Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, Academic Institute
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College
Phone:
713.441.3800
Dr. Barber is a neurosurgeon from Houston, TX, who treats disorders of the spine. He is fellowship-trained in the treatment of spinal tumors and in endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches to the spine. He believes in caring for patients as he would his own family, and tailoring treatment to each patient’s unique situation using both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Dr. Barber is also involved in research into spine tumors and neuroregeneration and is currently enrolling for a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation in patients with spinal cord injury. For more information please contact the study coordinator or administrative staff.
Dr. Barber Is a spine surgeon with a research interest in spinal neuroregeneration and recovery of function after spinal cord injury. Past research efforts have included animal and human studies examining the role of spinal cord stimulation and stem cell transplantation on motor recovery after spinal cord injury. Early human studies have demonstrated that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in combination with motor rehabilitation can induce reorganization of the spinal circuitry, leading to recovery of function (e.g., standing and gait) as well as improving both autonomic nervous system functionality (e.g., cardiovascular and bladder control) and overall well-being, but the effects of current methods of spinal cord stimulation on motor recovery have been relatively modest. We have developed a novel method for spinal cord stimulation that targets motor neurons on the ventral surface of the spinal cord (ventral epidural stimulation), and our early work has demonstrated that ventral stimulation is safe and feasible. Further work is underway to evaluate the efficacy of ventral epidural stimulation in patients with both acute and chronic spinal cord injury.
