Sandeep Kunwar, M.D., F.A.C.S
Neurosurgeon
Co-Medical Director, Gamma Knife Program
Board certified in neurosurgery and renowned for his work in minimally invasive neurosurgery, Dr. Kunwar played an instrumental role in the evolution of the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute where he now serves as medical director for three of the Institute’s programs: co-medical director of the Gamma Knife® Program, medical director of the Endoscopic Skull Base and Pituitary Center and co-medical director of the Movement Disorders Program.
In addition to his focus on Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Dr. Kunwar specializes in minimally invasive brain and spine surgery. His innovative work in these fields and pioneering research in drug delivery to the brain have brought him national and international recognition. He has performed more than 2,500 minimally invasive operations, and has developed a minimally-invasive approach to skull-based tumors and improved access to the spine.
Dr. Kunwar is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical society and is a recipient of the Preuss Resident Research Award and the Ronald Bittner Tumor Award from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He has served as the lead principal investigator for a number of international multi-institutional clinical trials, including the largest surgical based drug trial for brain tumors (PRECISE trial).
In 2006, Dr. Kunwar began his private practice in Fremont, California after 7 years successfull practice at UCSF. He joined the medical community at Washington Hospital Healthcare System. He also continues to serve as an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery on the faculty at UCSF. At UCSF, he developed one of the busiest surgical programs in San Francisco and was selected by world-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles Wilson, to take over his pituitary surgery practice after his retirement. Dr. Kunwar received his medical degree and neurosurgical training at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
Dr. Kunwar's clinical interests include adult brain and spinal cord tumors, minimally invasive spinal surgery, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery for metastatic and primary brain tumors, and the treatment of pituitary adenomas by the endonasal approaches. He has one of the largest pituitary surgical services in the world.
Dr. Kunwar's research includes the development and institution of novel surgical-based therapies for the treatment of malignant gliomas. These strategies utilize tumor-targeted cytocidal proteins delivered through direct intracerebral microinfusion (convection-enhanced delivery), which bypasses the blood-brain barrier. Initial results indicate this to be a safe and effective method for drug delivery with some initial promising results. In the laboratory, in conjunction with Krys Bankiweicz PhD, he is exploring the delivery of other antitumor agents including immunoliposomes (with Dr. John Park) and viral particles into the brain. Studies in rodents and nonhuman primate models are underway in the hope of expanding the ability to selectively target tumor cells and deliver antitumor agents to regions of normal brain infiltrated with tumor.
In 1999, Dr. Kunwar joined the faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the university of San Francisco developing a very busy clinical and research program in one of the best Neurosurgery departments in the United States.
He also works to improve the use of technology to perform standard/ procedures through less invasive approaches. He teaches other Neurosurgeons these advanced technologies. He also presents at national and international medical conferences on a region basis.
Education, Training, and Previous Positions
1988: BA, University of California, Berkeley
1991-92: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar, National Cancer Institute
1993: MD, University of California, San Francisco
1993-1999: Residency in Neurological Surgery, UCSF
1997-1998: Research Fellow, Brain Tumor Research Center, UCSF
Selected Professional Memberships and Appointments
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for Cancer Research
California Association of Neurological Surgeons
Society for Neuro-Oncology
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
California Association of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)
AANS and CNS, Joint Section for Tumors
Selected Honors and Awards
1988: Phi Beta Kappa, University of California, Berkeley
1993: Alpha Omega Alpha, University of California, San Francisco
1999: Preuss Resident Research Award, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons
1999: Edwin Boldrey Basic Science Research Award, San Francisco Neurological Society
2006: Rosegay Resident Teaching Award, Department of Neurological Surgery, UCSF
2006: Best Doctors in America
2007: Best Doctors in America
2008: Best Doctors in America
2009: Best Doctors in America
Selected Recent Publications
Sanai N, Quiñones-Hinojosa A, Narvid J, Kunwar S. Safety and efficacy of the direct endonasal transsphenoidal approach for challenging sellar tumors. J Neurooncol 2007; [Epub ahead of print].
Vogelbaum MA, Sampson JH, Kunwar S, Chang SM, Shaffrey M, Asher AL, Lang FF, Croteau D, Parker K, Grahn AY, Sherman JW, Husain SR, Puri RK. Convection-enhanced delivery of cintredekin besudotox (interleukin-13-PE38QQR) followed by radiation therapy with and without temozolomide in newly diagnosed malignant gliomas: phase 1 study of final safety results. Neurosurgery 2007;61(5):1031-8.
Roy S, Josephson SA, Fridlyand J, Karch J, Kadoch C, Karrim J, Damon L, Treseler P, Kunwar S, Shuman MA, Jones T, Becker CH, Schulman H, Rubenstein JL. Protein biomarker identification in the CSF of patients with CNS lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 2008;26(1):96-105.
Wang VY, Barbaro NM, Lawton MT, Pitts L, Kunwar S, Parsa AT, Gupta N, McDermott MW. Complications of lumboperitoneal shunts. Neurosurgery 2007;60(6):1045-9.
Kunwar S, Prados MD, Chang SM, Berger MS, Lang FF, Piepmeier JM, Sampson JH, Ram Z, Gutin PH, Gibbons RD, Aldape KD, Croteau DJ, Sherman JW, Puri RK; Cintredekin Besudotox Intraparenchymal Study Group. Direct intracerebral delivery of cintredekin besudotox (IL13-PE38QQR) in recurrent malignant glioma: a report by the Cintredekin Besudotox Intraparenchymal Study Group. J Clin Oncol 2007;25(7):837-44.
Chang S, Vogelbaum M, Lang FF, Haines S, Kunwar S, Chiocca EA, Olivi A, Quinones-Hinojosa A, Parsa A, Warnick R; American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS). GNOSIS: guidelines for neuro-oncology: standards for investigational studies--reporting of surgically based therapeutic clinical trials. J Neurooncol 2007;82(2):211-20.
Chi JH, Parsa AT, Berger MS, Kunwar S, McDermott MW. Extended bifrontal craniotomy for midline anterior fossa meningiomas: minimization of retraction-related edema and surgical outcomes. Neurosurgery 2006;59(4 Suppl 2):ONS426-34.
Chi JH, Sughrue M, Kunwar S, Lawton MT. The "yo-yo" technique to prevent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea after anterior clinoidectomy for proximal internal carotid artery aneurysms. Neurosurgery 2006;59(1 Suppl 1):ONS101-7.
Kunwar S, Chang SM, Prados MD, Berger MS, Sampson JH, Croteau D, Sherman JW, Grahn AY, Shu VS, Dul JL, Husain SR, Joshi BH, Pedain C, Puri RK. Safety of intraparenchymal convection-enhanced delivery of cintredekin besudotox in early-phase studies. Neurosurg Focus 2006;20(4):E15.
Sampson JH, Akabani G, Friedman AH, Bigner D, Kunwar S, Berger MS, Bankiewicz KS. Comparison of intratumoral bolus injection and convection-enhanced delivery of radiolabeled antitenascin monoclonal antibodies. Neurosurg Focus 2006;20(4):E14.
Kioi M, Husain SR, Croteau D, Kunwar S, Puri RK. Convection-enhanced delivery of interleukin-13 receptor-directed cytotoxin for malignant glioma therapy [Review]. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2006;5(3):239-50.
Misra A, Pellarin M, Hu L, Kunwar S, Perhouse M, Lamborn KR, Deen DF, Feuerstein BG. Chromosome transfer experiments link regions on chromosome 7 to radiation resistance in human glioblastoma multiforme. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2006;45(1):20-30.
Melisko ME, Kunwar S, Prados M, Berger MS, Park JW. Brain metastases of breast cancer [Review]. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2005;5(2):253-68.
Parney IF, Kunwar S, McDermott M, Berger M, Prados M, Cha S, Croteau D, Puri RK, Chang SM. Neuroradiographic changes following convection-enhanced delivery of the recombinant cytotoxin interleukin 13-PE38QQR for recurrent malignant glioma. J Neurosurg 2005;102(2):267-75.
McDermott MW, Berger MS, Kunwar S, Parsa AT, Sneed PK, Larson DA. Stereotactic radiosurgery and interstitial brachytherapy for glial neoplasms [Review]. J Neurooncol 2004;69(1-3):83-100.
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