Patrick Fillingham, PhD, is an engineering researcher and Assistant Professor in the University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from UW, working in the Novosselov Research Group on applied fluid dynamics research. He joined the Neurological Surgery Department to work with the Stroke and Applied NeuroScience Center in 2020. His work focuses on using computational simulations to study the hemodynamics of cerebrovascular and neurological diseases.

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

I grew up in Seattle Washington before attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for my undergraduate education. I moved back to Seattle to complete my PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UW, where I still live with my wife, daughter and two dogs. 

What led you to become involved with brain aneurysm research?

I was given the opportunity to join the Stroke and Applied NeuroScience center to work on developing computational fluid dynamics simulation with Dr. Mike Levitt and have dedicated my research efforts to improving the treatment of cerebral aneurysms ever since. 

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

My project aims to develop a clinically useful tool for simulating endovascular aneurysm coiling in order to chose the optimum treatment strategy on a patient specific basis. 

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

I hope to help clinicians understand the optimum way to deploy endovascular coils to ensure embolization and avoid recurrence and retreatment. 

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

This funding will allow me to dedicate the time and resources to build a user friendly application for simulating aneurysm coiling, making it clinically available.