KalilGAbdullahMDMSc

Neurosurgery • Pittsburgh, PA

Brain & Spinal Tumor

Assistant Professor

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Office
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Summary

Kalil G. Abdullah, M.D., M.Sc., is a neurosurgeon and scientist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (as of 3/1/2022). He specializes in the treatment of adult brain tumors.

Dr. Abdullah treats brain tumors using microsurgery techniques and awake craniotomies to map intricate regions of the brain during surgery. He also uses endoscopic and tubular approaches, intraoperative fluorescence, and laser therapy to provide minimally invasive surgery options to his patients.

Dr. Abdullah is an NIH R01-funded investigator and runs a research laboratory that develops new drug and treatment targets for brain cancers. He has been the principal investigator for numerous clinical trials for glioma and is actively involved in bringing promising brain tumor drugs from the laboratory to early stage clinical trials. He has published more than 100 research articles and co-edited Glioblastoma, a seminal textbook on malignant gliomas.

Dr. Abdullah earned his medical degree at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, where he was an NIH/Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar. He completed neurosurgery residency in neurological surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and then received advanced training in open and endoscopic neurosurgical oncology through a fellowship at the Wellington Hospital in New Zealand. He completed an additional postdoctoral research fellowship in stem cell biology at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Education & Training

University of Pennsylvania Health SystemResidency, Neurological Surgery, 2012 - 2019
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of MedicineMD, 2007 - 2012
Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineClass of 2012
Clinical Center at the National Institutes of HealthFellowship, Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2009 - 2010
Arizona State UniversityB.S., Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology, Summa Cum Laude, 2005 - 2007

Certifications & Licensure

TX State Medical License 2019 - 2026
PA State Medical License 2014 - 2024
American Board of Neurological Surgery Neurological Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Emerging Investigator Award Academy of Neurological Surgery, 2020
TEDMED Scholarship Award and Attendee TED, 2012
The Alfred P. Maschke Award for Excellence in the Art and Practice of Medicine Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 2012
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar, Bethesda, MD (Cloisters) Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2009
Graduate Student Research Award Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute, 2009
American Medical Association Foundation Seed Grant Recipient AMA, 2008
Full Merit Scholarship Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 2007
Summa Cum Laude Arizona State University, 2007
Sun Award Scholar Arizona State University, 2006
School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Fellowship Arizona State University, 2006
NASA Space Grant Award, University of Hawaii at Manoa National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2005
The Alfred P. Maschke Award for Excellence in the Art and Practice of Medicine 2012
Scholar Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2009
DePuy Spine Research Award 2009
Stryker Spine Research Award 2009
NASA Space Grant Award University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005
Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Nuclear GTPSCS functions as a lactyl-CoA synthetase to promote histone lactylation and gliomagenesis.
Ruilong Liu, Xuelian Ren, Yae Eun Park, Huixu Feng, Xinlei Sheng
Cell Metabolism. 2024-12-04
Matched three-dimensional organoids and two-dimensional cell lines of melanoma brain metastases mirror response to targeted molecular therapy.
William H Hicks, Lauren C Gattie, Mohamad El Shami, Jeffrey I Traylor, Diwakar Davar
Scientific Reports. 2024-10-22
1 citations
Treatment of IDH-mutant glioma in the INDIGO era.
Mathew D Lin, Alexander C-Y Tsai, Kalil G Abdullah, Samuel K McBrayer, Diana D Shi
NPJ Precision Oncology. 2024-07-19

Journal Articles

Quality of Life Outcomes Following Resection of Adult Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors
Xiao R, Miller J, Lubelski D, Mroz TE, Benzel EC, Neurosurgery, 1/20/2015
A systematic review of lumbar fusion rates with and without the use of rhBMP-2
Galimberti F, Lubelski D, Torre-Healy A, Nowacki A, Benzel E, Mroz TE, Spine, 1/7/2015
Reducing surgical site infections following craniotomy: Examination of the use of topical vancomycin
Attiah MA, Olsen, AS, Richardson A, Lucas TH, Journal of Neurosurgery, 1/1/2015
Football and concussion: A review and editorial
Grady MS, Levine JL, Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep, 1/1/2015
Reoperation Rates after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion versus Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy: a propensity matched analysis
Lubelski D, Healy AT, Silverstein MP, Thompson NR, Riew D, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, The Spine Journal, 1/1/2015
Minimally-Invasive Surgery for Traumatic Fractures in Ankylosing Spinal Diseases
Nayak N, Pisapia J, Schuster J, Global Spine J, 1/1/2015
Cost-utility analysis of one and two-level dorsal lumbar fusions with and without recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 at 1-year follow-up
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Journal of Spinal Disorders and Techniques, 1/26/2014
Cost-utility analysis of instrumented fusion versus decompression alone for grade I L4-L5 spondylolisthesis
Alvin M, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, The Spine Journal, 1/5/2014
Cost-utility analysis of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with plating (ACDFP) versus posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) for patients with single-level cervi...
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, The Spine Journal, 1/5/2014
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Metastatic Spine Tumors
Chan NK, Lubelski D, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Shin JH, Mroz TE, Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences, 1/1/2014
Quality of Life Outcomes Following Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Fusion with and without the use of rhBMP-2: Does rhBMP-2 Make a Difference?
Lubelski D, Alvin MD, Healy AT, Nowacki AS, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Global Spine Journal, 1/1/2014
Quality of Life Outcomes Following Thoracolumbar Fusion with and without the use of rhBMP-2: Does rhBMP-2 Make a Difference?
Lubelski D, Alvin MD, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Eur Spine J, 1/1/2014
Clinical Outcomes Following Surgical Management of Coexistent Cervical Stenosis and Multiple Sclerosis
Lubelski D, Alvin MD, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, The Spine Journal, 1/1/2014
Minimally invasive tubular resection of the anomalous transverse process in patients with Bertolotti’s Syndrome
Li M, Lubelski D, Mroz TE, Steinmetz MP, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, 1/1/2014
Artificial cervical disc arthroplasty versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a systematic review
Bakar D, Lubelski D, Mroz TE, Current Orthopaedic Practice, 1/1/2014
Variations in cost calculations in spine surgery cost effectiveness research
Alvin MD, Miller JA, Lubelski D, Rosenbaum B, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Neurosurgical Focus, 1/1/2014
Adverse events with the use of BMP-2 in thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fusions: A nine year institutional analysis
Lubelski D, Alvin MD, Steinmetz MP, Nowacki AS, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Spinal Disord Tech, 1/7/2013
The use of diffusion tensor imaging in glioma resection
Lubelski D, Nucifora P, Brem, Neurosurgical Focus, 1/1/2013
Bevacizumab for Radiation Necrosis Following Treatment of High Grade Glioma: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Lubelski D, Weil RJ, Marko NF, Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 1/1/2013
Rates of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion following initial posterior cervical foraminotomy
Wang T, Lubelski D, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, The Spine Journal, 1/1/2013
Lateral Extracavitary, costotransversectomy, and transthoracic thoracotomy approaches to the thoracic spine: review of techniques and complications
Lubelski D, Steinmetz MP, Masters F, Mroz TE, Benzel EC, Shin JH, J Spinal Disord Tech, 1/1/2013
Urological complications following use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in anterior lumbar interbody fusion: presented at the 2012 Joint Spine Section...
Lubelski D, Nowacki AS, Alvin MD, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, J Neurosurg Spine, 1/1/2013
Morphometric analysis and parameters associated with successful virtual placement of translaminar screws in the subaxial cervical spine
Alvin DA, Steinmetz MP, Lubelski D Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Spine, 1/20/2012
Lateral Extracavitary and Costotransversectomy Approaches to the Thoracic Spine: Lessons Learned
Lubelski D, Mroz TE, Shin JH, Alvin MD, Benzel EC, Steinmetz MP, Neurosurgery, 1/1/2012
An Argument for Increased Incorporation of Endovascular Surgical Training
Sanborn MR, Smith MJ, Grady MS, Malhotra NR, AANS Neurosurgeon, 1/1/2012
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Books/Book Chapters

Glioblastoma
Steven Brem, MD and Kalil G. Abdullah, MDElsevier, PhiladelphiaEdition 1e,2016
Netter’s Anatomy: The Musculoskeletal System
Chapter: The Cervical Spine
Abdullah KG and Mroz TEElsevierEdition 2nd,2014
Spine Surgery- Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management
Chapter: Intraoperative Crisis Management in Spine Surgery: What to Do When Things Go Bad
Tsai E, Benzel EC, Steinmetz MPElsevierEdition 3rd,2012
Spine Surgery- Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management
Chapter: Bilateral Locked Cervical Facets with Incomplete Myelopathy: Open Reduction
Abdullah KG and Steinmetz MPElsevierEdition 3rd,2012
Spine Surgery- Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management
Chapter: Percutaneous and Minimally Invasive Approaches to Decompression and Arthodesis of the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine
Steinmetz MP, Mroz TEElsevierEdition 3rd,2012
Spine Surgery- Techniques, Complication Avoidance, and Management
Chapter: Adjacent Segment Degeneration and Disease of the Cervical and Lumbar Spine
Abdullah KG, Mroz TEElsevierEdition 3rd,2012
Anesthesia for Spine Surgery
Chapter: Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery
Clark JG, Lubelski D, Mroz TECambridge University Press2012
The Evidence for Neurosurgery
Chapter: The Evidence for Instrumentation for Lumbar Fusion
Mroz TE, Abdullah KGTFM Publications2011
Biomechanics
Chapter: Biomechanics of the Craniovertebral Junction
Clark J, Mroz TE, Steinmetz MPIntech Publishing2011
Operative Techniques in Orhopaedics: Spine
Chapter: The Management of Upper Thoracic Tumors
Stitzlein RN, Mroz TE2011
Methods in Molecular Biology
Chapter: “The TaqMan Method for SNP Genotyping”. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms: Methods and Protocols
Shen QG, Wang QKHumana PressEdition 2nd,2009
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Abstracts/Posters

Retrospective Analysis of 30-day All-cause Readmission Rates for Patients Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at Pennsylvania Hospital
Ramayya A, Peirce J, Koch P, Baltuch G, Congress of Neurosurgeons Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2015
Microsurgical treatment of 23 patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts
Burke JF, Thawani J, Berger I, Aschyan H, Pierce J, Nayak N, Kerr M, Welch WC, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Factors associated with recurrence in patients with atypical and malignant meningioma
Thawani J, Bailey R, Aschyan H, Martinez-Lage M, Cary M, Dahmane N, Grady MS, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Prediction of Quality of Life Improvements in Patients with Lumbar Stenosis following use of membrane stabilizing agents
Lubelski D, Thompson N, Agrawal B, Alvin MD, Khalaf T, Mazanec D, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Krishaney A, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Use of a training simulator and its effect on endoscopic endonasal surgical skill
Thawani JP, Piazza MA, Hudgins E, Madsen P, Vaughan K, Buch V, Grady MS, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Analysis of tarlov cyst outcomes after surgical resection
Burke JF, Thawani JP, Welch WW, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Use of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate to reverse coagulopathy prior to emergent neurosurgical procedures
Rammaya A, Bohman LE, Larkin E, Bohman LE, Schuster JM, Lucas TH, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Survival after surgical resection of glioblastoma in octogenarians
Rammaya A, Thawani JP Macyszyn L, ORourke DM, Brem S, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Long-term Utility and Complication Profile of Open Craniotomy for Biopsy in Patients with Idiopathic Encephalitis
Li Y, Bohman LE, Macyszyn L, Thawani JP, Balu R, Lucas TH, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Cost benefit estimates of the use of topical vancomycin to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy
Attiah M, Ramayya A, Richardson A, Lucas TH, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Acute Postoperative Sialadenitis after Retrosigmoid Craniotomies
Phillips HW, Learned KO, Lee JYK, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 1/1/2015
Brain tumors of the left temporal lobe produce local and distant changes in fractional anisotropy of key fiber tracts
Larkin EA, Lecoeur J, Verma R, Macyszyn L, Brem S, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Boston MA, 1/1/2014
Endoscopic surgery of the cerebellopontine angle: Barriers to adoption
Lee, John YK, Thawani J, Petrov D, Brant J, Ruckenstein M, Bigelow D, North American Skull Base Society, Tampa, FL, 1/1/2014
Prediction of tumor consistency of meningiomas using diffusion tensor imaging
Lee, John YK, Petrov D, Syre P, Wang, S, North American Skull Base Society, Tampa, FL, 1/1/2014
Topical vancomycin is safe and effective at lowering craniotomy infections
Attiah M, Olson B, Richardson A, Lucas TH, Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2014
Clinical Outcomes Following Surgical Management of Coexistent Cervical Stenosis and Multiple Sclerosis: A Cohort Controlled Analysis
Lubelski D, Alvin MD, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Cervical Spine Research Society, Los Angeles, CA, 1/1/2013
Cost-utility analysis of instrumented fusion versus decompression alone for grade I L4-L5 spondylolisthesis
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2013
Cost-utility analysis of one and two-level dorsal lumbar fusions with and without recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 (interactive poster)
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2013
Cost-utility analysis of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with plating (ACDFP) versus posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) for patients with single-level cervi...
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Whitmore RG, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2013
A Systematic Review of Lumbar Fusion Rates with and without the use of rhBMP-2
Lubelski D, Wang T, Alvin M, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, AANS/CNS Spine Section, Phoenix, AZ, 1/1/2013
Surgical Intervention for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy in Multiple Sclerosis
Lubelski D, Wang T, Alvin M, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, AANS/CNS Spine Section, Phoenix, AZ, 1/1/2013
Bertolotti’s Syndrome: Characterization of its Presentation, Diagnosis, and Surgical treatment
Li, M Lubelski D, Wang T, Alvin M, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, AANS/CNS Spine Section, Phoenix, AZ, 1/1/2012
Geographic Location, Specialty, Training, and Practice Type Influence Choice of Surgical Treatment of Common Lumbar Pathologies
Lubelski D, Alvin M, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, AANS/CNS Spine Section, Phoenix, AZ, 1/1/2012
Complications with the use of BMP-2 in thoracolumbar and lumbar spine fusions: A nine year institutional analysis
Lubelski D, Nowacki AS, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Miami, FL, 1/1/2012
Translaminar Screw Fixation in the Subaxial Cervical Spine: Quantitative Laminar Analysis and Feasibility of Unilateral and Bilateral Translaminar Virtual Screw Placement
Alvin MD, Lubelski D, Nowacki AS, Steinmetz MP, Benzel EC, Mroz TE, Meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Miami, FL, 1/1/2012
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Lectures

Cost benefit estimates of the use of topical vancomycin to prevent surgical site infection after craniotomy
Washington, DC - 1/1/2015
Fusion for Lumbar Facet Cyst
1/1/2015
Propensity analysis of patients receiving prothrombin complex before emergent neurosurgical procedures
Hershey, PA - 1/1/2015
Adult intramedullary spinal cord tumors: a 12-year institutional experience
Phoenix, AZ - 1/1/2013
Rates of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion following initial posterior cervical foraminotomy
Phoenix, AZ - 1/1/2013
Complications Following Use Of RhBMP-2 In Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2012
Adverse Events With The Use Of RhBMP-2 In Thoracolumbar And Lumbar Spine Fusions: A Nine Year Institutional Analysis
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2012
Radiation Exposure To The Spine Surgeon In Lumbar And Thoracolumbar Fusions With The Use Of An Intraoperative Computed Tomography 3-dimensional Imaging System
Chicago, IL - 1/1/2012
Open Door Laminoplasty with Preservation of Posterior Structures
Barcelona, Spain - 1/1/2011
Harvey Cushing and the Dwarves: How the Father of Neurosurgery Shaped the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH - 1/1/2011
Personal and Professional Presence on the Internet
San Diego, CA - 1/1/2010
Morphometric and volumetric analysis of the lateral masses of the lower cervical spine
Maui, HI - 1/1/2009
Virtual placement of C7 lateral mass screws: a comparative study and a novel technique
Maui, HI - 1/1/2009
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Authored Content

The Effect of Underlying Liver Disease on Perioperative Outcomes Following Craniotomy for Tumor: An American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program AnalysisApril 2018
The Effect of Underlying Liver Disease on Perioperative Outcomes Following Craniotomy for Tumor: An American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program AnalysisApril 2018

Press Mentions

Vulnerability in Brain Tumors May Open Door to New TreatmentsSeptember 26th, 2022
UTSW Receives New CPRIT Funding to Advance Cancer ResearchNovember 19th, 2021
A Pathogenic UFSP2 Variant in an Autosomal Recessive Form of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Anomalies and EpilepsyJanuary 20th, 2021
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Grant Support

T32 Postdoctoral GrantNational Institutes of Health2016–Present
American Medical Association Foundation Seed GrantAmerican Medical Association Foundation2016–2017