I am a neurocritical care fellow at Massachusetts General Brigham in Boston. Originally from Mexico City, I completed my medical training there before pursuing a PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Maiken Nedergaard at the University of Rochester, where I studied neurovascular physiology and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. I completed my adult neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania. I am currently conducting research in the lab of Dr. David Chung at MGH, in collaboration with Dr. Li-Huei Tsai at MIT. My work focuses on how impaired CSF clearance contributes to injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage and aims to identify translational strategies to restore glymphatic function and improve outcomes. My long-term goal is to develop an independent research program at the intersection of neurocritical care and cerebrovascular physiology, with a focus on acute brain injury and recovery mechanisms that can be targeted through bench-to-bedside approaches.

Please tell us your background, where you are from, schooling, etc.

MD, Universidad Anahuac Mexico City
PhD, University of Rochester Medical Center
Neurology Residency, University of Pennsylvania
Neurocritical Care Fellowship, Massachusetts General Brigham (current)

What led you to become involved with brain aneurysm research?

The brain depends on a carefully regulated environment to function—both a steady supply of blood to deliver oxygen and nutrients and a clear, balanced fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to protect and stabilize its surroundings. When an aneurysm ruptures and causes a subarachnoid hemorrhage, this balance is shattered: blood floods the space around the brain and mixes with the CSF, disrupting both circulation and the brain’s delicate chemical environment. These changes can have devastating consequences. During my neurology training, I was profoundly moved by the patients I cared for with this condition, which inspired me to pursue a fellowship in neurocritical care. My hope is to combine my scientific background with my clinical experience to better understand how this disruption occurs—and to develop strategies to restore balance and improve outcomes for patients and families facing this life-threatening disease.

In the simplest terms, what is the purpose of your project?

My research focuses on how blood flows through the brain and what happens when that process goes wrong after a brain aneurysm. Under normal conditions, tiny blood vessels in the brain pulse together in a synchronized rhythm—this is called vasomotion, and it helps maintain healthy circulation and fluid clearance. We believe that nerves surrounding these vessels help keep that rhythm going. But after a subarachnoid hemorrhage (when an aneurysm bursts), blood irritates the vessels, and this rhythm is lost. We think that this loss plays a key role in dangerous complications like vessel narrowing (vasospasm) and delayed strokes. To help restore this lost rhythm, we’re using a promising technology called GENUS—originally developed for Alzheimer’s—which uses light and sound to boost brain waves that may help restart vasomotion. Our goal is to see if this can improve brain fluid drainage and reduce complications after a hemorrhage.

In the simplest terms, what do you hope will change through your research findings?

Our goal is to find safe, non-invasive treatments that can be used in the ICU after a brain aneurysm bursts. We want to prevent serious complications like vessel narrowing and reduced blood flow, which often lead to worse outcomes. We’re especially excited about a new approach called GENUS, which may also help patients with other types of brain injuries, like stroke, bleeding, or trauma.

Why is the funding you are receiving through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation so important?

I want to sincerely thank the Brain Aneurysm Foundation for this generous support. As a neurocritical care fellow, this funding is essential—it provides the seed support I need to pursue a high-risk, potentially high-reward line of research at the labs of Dr. David Chung at MGH and Dr. Li-Huei Tsai at MIT. This award is not only enabling early progress on an exciting new project, but is also giving me the support necessary to prepare a competitive NIH K08 application and take the first steps toward launching an independent research career. I’m truly grateful for the Foundation’s commitment to supporting early-stage investigators and advancing research in subarachnoid hemorrhage.