DISCOVERY / RESEARCH

Research in neuroscience, anatomy and surgery.

Our programmes examine neurological recovery, spinal pain, neuroimaging and restoration of function, informed by scientific evidence and clinical practice.

Explore current projects

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01 / RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY

From observation to evidence.

Our research centres on patterns of neurological recovery, restoration of function, and evidence-based management of spinal and neurological disease.

Working across the clinic, operating theatre and imaging suite, we study radiculopathy recovery, surgical outcomes, spinal pain management and anatomical localisation, while pursuing clinically informed neuroscience hypotheses.

02 / RESEARCH THEMES

Three areas of focus.

Distinct fields united by their clinical relevance and commitment to rigorous anatomical and scientific enquiry.

01 / SURGICAL SCIENCE

Neurosurgery

Investigating posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), spinal pain management, operative techniques and the relationship between surgical intervention and functional recovery.

PLIF researchSpinal painFunctional outcomes

02 / FUNCTION & DISEASE

Clinical Neuroscience

Examining recovery patterns following radiculopathy, restoration of motor function and clinically relevant hypotheses linking neural circuitry to neurosurgical disease.

Radiculopathy recoveryMotor functionHabenula

03 / STRUCTURE & IMAGING

Neuroanatomy and Neuroimaging

Investigating neural structures, anatomical variation and quantitative MRI-based localisation to advance anatomical understanding and inform neurosurgical approaches.

NeuroanatomyMRI morphometrySurgical planning

03 / CURRENT PROJECTS

Projects in progress.

Ongoing work spans spine pain management, neurological recovery, surgical outcomes, case reporting and advanced neuroanatomical imaging.

01NEUROSURGERY / SPINAL RESEARCH

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)

Active clinical research into posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), focusing on spinal pain management, postoperative recovery, restoration of function and meaningful patient-reported and clinical outcomes. Specific analyses remain in development.

02NEUROSURGERY / CLINICAL OUTCOMES

Lumbar fusion: retrospective cohort study

A retrospective cohort study of approximately 400 lumbar fusion cases, examining surgical approaches and associated clinical outcomes.

03CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE / RADICULOPATHY

Mapping clinical presentations in lumbar nerve-root decompression

A study mapping pain distributions, sensory disturbances and motor deficits in patients undergoing lumbar nerve-root decompression, with a focus on identifying clinically relevant patterns of lumbar radiculopathy.

04NEUROANATOMY / NEUROIMAGING

MRI localisation of the habenula for surgical planning

Investigating reproducible anatomical localisation of the left and right habenula on magnetic resonance imaging, including reference to AC–PC landmarks, with potential applications in image-guided neurosurgical planning.

05CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE / HYPOTHESIS

The habenula as a locus of neurosurgical stress

A hypothesis-based review examining whether the habenula's periventricular anatomy, connections and established roles in stress-related signalling may provide a useful framework for understanding responses to neurosurgical pathology.

06CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE / OUTCOMES

Patterns of neurological recovery following radiculopathy

Investigating the course and variability of neurological improvement after nerve-root compromise, with particular interest in motor weakness, recovery trajectories and predictors of functional restoration.

07NEUROSURGERY / PAIN MANAGEMENT

Spinal pain management and restoration of function

Clinically grounded enquiry into lumbar radicular pain and spinal pathology, including how interventions, imaging findings and postoperative recovery relate to pain relief, mobility and functional outcomes.

08NEUROSURGERY / CASE REPORT

Arachnoid cyst and subdural haematoma in pregnancy

A clinical case report exploring a large intracranial arachnoid cyst presenting alongside a subdural haematoma during pregnancy, its neurosurgical management and the marked cerebral re-expansion following postpartum cyst fenestration.

Project descriptions reflect work in development and do not imply completed results, validated findings or publication.

04 / SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

Influential clinical research.

Three influential areas of clinical research with ongoing relevance to spinal care and neurological recovery.

01 / MOTOR RECOVERY

Predicting recovery from foot drop

A 2009 study characterised ankle dorsiflexion recovery after lumbar decompression, providing clinically useful insight into recovery timelines and the importance of preoperative strength.

2009 paper ↗

02 / MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE

Early comparative PLIF research

An early prospective comparison of minimal-access and open PLIF helped develop the evidence base for minimally invasive spinal fusion, with longer-term follow-up reported subsequently.

2010 paper ↗

03 / RADICULAR PAIN MANAGEMENT

Evidence for transforaminal steroid injections

A 2010 randomised controlled trial examined the efficacy of transforaminal steroid injections for lumbar radicular pain, helping inform evidence-based decisions about non-surgical treatment.

2010 paper ↗

05 / SCHOLARLY OUTPUT

Publications and research outputs.

2026

SPINAL ANATOMY

The Hidden Anatomy of Low Back Pain: Uncovering the Impact of Mamillo-Accessory Ligament Ossification

Piper JA, Faen K, Cai A, Ghahreman A, Rajadurai S, Musumeci G, Castorina A

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2026;11(1):100.

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2026

SPINE SURGERY

Strategies to prevent postoperative surgical site infection in spinal surgery: a narrative review

Pathinathan K, Ghahreman A, Diwan A

European Spine Journal. 2026;35(7):4198–4206.

2024

CLINICAL CASES

Concurrent multiple cerebral cavernous malformations and cauda equina paraganglioma: illustrative case

Liu D, Rodriguez M, Ross D, Ghahreman A

Journal of Neurosurgery: Case Lessons. 2024;8(6):CASE24102.

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2024

NEUROANATOMY & IMAGING

The Neuroanatomy of the Habenular Complex and Its Role in the Regulation of Affective Behaviors

Piper JA, Musumeci G, Castorina A

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2024;9(1):14.

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2020

NEUROIMAGING

MRI predictors of revision surgery after primary lumbar discectomy

Abdul Jalil MF, Dower A, Tawfik S, Brooks M, Davies MA, Ghahreman A

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2020;81:442–446.

2019

RADICULAR PAIN

Pathological basis of lumbar radicular pain

Dower A, Ghahreman A

World Neurosurgery. Published online 24 April 2019.

2016

CLINICAL CASES

Large intracranial meningioma masquerading as Parkinson’s disease

Fong M, Ghahreman A, Masters L, Huynh W

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 2016;87(11):1251.

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2013

SPINE SURGERY

Long-term follow-up of minimal access and open posterior lumbar interbody fusion for spondylolisthesis

Cheung NK, Ghahreman A, Ferch RD

Neurosurgery. 2013;72:443–450.

2013

SPINE SURGERY

Cervical disc arthroplasty for the treatment of spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy

Khong P, Ghahreman A, Davies M

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2013;20(10):1411–1416.

2011

RADICULAR PAIN

Predictors of a favourable response to transforaminal injection of steroids in patients with lumbar radicular pain due to disc herniation

Ghahreman A, Bogduk N

Pain Medicine. 2011;12(6):871–879.

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2010

RADICULAR PAIN

The efficacy of transforaminal injection of steroids for the treatment of lumbar radicular pain

Ghahreman A, Ferch RD, Bogduk N

Pain Medicine. 2010;11(8):1149–1168.

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2010

SPINE SURGERY

Minimal access versus open posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of spondylolisthesis

Ghahreman A, Ferch RD, Rao PJ, Bogduk N

Neurosurgery. 2010;66(2):296–304.

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2009

SPINE SURGERY

Dynamic cervical plates in anterior cervical decompression and fusion surgery

Ghahreman A, Rao PJ, Ferch RD

Spine. 2009;34(15):1567–1571.

2009

NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY

Recovery of ankle dorsiflexion weakness following lumbar decompressive surgery

Ghahreman A, Ferch RD, Rao PJ, Chandran N, Shadbolt B

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2009;16(8):1024–1027.

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2008

SPINE SURGERY

Clinical and functional outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy without fusion

Rao PJ, Christie JG, Ghahreman A, Cartwright CA, Ferch RD

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2008;15:1354–1359.

2008

CRANIAL SURGERY

Purely endoscopic resection of colloid cysts

Greenlee JD, Teo C, Ghahreman A, Kwok B

Neurosurgery. 2008;62(3 Suppl 1):51–55.

2005

CLINICAL CASES

Non-accidental head injuries in children: a Sydney experience

Ghahreman A, Bhasin V, Chaseling R, Andrews B, Lang EW

Journal of Neurosurgery. 2005;103(3 Suppl):213–218.

2003

CLINICAL CASES

Small-cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and a paraneoplastic syndrome

Ghahreman A, Booth M, Cutfield R, Wright C

New Zealand Medical Journal. 2003;116(1186):U686.

1999

CLINICAL CASES

Cholecystostomy: a review of recent experience

Ghahreman A, McCall JL, Windsor JA

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 1999;69(12):837–840.

Published research associated with our leadership, including work completed prior to the Institute’s establishment. Publications are arranged by year, newest first.

05 / HOW WE WORK

A connected research process.

Clinical question

Identify an important question from clinical experience.

Sound methodology

Design an appropriate, ethical and reproducible approach.

Collaborative analysis

Bring relevant expertise together to interpret findings.

Knowledge sharing

Communicate evidence clearly to clinical and academic audiences.

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