Mr Andrew Stevens MRCS MBChB BMedSc AFHEA

Mr Andrew Stevens

Department of Inflammation and Ageing
Clinical Research Fellow

Contact details

Address
Neuroscience, Trauma & Ophthalmology Group
Institute of Inflammation and Ageing
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Andrew Stevens is a Clinical Research Fellow in the Neuroscience, Trauma and Ophthalmology Group, a Specialty Trainee in Neurosurgery and an Honorary Neurosurgery Registrar at University Hospitals Birmingham.
Andrew’s current focus of research is the translational development of therapeutics and monitoring systems for improving patient outcomes after traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and is studying for a PhD in this area. His wider academic interests include clinical research for improving acute care in neurotrauma, and improving recognition and recovery after concussion.

ResearchGate profile

Qualifications

• Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MRCS), 2019
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), 2018
• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, with Honours and Distinction in Research (MBChB), University of       Birmingham, 2016
• Bachelor of Medical Science, First Class with Honours (BMedSc), University of Birmingham, 2013

Biography

Andrew graduated from the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2016 with a Distinction in Research, having also completed an intercalated degree in Biomedical Science in 2013. Andrew undertook Academic Foundation Training in Neurocritical Care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, researching haemodynamic and metabolic monitoring devices in traumatic brain injury.

In 2018, Andrew returned to the West Midlands to commence his neurosurgical postgraduate training in the Deanery, gaining Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2019 and was appointed as a Specialty Registrar in Neurosurgery in 2020. 

Andrew was awarded a Neurotrauma Research Fellowship in August 2021 and enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, under the supervision of Prof. Antonio Belli and Prof. Zubair Ahmed. Andrew’s thesis is investigating photobiological interactions for neurorestoration after traumatic brain and spinal cord injury. Andrew has since been awarded a highly competitive Surgical Research Fellowship by the Royal College of Surgeons to support this research, amongst other research funding awards including the Wellcome Trust Translational Development Fund.

Teaching

MSc Trauma Science

  • Lecturer (Introduction to Trauma Science Module)
  • Small group tutor (Neurotrauma Module)

BMedSc Biomedical Science

  • Year 3 Data Interpretation Activity Supervisor

BSc Biomaterials Science

  • Year 3 Research Project Co-supervisor

MBChB Medicine and Surgery

  • Year 4 Quality Improvement Project Supervisor

Research

Andrew’s research interest is promoting repair and recovery after neurotrauma, particularly in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

Andrew’s current focus is using photobiological interactions (photobiomodulation and optical spectroscopic methods) to treat and monitor the injured central nervous system. Andrew is investigating the mechanisms and efficacy of these approaches, alongside developing medical devices for translation of these treatments into clinical settings. This involves working with a multi-disciplinary collaborative from across the UoB campus, applying a range of scientific techniques, from molecular neuroscience to optical engineering.

Andrew also has an active role in clinical research, and currently leads and supports a range of clinical research projects in the area of neurotrauma, including those in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurocritical care and concussion.

Previously, Andrew has conducted research in both clinical and laboratory settings, including haemodynamic and metabolic monitoring techniques in traumatic brain injury; and development of novel molecular targets for promoting recovery after spinal cord injury.

Other activities

Andrew works clinically in his honorary role as a Specialty Registrar in Neurosurgery. This involves delivery of acute and elective neurosurgical care at University Hospitals Birmingham for a variety of cranial and spinal neurosurgical conditions including trauma. Andrew also delivers a weekly Sports Concussion Clinic alongside and under the supervision of Prof. Antonio Belli. Andrew is an active reviewer for academic neurosurgical and neurotrauma journals.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Stevens, AR, Yakoub, KM, Davies, DJ, Belli, A & O’Halloran, PJ 2024, 'Arachnoid Cysts in Athletes with Sports-Related Concussion: A Case Series and Literature Review', Sports Medicine - Open, vol. 10, 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-024-00757-x

Stevens, AR, Hadis, M, Phillips, A, Thareja, A, Milward, M, Belli, A, Palin, W, Davies, DJ & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Implantable and transcutaneous photobiomodulation promote neuroregeneration and recovery of lost function after spinal cord injury', Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10674

Stevens, A, Hadis, M, Thareja, A, Anderson, FG, Milward, M, Di Pietro, V, Belli, T, Palin, W, Davies, D & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury', Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10727

Chowdhury, Y, Stevens, A, Soon, W, Toman, E, Veenith, T, Chelvarajah, R, Belli, T & Davies, D 2022, 'Cerebrospinal fluid diversion for refractory intracranial hypertension: a United Kingdom and Ireland survey on practice variation', Cureus, vol. 14, no. 6, e25877. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.25877

Davies, DJ, Hadis, M, Di Pietro, V, Lazzarino, G, Forcione, M, Harris, G, Stevens, A, Soon, WC, Goldberg Oppenheimer, P, Milward, M, Belli, T & Palin, W 2022, 'Photobiomodulation reduces hippocampal apoptotic cell death and produces a Raman spectroscopic “signature”', PLOS One, vol. 17, no. 3, e0264533. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264533

Zeiler, F, Thelin, E, Donnelly, J, Stevens, A, Smielewski, P, Czosnyka, M, Hutchinson, P & Menon, D 2019, 'Genetic drivers of cerebral blood flow dysfunction in TBI: a speculative synthesis.', Nature Reviews Neurology, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 25.

Stevens, A, Ng, I, Helmy, A, Hutchinson, P, Menon, D & Ercole, A 2019, 'Glucose dynamics of cortical spreading depolarisation in acute brain injury: a systematic review.', Journal of Neurotrauma, vol. 36, no. 14, pp. 2153.

Silva, A, Stevens, A, Joseph, J & Albanese, E 2019, 'Multifocal infra-tentoral pilocytic astrocytoma in an adult patient: a case report', World Neurosurgery, vol. 128, pp. 230.

Zeiler, F, Smielewski, P, Stevens, A, Czosnyka, M, Menon, D & Ercole, A 2019, 'Non-invasive Pressure Reactivity Index Using Doppler Systolic Flow Parameters: A Pilot Analysis.', Journal of Neurotrauma, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 713.

Stevens, A, Su, Z, Toman, E, Belli, A & Davies, D 2019, 'Optical pupillometry in traumatic brain injury: neurological pupil index and its relationship with intracranial pressure through significant event analysis', Brain Injury, pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2019.1605621

Review article

Provan, M, Ahmed, Z, Stevens, A & Veiga Sardeli, A 2024, 'Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 24, no. 1, 544. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05984-w

Stevens, AR, Belli, A & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Neurotrauma— From Injury to Repair: Clinical Perspectives, Cellular Mechanisms and Promoting Regeneration of the Injured Brain and Spinal Cord', Biomedicines, vol. 12, no. 3, 643. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030643

Stevens, A, Soon, W, Chowdhury, Y, Toman, E, Yim, S, Veenith, T, Chelvarajah, R, Belli, T & Davies, D 2022, 'External lumbar drainage for refractory intracranial hypertension in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review', Cureus, vol. 14, no. 10, e30033. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30033

Stevens, A, Hadis, M, Milward, M, Ahmed, Z, Belli, T, Palin, W & Davies, D 2022, 'Photobiomodulation in acute traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Neurotrauma. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2022.0140

Stevens, A, Stickland, CA, Harris, G, Ahmed, Z, Goldberg Oppenheimer, P, Belli, A & Davies, DJ 2022, 'Raman spectroscopy as a neuromonitoring tool in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and clinical perspectives', Cells, vol. 11, no. 7, 1227. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11071227

View all publications in research portal