Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery and Bioengineering
Phone: (412) 692-5881
e-mail: Elizabeth.Tyler-Kabara@chp.edu

Also see Media Appearances below

Specialized Areas of Interest

Cerebral palsy; spasticity; dystonia; movement disorders; pediatric spinal disorders.

Biography

Elizabeth C. Tyler-Kabara, MD, PhD, completed her bachelor’s degree at Duke University, double majoring in biomedical and electrical engineering. After working at the National Institutes of Health as a biomedical engineer, she earned her MD and PhD from Vanderbilt University in 1997. Her graduate research in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics focused on the neurophysiology of the corticostriatal synapse. She completed here internship in general surgery and residency in neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. She then completed a fellowship in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama.

Dr. Tyler-Kabara directs the Neural Enhancement Laboratory in the Department of Neurological Surgery. She is currently an assistant professor in the Departments of Neurological Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh.

In her clinical work she has pioneered the use of expanded endonasal surgery of the skull base in extremely young children. Additional clinical work and her research focus on the restoration of function of both adult and pediatric patients focusing in the area of movement disorders and epilepsy. In particular her research focuses on the use of brain computer interfaces to restore function to those that have suffered neurologic injury. Currently she is employing electrocorticography and microelectrode techniques in conjunction with brain computer interfaces for control of a prosthetic hand.

Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health­—NINDS and NICHD, DARPA, Neilsen and Margot Anderson Foundations, The Copeland Fund and Pedal with Pete. She directs the Pediatric Spasticty and Movement Disorder Program at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and serves on the executive committee for the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

She has authored or coauthored 36 articles published in refereed journals and six book chapters and/or invited publications. She has received the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Margot Anderson Foundation Fellowship in Brain Restoration Research.

Dr. Tyler-Kabara's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.

Hospital Privileges

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
UPMC Presbyterian
UPMC Shadyside

Professional Organization Membership

American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Medical Association
American Medical Student Association
American Medical Women’s Association
American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care (AANS/CNS)
Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Joint Section on Tumors (AANS/CNS)
North American Spine Society
Pennsylvania Medical Society
Sigma Xi
Society for Neuroscience
Women in Engineering
Women in Neurosurgery

Editorial Service

• Ad Hoc Reviewer:

Children’s Nervous System

Media Appearances

Robotic arm gives hope to paralyzed patients
October 23, 2011
CBS The Early Show

Brain linked to robotic hand; success hailed
October 10, 2011
Pittsurgh Post-Gazette

Brain Mapping
April 23, 2010
WQED-TV OnQ Magazine

Pioneering Surgery Saves 5-Year-Old's Life
December 16, 2009
KDKA-TV Evening News

On the mend
July 28, 2009
Youngstown Vindicator