Mark M. Souweidane, MD

I have an active laboratory that focuses on improving the outcome of children with brain tumors by studying brain tumor modeling and innovative approaches to administering chemotherapy.  

Our research on the use of microscopic catheters to deliver therapeutic compounds in surgically inaccessible locations, known as convection-enhanced delivery, has paved the way for clinical studies and the possibility for effective treatments for children who otherwise do not have these options.

For example, in a phase 1 clinical trial that I am leading in children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a type of brain stem glioma, we will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of delivering different dose levels of a novel therapeutic agent called 124I-8H9 directly into the tumor through convection-enhanced delivery. Find out more about this clinical trial and eligibility for enrollment by calling 212-639-2336.

In addition to my role as a neurosurgeon at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, I serve as Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Director of Pediatric Neurological Surgery, and Professor of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College. Nationally, I am Chair of the Neurosurgery Committee of the Children's Oncology Group, and I serve on the editorial boards of several of the most prominent peer-reviewed neurosurgery journals.

I am inspired by the children I treat and the commitment of their parents. When I meet a patient for the first time, I try to gain a level of trust, confidence, and comfort. I recognize that honesty, integrity, and humility are important components of my relationship with my patients and their parents, and these virtues form the foundation of everything I do.