Vikram Rao, MD, PhD

Assoc Prof of Clin Neurology
M_Neurology

Dr. Vikram Rao is a neurologist who specializes in treating patients with epilepsy. He takes a holistic approach to helping patients deal with the challenges of their seizures and works at multiple levels to improve their quality of life. He has a particular interest in utilizing medications, surgery and implanted neurostimulation devices to care for patients with complex epilepsy.

Rao's research involves using direct brain electrical recordings and implanted devices – such as the NeuroPace RNS System for responsive neurostimulation – to better understand how abnormal patterns of brain electrical activity give rise to seizures. He also uses these tools to explore the cognitive dysfunction and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, that are common in epilepsy patients.

Rao earned his medical degree from UCSF, completed his residency at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's hospitals, and returned to UCSF for a fellowship in neurology. He served as chief resident in neurology in 2011 and received the Senior Resident Teacher of the Year award in 2012.

Rao is a member of the American Epilepsy Society, American Academy of Neurology and San Francisco Medical Society.

Publications

Postapproval Study for Brain-Responsive Neurostimulation for Drug-Resistant Focal Epilepsy: Three-Year Efficacy and Interim Safety Results.

Neurology

Eliashiv D, Rao VR, Jobst BC, Szaflarski JP, Rolston JD, Kaye LC, Ganguly TM, Bullinger K, Dugan PC, Burdette DE, Peters AY, Sheikh A, Haas KF, Nair DR, Mnatsakanyan L, Quraishi IH, Bensalem-Owen MK, RNS System PAS Study, Doherty MJ, Razavi B, Fisher TL, Skidmore C, Modur PN, Constantino TM, Salanova V, Cole AJ, Taraschenko O, Rivera-Cruz A, Wheless JW, Tandon N, Balabanov A, Aboumatar S, Fried I, Drees C, Shin HW, Jaisani Z, MacIver SE, Patra SE, Chang EF, Willie JT, Gwinn R, Stoub T, Stern JM, Crabtree T, Seale CG, McFadden SC, Norman JF, Johnson L, Morrell MJ

Targeting acid ceramidase inhibits YAP/TAZ signaling to reduce fibrosis in mice.

Science translational medicine

Alsamman S, Christenson SA, Yu A, Ayad NME, Mooring MS, Segal JM, Hu JK, Schaub JR, Ho SS, Rao V, Marlow MM, Turner SM, Sedki M, Pantano L, Ghoshal S, Ferreira DDS, Ma HY, Duwaerts CC, Espanol-Suner R, Wei L, Newcomb B, Mileva I, Canals D, Hannun YA, Chung RT, Mattis AN, Fuchs BC, Tager AM, Yimlamai D, Weaver VM, Mullen AC, Sheppard D, Chen JY

Epilepsy.

Current biology : CB

Rao VR, Lowenstein DH