Brian A. Neff, M.D.

Location

SUMMARY

Brian A. Neff, M.D, is an otologist, neurotologist and lateral skull base surgeon specializing in disorders of the ear, temporal bone and lateral skull base.

Focus areas

• Vestibular schwannoma. With his colleagues in neurotology and neurosurgery, Dr. Neff is participating in several multi-institutional trials exploring histone deacetylase uptake into vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas, with funding from the Department of Defense (DOD).

  He is also participating in a DOD study evaluating the effects of aspirin on vestibular schwannoma growth using MRI observation. Along with others in his department, he assists in collecting quality-of-life data that may guide treatment decisions for patients with vestibular schwannomas or neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder.

• Cholesteatoma and chronic otitis media. Dr. Neff has clinical interest in the surgical treatment of patients with ear damage caused by cholesteatoma. He studies patient outcomes, new surgical techniques and approaches for lowering risk of recurrence.
• Cochlear implants. Having a cochlear implant himself due to deafness, Dr. Neff collaborates with cochlear implant companies to work toward improvements in technology and patient hearing performance. He works closely with Colin L. Driscoll, M.D., and Matthew L. Carlson, M.D., to help determine areas of interest in cochlear implant research for the Department of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.

Significance to patient care

In all of his research, Dr. Neff's goal is simple: to make life better for patients with vestibular schwannoma tumors, cholesteatomas or deafness that requires cochlear implants. Part of this goal involves helping patients improve their hearing and avoid social isolation.