Roy Daniel

Roy Daniel is an Associate Professor at the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and Chief Physician in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). He is affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine and has been a key figure in advancing neurosurgical care and research since his appointment on December 1, 2013.

His clinical responsibilities include skull base surgery, vascular neurosurgery, and pediatric neurosurgery, with a specialization in brain tumor surgery. He has developed innovative surgical techniques that are now standards in leading epilepsy centers worldwide.

• Born in India in 1964
• Graduated from Kerala State Medical College (1989)
• Qualified as a neurosurgeon from Christian Medical College, Vellore (1997)
• Completed advanced training at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia (2001–2002) and CHUV, Switzerland (2002–2004)
• Served as Associate Professor and later Full Professor at Christian Medical College, Vellore (2004–2009)
• Joined CHUV and UNIL as Visiting Professor in 2009, promoted to Chief Physician in 2011

Roy Daniel’s research integrates clinical innovation with fundamental neuroscience. His work focuses on improving outcomes for complex neurosurgical conditions through minimally invasive and combined techniques. He collaborates with the Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, particularly with Prof. Ron Stoop, on the neurobiology of epilepsy, stress, and anxiety, using in vitro and in vivo rat models to uncover underlying mechanisms and identify new treatment strategies.

His surgical innovations include non-invasive endoscopic pituitary surgery, combined microsurgery and Gamma Knife radiosurgery for skull base tumors, and a novel hemispheric disconnection technique for pediatric epilepsy. He has also developed new surgical implants for cervico-occipital junction realignment in collaboration with an American team. These advancements have significantly reduced postoperative complications and improved patient outcomes.

Roy Daniel leads ongoing clinical research projects at Swiss, European, and international multicenter levels in skull base and vascular neurosurgery. He coordinates collaborative research between laboratories in India and Lausanne and has received research grants from both Indian and Swiss government agencies.

He is a strong advocate for multidisciplinary collaboration, modern surgical practices, and rigorous teaching, contributing actively to establishing the Neurosurgery Department at CHUV as a center of excellence.