University of California lab coat hanging up with the lab bench in the background

Awake Mapping Research Could Clarify Treatment Choices

UCSF neurosurgeon Dr. Hervey-Jumper (right) and resident Dr. Jonathan Breshears perform an awake brain mapping procedure

The research program of neurosurgeon Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD, is deeply influenced by his patients’ struggles to understand how treatment will affect their quality of life. This is especially important, he says, given that we now know molecular markers that indicate a brain tumor patient’s likely prognosis, and 70 percent of surviving patients experience cognitive dysfunction that leads to reduced quality of life.

UCSF neurosurgeon Shawn Hervey-Jumper performs an awake brain mapping procedure
Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD (right) specializes in awake brain mapping to preserve language and cognitive function for patients with brain tumors.

Hervey-Jumper’s research, therefore, aims to understand the mechanisms by which gliomas disturb functional language and cognitive networks. A 2017 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Harold Amos Scholar and recipient of a UCSF Brain SPORE Career Development award, Hervey-Jumper says that better understanding of why a significant percentage of gliomas remain functionally relevant could have an important impact on decisions about what to remove during surgery, as well as patients’ subsequent treatment. To that end, Hervey-Jumper tests patients’ language and cognitive function prior to surgery. Then, during awake surgeries, he uses magnetoencephalography (MEG) or electrocorticography (ECoG) to more closely measure areas of functional connectivity within patient gliomas. He grows glioma cells for experiments in his laboratory to better understand how functionally connected glioma cells grow. And post surgery, Hervey-Jumper follows participating patients regularly by testing their cognition and language abilities. His initial work has indicated more synaptogenic activity in areas of high connectivity.

“As we develop this, I am hoping we can better explain to patients the risks of their operations and make more informed choices about the options we pursue and when these options should be considered,” he says.

As we develop this, I am hoping we can better explain to patients the risks of their operations and make more informed choices about the options we pursue and when these options should be considered.

Shawn Hervey-Jumper, MD

Learn more about awake brain mapping here