funded through the Department of Defense.
He has been awarded $2.7 million in research funding from NIH and other sources. He has written more than 100 publications and is the holder of three patents.
