Dr. Soma Sengupta, Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery and Division Chief of Neuro Oncology in the Department of Neurology, was selected by the Mayfield Foundation as the first Mayfield Scholar, enabling Dr. Sengupta to dedicate a significant portion of her practice to brain tumor research.

The Mayfield Foundation launched the Mayfield Scholars program in 2024 to enhance care and promote best practices around research and treatment of brain tumors and other cranial disorders. Mayfield Scholars will increase access to talented brain tumor experts to work with researchers and specialists in Greater Cincinnati, collaborating with the neurosurgeons of Mayfield Brain & Spine as part of a multidisciplinary Brain Tumor Institute.

Dr. Sengupta’s work with Mayfield is part of a new agreement between the Mayfield Education & Research Foundation and the UNC Health Foundation. The Mayfield Foundation made a substantial donation to the UNC Health Foundation to support ongoing brain tumor research.

“Having lived and worked in Cincinnati, I found out about (founder) Dr. Frank Mayfield’s legacy in neurosurgery, and the Mayfield Clinic,” said Dr. Sengupta. “It is an honor to collaborate in clinical research and trials with Dr. Vincent DiNapoli and the Mayfield team.”

Dr. DiNapoli, a neurosurgeon at Mayfield Brain & Spine and director of the newly developed Brain Tumor Institute at Mayfield, called Dr. Sengupta’s selection a significant step in making Mayfield a hub of brain tumor research and clinical care across the Midwest. The Institute’s vision, he said, is to make Greater Cincinnati a primary destination for elite brain tumor research and clinical care.

“Dr. Sengupta’s expertise will establish the Brain Tumor Institute at Mayfield as a nexus of research and clinical care around brain tumor diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. DiNapoli. “Her collaboration with neurosurgeons and other specialists will enhance care at multiple locations, and we believe the increased clinical trials will provide new options for patients and new research activity for clinicians.”

Dr. Sengupta will now be able to dedicate 60% of her time to brain tumor research, including clinical trials, lab-based research in the SoDa Lab, collaborative research with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and scientists across the University of North Carolina’s campus, and consultations with experts in the Greater Cincinnati area.

In addition to her role as Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC Health, Dr. Sengupta is also Division Chief of Neuro Oncology, and is a Professor in the Department of Neurology. Previously, she served as the Harold C. Schott Endowed Chair of Molecular Therapeutics and Associate Director of the University of Cincinnati Brain Tumor Center. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Sengupta has published more than 90 publications on clinical trials, case reports, lab-based research, and healthcare policy. Her primary area of lab-based research looks to improve patient outcomes for brain tumor patients.

 

About Mayfield:

The Mayfield Education & Research Foundation is the affiliated non-profit of Mayfield Brain & Spine. Founded in 1937, Mayfield Brain & Spine is a nationally known independent neurosurgery practice, with 20 neurosurgeons, one orthopedic spine surgeon and six physicians specializing in interventional pain treatments or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Mayfield surgeons operate in multiple leading health systems in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. With about 275 total associates, Mayfield served more than 30,000 patients from 39 states in 2023. Mayfield also was named among the region’s “Best Places to Work” in 2022 and 2024 in a competition sponsored by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

 

Written by Makenzie Hardy, Marketing Coordinator, Department of Neurosurgery