Ethan Winkler

Ethan Winkler, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the UCSF School of Medicine. As a dual-trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeon, he specializes in both open microsurgery and endovascular techniques for treating vascular disorders of the brain, neck, and spine in adults and children, including brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and stroke-related conditions.

Education & Training

• BA in Neuroscience, University of Southern California (2006)
• MD and PhD in Medicine/Neurobiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (2014)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Genomics, UCSF (2019)
• Residency in Neurological Surgery, UCSF (2021)
• Fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute (2022)
• Fellowship in Cerebrovascular & Skull Base Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute (2023)

Research Focus

Dr. Winkler directs the UCSF Vascular Anomalies & Stroke Computation (VASC) Laboratory, where his team integrates genomic, stem cell, and bioengineering approaches to study stroke pathogenesis. His research specifically investigates: vascular malformation biology, aneurysm formation mechanisms, and neurovascular dysfunction. The lab develops novel diagnostics like endovascular biopsy and precision therapeutics targeting cerebrovascular diseases.

Publication Trends

Dr. Winkler's recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate three key themes: 1) Innovative surgical techniques for trigeminal neuralgia and complex aneurysms, 2) Classification and management of spinal/endovascular complications, and 3) Molecular investigations of vascular malformations. His work consistently bridges clinical neurosurgery with vascular biology.

Laboratory Leadership

The VASC Laboratory employs single-cell genomics and bioengineering to create cellular atlases of human cerebrovasculature. Current projects focus on identifying genetic drivers of arteriovenous malformations and developing minimally invasive diagnostic platforms. The lab collaborates with computational biologists and stem cell experts to translate findings into clinical applications.