Shivanand Lad

Dr. Nandan Lad is a neurosurgeon, scientist, and entrepreneur and Professor and Vice Chair of Innovation for Duke Neurosurgery. He is Director of the Functional & Restorative Neuromodulation Program and the Duke NeuroInnovations Program, a systematic approach to innovation to large unmet clinical needs.

He completed his MD and PhD in Biochemistry at Chicago Medical School and his neurosurgical residency training at Stanford with fellowships in both Surgical Innovation and Functional Neurosurgery.

Neuromodulation; Neurorestoration; Bioengineering; Medical Device Design; Clinical Trials; Data Science; Health Outcomes.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Neurosurgery · 2021 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery

Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2011 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Institutes and Centers

Recent News Items

Published November 6, 2023

Duke Scientists Create Brain Implant That May Enable Communication From Thoughts Alone

Published July 27, 2022

When Diabetic Neuropathy Made Him Miserable, A Spinal Cord Stimulator Got Him Back on His Feet

Published September 13, 2016

A Challenging Diagnosis in a Patient With Metastatic Lung Cancer

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Recent Scholarly Works

Distinct neural processes link speech planning and execution.

Preprint · July 3, 2026 Speaking is the primary way that humans communicate. This communication is enabled by a production system that can plan and execute unique combinations of speech sounds. Although a distributed network of brain regions has been implicated in speaking, it is ... Full text Link to item Cite

Percutaneous Trigeminal Rhizotomy Using a Custom Electromagnetic Neuronavigation-Compatible Cannula: Technical Note and Comparative Study.

Journal article Oper Neurosurg · July 1, 2026 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Trigeminal neuralgia causes debilitating facial pain. Treatments, including decompression, radiosurgery, and minimally invasive percutaneous procedures such as mechanical compression, are low risk and offer immediate relief, maki ... Full text Link to item Cite

Effect of PEEP mask on cough in patients with tracheobronchomalacia.

Journal article BMC Pulm Med · April 25, 2026 BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is a condition characterized by excessive collapse of the trachea and mainstem bronchi, often resulting in chronic cough and dyspnea. Though associated with obesity and increasingly recognized as a contributor to une ... Full text Link to item Cite

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Recent Grants

ARCIM SYSTEM TO MANAGE SYMPTOMATIC BLOOD PRESSURE INSTABILITY SECONDARY TO CHRONIC SPINAL CORD INJURY ONWD-IM-001

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Onward Medical Inc. · 2026 - 2031

A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Trial of Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) for the Treatment of Back Pain SPR Reset (Industry) 0151CSP-000

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by SPR Therapeutics, Inc. · 2024 - 2029

The overlap of speech production and verbal working memory

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2023 - 2028

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Education

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science · 2004 M.D.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science · 2004 Ph.D.

External Links

ladneurosurgery.com ladlabneuro.org