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Christopher Giza, M.D.

Work Email Address:
cgiza@mednet.ucla.edu

Mailing Address:
UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, Neurosurgery
Division of Neurosurgery
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES

Office Address:
Pediatric Neurology
Division of Pediatric Neurology
Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES

Work Phone Number:
310-825-6196


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Department / Division Affiliations
Associate Professor In-Residence, Neuroscience IDP, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurology
Member, Brain Research Institute
Faculty, Biomedical Engineering IDP

Research Interest:

Developmental Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuroplasticity
Areas of research interest and active investigation include developmental TBI and its pathophysiology. Ongoing studies include those examining impaired neurotransmission, altered developmental plasticity, acute alterations in metabolism, morphological injury, vulnerability to secondary insults and behavioral impairments. Basic research into post-traumatic brain activation, molecular signaling and experience-dependent plasticity are fundamental parts of the laboratory program. We are currently investigating the response of molecular signaling molecules after developmental TBI, and how post-injury environment may modulate the molecular and neuroplastic potential of the immature brain. Specifically, there appears to be an impairment of excitatory neurotransmission and activity-dependent neurotrophin expression that represent mechanisms underlying the injury-induced impairment of brain plasticity. Another basic research area spans the terrain between acute neuronal injury and delayed plasticity. Using induction of post-traumatic seizures as a secondary injury, we are studying the vulnerability of the injured immature brain. By conducting long-term behavioral, electrophysiological and morphological assessments of these subjects, we also gain insight into aberrant neuronal sprouting and epileptogenesis following TBI. In addition to the basic science approach to the problem of pediatric TBI, the group is currently engaged in establishing a translational/clinical program. This will be designed to capture physiological monitoring and imaging data from the acute hospitalization, with standardized outpatient clinic followup. One area of clinical investigation already underway is the study of neuropsychological function, anatomical imaging, functional brain mapping and white matter tract morphology across time in normal developing control children and in children recovering following moderate to severe TBI. A second clinical area under development will be the correlation of acute physiological variables (such as intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, acute white matter lesions, and early secondary insults) with neurological and behavioral outcomes. One important goal of the group is to translate research findings between laboratory and clinical arenas to gain better mechanistic insight into the physiological distinctions of pediatric TBI, and to better understand and to eventually facilitate how the developing brain recovers from TBI.
Bio:

Dr. Giza is a pediatric neurologist and neuroscientist with particular expertise in developmental brain injury (traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, etc.). He is an Assistant Professor in the Divisions of Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery. He received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College in 1986 and his medical degree from West Virginia University in 1990. After completing an internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he came to UCLA for residency in Neurology (1991-1994) and a clinical fellowship in Pediatric Neurology (1994-1996). From 1996-1998 he worked locum tenens in private practice, while spending his summers as a member of the Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue team. In 1998, Dr. Giza joined the Brain Injury Research Center and in 2001 he was appointed to the faculty in the Divisions of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurology. He is actively investigating the effects of traumatic injury in the developing brain and neuroplasticity.

Publications:

Giza CC, Prins ML Is being plastic fantastic? Mechanisms of impaired plasticity following developmental traumatic brain injury. Developmental Neuroscience 2006; 28(4-5): 364-379.
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Prins ML, Giza CC Induction of monocarboxylate transporter-2 expression and ketone transport following traumatic brain injury in juvenile and adult rats. Developmental Neuroscience 2006; 28(4-5): 447-56.
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Giza CC, Santa Maria NS, and Hovda DA. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit changes following traumatic injury to the developing brain. Journal of Neurotrauma 2006; 23(6): 950-61.
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Giza, CC. Better Never Than Late: Lasting Effects of Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury. Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2006; 3(1): 19-26.
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Gurkoff GG, Giza CC and Hovda DA. Lateral fluid percussion injury in the developing rat causes an acute, mild behavioral dysfunction in the absence of significant cell death. Brain Research 2006; 1077(1): 24-36.
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Madikians A and Giza CC. A Clinician's Guide to the Pathophysiology of Traumatic Brain Injury. Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2006; 3(1): 9-17.
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Giza CC, Griesbach GS and Hovda DA. Experience-Dependent Behavioral Plasticity is Disturbed Following Traumatic Injury to the Immature Brain.. Behavioral Brain Research 2005; 157(1): 11-22.
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Bhidayashiri R, Waters M and Giza CC. Neurological Differential Diagnosis: A Prioritized Approach. 2005; .
Bhidayasiri R and Giza CC. Images in Pediatric Neurosurgery - Subdural hematoma and retinal hemorrhages in an infant: accidental or non-accidental injury?. Pediatric Neurosurgery 2004; 40(3): 147-8.
Osteen CL, Giza CC and Hovda DA. Injury-induced alterations in NMDA receptor subunit composition contribute to prolonged 45calcium accumulation following lateral fluid percussion.. Neuroscience 2004; 128(2): 305-322.
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Zanier ER, Lee SM, Vespa P, Giza CC and Hovda DA. Increased hippocampal CA3 vulnerability to low level glutamate analogue following lateral fluid percussion injury.. Journal of Neurotrauma 2003; 20(5): 409-420.
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Ip EY, Giza CC, Griesbach G and Hovda DA. Effects of enriched environment and fluid percussion injury on dendritic arborization within the cerebral cortex of the developing rat.. Journal of Neurotrauma 2002; 19(5): 573-85.
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Giza CC, Prins ML, Hovda DA, Herschman HR and Feldman JD. Genes preferentially induced by depolarization after concussive brain injury: Effects of age and injury severity.. Journal of Neurotrauma 2002; 19(4): 387-402.
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Donnelly TJ and Giza CC. Differential Diagnosis Mnemonics. 2001; .
Giza CC and Hovda DA. The Neurometabolic Cascade of Concussion.. Journal of Athletic Training 2001; 36(3): 228-235.
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Fineman I, Giza CC, Nahed B, Lee SM and Hovda DA. Inhibition of neocortical plasticity during development by moderate concussive brain injury.. Journal of Neurotrauma 2000; 17(9): 739-49.
Rabizadeh S, Ye X, Wang JJL, Sperandio S, Wang, JJL, Ellerby HM, Ellerby LM, Giza CC, Andrusiak RL, Frankowski H, Yaron Y, Moayeri NN, Rovelli G, Evans CJ, Butcher LL, Nolan GP, Assa-Munt N, and Bredesen DE. Neurotrophin dependence domain: A domain required for the mediation of apoptosis by the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2000; 15: 215-229.
Schober Michelle E, Block Benjamin, Beachy Joanna C, Statler Kimberly D, Giza Christopher C, Lane Robert H Early and sustained increase in the expression of hippocampal IGF-1, but not EPO, in a developmental rodent model of traumatic brain injury.. Journal of neurotrauma. 2010; 27(11): 2011-20.
Hutson Che Brown, Lazo Carlos R, Mortazavi Farzad, Giza Christopher C, Hovda David, Chesselet Marie-Francoise Traumatic brain injury in adult rats causes progressive nigrostriatal dopaminergic cell loss and enhanced vulnerability to the pesticide paraquat.. Journal of neurotrauma. 2011; 28(9): 1783-801.
Babikian Talin, Prins Mayumi L, Cai Yan, Barkhoudarian Garni, Hartonian Ivet, Hovda David A, Giza Christopher C Molecular and physiological responses to juvenile traumatic brain injury: focus on growth and metabolism.. Developmental neuroscience. 2010; 32(5-6): 431-41.
Kutcher Jeffrey S, Giza Christopher C Sideline assessment of sports concussion: the lure of simplicity.. Neurology. 2011; 76(17): 1450-1.
Reger Maxine L, Poulos Andrew M, Buen Floyd, Giza Christopher C, Hovda David A, Fanselow Michael S Concussive Brain Injury Enhances Fear Learning and Excitatory Processes in the Amygdala.. Biological psychiatry. 2011; .
Cazalis Fabienne, Babikian Talin, Giza Christopher, Copeland Sarah, Hovda David, Asarnow Robert F Pivotal role of anterior cingulate cortex in working memory after traumatic brain injury in youth.. Frontiers in neurology. 2011; 1(17): 158.
Adelson P David, Pineda Jose, Bell Michael J, Abend Nicholas S, Berger Rachel P, Giza Christopher C, Hotz Gillian, Wainwright Mark S Common Data Elements for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Recommendations from the Working Group on Demographics and Clinical Assessment.. Journal of neurotrauma. 2011; .
Barkhoudarian Garni, Hovda David A, Giza Christopher C The molecular pathophysiology of concussive brain injury.. Clinics in sports medicine. 2011; 30(1): 33-48, vii-iii.
Shrey Daniel W, Griesbach Grace S, Giza Christopher C The pathophysiology of concussions in youth.. Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America. 2011; 22(4): 577-602, vii.