Team

My professional interest in clinical neurosurgery is the disorders of peripheral nerves – with the focus on neurologic restoration through nerve surgery. In contrast to injuries of the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system is capable of substantial regeneration and subsequent recovery of function. This innate capacity of nerves to heal, although delicate and imperfect, provides opportunities for impressive recovery and return of function.

Because nerve stretch injuries are among the most devastating, formidable and complex injuries, it is a natural draw for intellectual inquiry. I have focused my interests in a step-wise understanding of the biomechanical properties of nerve in order to develop an accurate animal model for investigating nerve stretch injuries. Since joining the faculty at the University of Utah, I have focused my attention on developing a precise nerve stretch injury system. The goal of this work is to develop a platform for investigating potential clinical treatments for nerve stretch injuries.

My professional interest has focused on injury biomechanics and high rate trauma to the central and peripheral nervous system, including the blood vessels that perfuse these tissues. Physical injury often involves high forces and accelerations, and understanding the viscoelastic response of the tissues of the human body is key to predicting injury severity and outcome.
My current focus is on injury to the peripheral nervous system. Stretch injury is the most commonly encountered nerve injury from accidents and trauma, with a complex elongated zone of tissue disruption and dysfunctional repair. As these types of injuries are common in young populations, and elevated in active and high risk professions such as the military, it is imperative we develop better treatments for what currently often results in lifelong pain or disability.

Previous research interests include study of high rate brain tissue deformation and contusion, and the response of the circulatory system in the brain to blast overpressure loading. These high rate injury phenomena are all linked by the response of tissue to extreme forces over short periods of time, and the potential for lifelong neurological dysfunction, reduced quality of life, and death. I strongly feel that I have a duty to my country to devote my research abilities to assisting those who suffer injury in war, and to help improve the treatment and outcomes for anyone afflicted by sudden trauma.

Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Medical Areas of Interest: Currently, Ilyas’s neurosurgical interests are broad and include vascular, pediatrics, and skull base surgery.
Interests/Hobbies: Ilyas was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. He immigrated to the US at the age of 13. He was raised in Nashville, TN since then, but lacks the traditional southern accent. He attended Vanderbilt University where he received his B.A. with honors in molecular and cellular biology. He continued to complete his medical education from the same institution. Ilyas’s outside interests include playing basketball, chess, biking, and spending time with his family and friends.

Team

Mark Mahan, MD

Stewart Yeoh, PhD

Ilyas Eli, MD

Wesley Warner