Brian D. Silber Award

Brian’s Fund supports the “Brian D. Silber Award” presented each year by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) at their annual meeting. The Award recognizes the best abstract on spinal column or spinal cord tumor research.

2020 Brian D. Silber Award   
Sakibul Huq, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Presented in April 2020
Abstract title: “Epigenetic Modulation as a Novel Treatment Strategy for Chordoma”

2019 Brian D. Silber Award
Rafael A. Vega, MD, PhD, Neurosurgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Presented in April 2019
Abstract title: “Spinal Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy: Outcomes and Lessons Learned from the First 100 Cases“

2018 Brian D. Silber Award     
Anick Nater-Goulet, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Presented in April 2018
Abstract title: “Predictive Factors of Survival in a Surgical Series of Metastatic Epidural Spinal Cord Compression and a Complete External Validation of Eight Multivariable Scoring Systems in a Prospective North American Multi-Centre Study”

2017 Brian D. Silber Award 
Richard Everson, MD, Neurosurgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Presented in April 2017
Abstract title: “Laser Thermotherapy for Spinal Metastatic Disease provides Comparable Local Control, Reduced Morbidity and Shorter Delay to Systemic Therapy Compared to Open Surgery”

2016 Brian D. Silber Award
Ganesh Shankar, MD, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Presented in May 2016
Abstract title: “BRAF Alteration Status and the Histone H3F3A Gene K27M Mutation Segregate Spinal Cord Astrocytoma Histology”

In addition, this research done by Dr. Shankar at MGH is supported by Brian’s Fund.

2015 Brian D. Silber Award
Claudio Tatsui, MD, Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Presented in May 2015
Abstact title: “Laser Interstitial Thermotherapy as an Alternative to Separation Surgery in the Management of Spinal Metastasis“