Ivan H. El-Sayed

Ivan H. El-Sayed is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he directs the Otolaryngology Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery program. He serves on the North American Skull Base Society Directors Board and chairs the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Skull Base Committee. His work combines clinical expertise in skull base surgery with innovative nanotechnology research for oral cancer detection.

• Education:
  • Sc.B. in Neuroscience, Brown University (1992)
  • M.D., Boston University Medical School (1996)
  • Otolaryngology-HNS residency, Boston University Medical Center (2001)
  • Head and Neck Oncology fellowship, UCSF (2003)

Research Interests: Dr. El-Sayed specializes in skull base surgical techniques, including endoscopic approaches, and develops plasmonic nanomaterials for cancer diagnostics and therapy. His work bridges surgical oncology and biomedical engineering, focusing on oral cancer, head and neck tumor visualization, and intraoperative vascular monitoring.

Publication Trends: Recent articles emphasize skull base anatomical innovations, AI-assisted surgical planning, and immunotherapy biomarkers for head and neck cancers. Collaborative works often integrate neurosurgical and otolaryngological perspectives, with technical advancements in indocyanine green angiography and computer vision.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (1995)
  • First Place in Ethics, New England Otolaryngology Society (1998)
  • Multiple U.S. Patents (2002, 2007)
  • Board Certification (2003)
  • Quality Improvement Awards (2005, 2007)
  • Hot Papers and #1 Ranked Chemistry Article (2007, 2008)
  • Most Accessed Articles in Bioconjugate Chemistry (2007-2008)

Grants & Patents: Co-holder of two U.S. patents related to gold nanoparticle diagnostics and plasmonic theranostics. Active in clinical trial analyses and surgical technique development funded through UCSF and collaborative grants.