Zafer Keser, M.D.

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SUMMARY

Zafer Keser, M.D., researches innovative experimental therapy options to enhance post-stroke recovery and reduce overall burden of stroke-related disabilities. Some of the leading causes of disabilities worldwide are strokes. He is using invasive and noninvasive neuromodulation techniques to enhance post-stroke recovery. Dr. Keser studies advanced imaging and neurophysiology as individualized biomarkers in stroke recovery. Another area of his research is investigating natural history and therapy options in craniocervical artery dissections.

Focus areas

• Neuromodulation for post-stroke recovery. Dr. Keser studies the therapeutic utility of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in enhancing cerebral blood flow in people with chronic vasculopathy. He also researches expanding the use of vagal nerve stimulation into post-stroke language and cognitive impairments.
• Advanced biomarkers of recovery. Dr. Keser researches using transcranial magnetic stimulation electroencephalograms and advanced diffusion MRIs to characterize natural post-stroke recovery trajectories. He also individualizes neuromodulation for people with strokes.
• Craniocervical artery dissections. Dr. Keser also focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prognosis and treatment of craniocervical dissections. He leads projects and collaborates nationally and internationally on optimal medical and surgical treatments of craniocervical dissections.

Significance to patient care

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and despite standard of care therapies, many stroke survivors are left with long-term impairments. Dr. Keser and his colleagues' goal is to increase therapy options to reduce overall disabilities after strokes. Neuromodulation emerges as a promising treatment option to improve the quality of life of stroke survivors.

Additionally, craniocervical artery dissections are a common cause of strokes in young people. Dr. Keser and his team focus on better understanding these dissections and providing individualized medical and surgical treatments to improve outcomes.

Professional highlights

• Member, core group, Mayo Clinic Neuromodulation Committee, Mayo Clinic, 2021-present.
• Mayo Career Development Award, Mayo Clinic, 2023-2026.
• Mayo Clinic Scholar, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 2021-2022.
• Teacher of the Year, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 2022.
• Co-principal investigator, Augmenting Cerebral Perfusion With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Moyamoya Disease. Johns Hopkins-Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Research Center, 2020-2021.