Manuel Ferreira, MD, PhD, MBA

Manuel Ferreira's portrait
Job Title
Vice Chairman and Professor of Neurological Surgery
Chap and Eve Alvord and Elias Alvord Chair in Neuro-oncology
Chief of Neurological Surgery UWMC-Montlake, UWMC-Northwest
Director, Skull Base and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery
Director, Multi-Disciplinary Pituitary Program
Co-Director, The Alvord Brain Tumor Center
Co-Director, Skull Base and Vascular Neurosurgery Fellowship
Expertise
Brain Tumors
Neurosurgery
Skull Base Tumor Surgery
Biography

Dr. Manuel Ferreira is the chief of Neurological Surgery Service at the University of Washington Medical Center, co-director of Skull Base and Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, Director of UW Medicine Multi-disciplinary Pituitary Program and a UW associate professor of Neurological Surgery. He is the surgical director of the UW Medicine Multi-Disciplinary Pituitary Program. He received his training at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he received specialized neurosurgical training in the treatment of neurofibromatosis and acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas) with Dr. Robert Martuza (the discoverer of the NF2 gene) and Dr. Fred Barker. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and fellowship-trained in the treatment of complex tumors of the brain and skull base. Dr. Ferreira utilizes traditional open skull base approaches, minimally invasive endoscopic procedures and Gamma Knife radio-surgery to provide a multifaceted approach to the tumor patient.

Clinical Interest

Dr. Ferreira specializes in the multi-modality treatment for tumors of the skull base, brain and spinal cord, including meningiomas; schwannomas (acoustic neuromas/vestibular schwannomas, trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, hypoglossal, spinal); pituitary tumors (Cushing's disease, acromegaly); craniopharyngiomas; neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 (acoustic neuromas, schwannomas, meningiomas); chordomas and chondrosarcomas; hemangioblastomas syndromes (trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, spastic torticollis); Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL); hemangioblastomas; sinonasal tumors of the skull base; and cysts (epidermoid, dermoid, Rathke's cleft).

Research Interests

Dr. Ferreira is particularly interested in the genetics of skull base tumors, cerebral vascular disorders (aneurysms, AVM’s, AVF’s) and inherited disorders that give rise to these diagnoses (neurofibromatoses, von Hippel-Lindau, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1/2)). He hopes to use genetic discovery to predict response to therapy.

Personal Interests

Backpacking, hiking, skiing and fishing with his two daughters and wife.

Education

Medical Education

Georgetown University School of Medicine

Internship

Massachusetts General Hospital

Residency

Massachusetts General Hospital

Fellowship

University of Washington

Board Certification
American Board of Neurological Surgery - 2014
Contact Information

 

Publications

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Sahibzada N, Ferreira M, Wasserman AW, Taveira DaSilva AM and Gillis RA (2000) Reversal of Morphine Induced Apnea by 5-HT1A Receptor Activation in the Rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 292 (2): 704-713.
  • Ferreira M, Singh A, Dretchen KL, Kellar KJ and Gillis RA (2000) Brainstem Nicotinic Receptor Subtypes that Influence Intragastric Pressure and Arterial Blood Pressures. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 294 (1): 230-238.
  • Ferreira M, Ebert SN, Perry DC, Yasuda RP, Baker CM, Davila-Garcia MI, Kellar KJ and Gillis RA (2001) Evidence of a Functional 7 Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Subtype Located on Motoneurons of the Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the Vagus. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 296 (2): 260-269.
  • Ferreira M, Browning KN, Sahibzada N, Verbalis JG, Gillis RA and Travagli RA (2001) Glucose Effects on Gastric Motility and Tone Evoked from the Rat Dorsal Vagal Complex. J of Physiology (London) 536.1: 141-152.
  • Yeh JJ, Ferreira M, Ebert SN, Yasuda RP, Kellar KJ and Wolfe BB (2001) Axotomy and Nerve Growth Factor Regulate Levels of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor 3 Subunit Proteins in Rat Superior Cervical Ganglia. J of Neurochemistry 79 (2): 258-265.
  • Ferreira M, Sahibzada N, Shi M, Panico WP, Needringhaus M, Kellar KJ, Verbalis JG and Gillis RA (2002) CNS Site of Action and Brainstem Circuitry Responsible for the Intravenous Effects of Nicotine on Gastric Tone. J of Neuroscience 22(7): 2764-2779.
  • Wasserman AW, Ferreira M, Sahibzada N, Hernandez YM and Gillis RA (2002) GABA-mediated Neurotransmission in the Ventrolateral Nucleus of the Solitary Tract Plays a Role in Respiratory Regulation in the Rat. Amer J of Physiology 283 (6): R1423-R1441.
  • Sahibzada N, Ferreira M, Williams B, Wasserman A, Vicini S and Gillis RA (2002) Nicotinic Ach Receptor Subtypes on Gastrointestinal Projecting Neurones in the Dorsal Motor Vagal Nucleus of the Rat. J of Physiology (London) 545 (Pt 3): 1007-1016.
  • Shi M, Jones AR, Niedringhaus MS, Pearson RJ, Biehl AM, Ferreira M, Sahibzada N, Verbalis JG and Gillis RA (2003) Glucose Acts in the CNS to Regulate Gastric Motility During Hypoglycemia. Amer J of Physiology 285(5):R1192-R1202.
  • Shi M, Jones AR, Ferreira M, Sahibzada N, Gillis RA, and Verbalis JG (2004) Glucose does not activate nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurons in the rat stomach. Amer J of Physiology 288(4):R742-750.
  • Ferreira M, Sahibzada N, Shi M, Niedringhaus MS, Wester MR, Jones AR, Gillis RA, and Verbalis JG (2005) Glucose does not activate nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurons in the rat stomach. Amer J of Physiology 289(5):R1482-1495.
  • Balthasar N, Dalgaard JT, Lee CE, Yu J, Funahashi H, Williams T, Ferreira M, Tang V, McGovern RA, Kenny CD, Christiansen LM, Edelstein E, Choi B, Boss O, Aschenasi C, Zhang C-yu, Mountjoy K, Kishi T, Elmquist JK and Lowell BB (2005) Divergence of Melanocortin Pathways in Control of Food Intake and Energy Expenditure. Cell 123: 1-13.
  • Ferreira M Jr, Sahibzada N, Verbalis JG, Gillis RA.(2006) Comments on: "Esophageal-gastric relaxation reflex in rat: dual control of peripheral nitrergic and cholinergic transmission".
  • Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiology 291(3):R854-5; author reply R855-6.
  • Nahed BV, Ferreira M, Naunheim MR, Kahle KT, Proctor MR, Smith ER (2009) “Intracranial vasospasm with subsequent stroke after traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage in a 22-month-old child.” J Neurosurg Pediatr. Apr; 3(4): 311-5.
  • Nahed BV, Ferreira M, Walcott B, Kahle KT, Babu M, Terry A, Smith ER (2011) “Dural scalp and intracranial hemangiomas causing hydrocephalus and venous sinus thrombosis in an infant.”J of Child Neurology. Jun; 26(6): 777-81.
  • Ferreira M Jr., Nahed BV, Babu MA, Walcott BP, Ellenbogen RG, Sekhar LN (2012) Trapped fourth ventricle phenomenon following aneurysm rupture of the posterior circulation. Neurosurgery Jan; 70(1): E253-8.
  • Ferreira M Jr., Walcott BW, Nahed BV, Sekhar LN (2011) Vertebral artery pexy for microvascular decompression of the facial nerve in the treatment of hemifacial spasm. Journal of Neurosurgery. Jun; 114(6): 1800-4.
  • Wu H, Pomeroy SL, Ferreira M Jr., Teider N, Mariani J, Nakayama KI, Hatakeyama S, Tron V, Salitbus LF, Spyracopoulos L, Leng RP. (2011) UBE4b promotes Mdm2-mediated degradation of the tumor suppressor p53. Nature Medicine Mar; 17(3): 347-55.
  • Walcott BP, Nahed BV, Mohyeldin A, Coumans JV, Kahle KT, Ferreira M Jr. (2012) Chordoma: Current concepts, management and future directions. Lancet Oncology Feb: 13(2): e69-76.
  • Walcott BP, Nahed BV, Sarpong Y, Kahle KT, Sekhar LN, Ferreira M Jr. (2012) Incidence of cerebrospinal fluid leak following petrosectomy and analysis of avoidance techniques. J Clin Neurosci. 2012 Jan;19(1):92-4.
  • Walcott BP, Nahed BV, Kahle KT, Sekhar LN, Ferreira M Jr. (2012) Cerebrovascular bypass and aneurysm trapping for the treatment of an A2-segment anterior cerebral artery pseudoaneurysm and herniation through a skull base defect following trauma. J Clin Neurosci. Jan;19(1):149-51.
  • Di Maio S, Ramanathan D, Garcia-Lopez R, Rocha MH, Guerrero FP, Ferreira M Jr, Sekhar LN. Evolution and future of skull base surgery: the paradigm of skull base meningiomas. World Neurosurg. 2012 Sep78(3-4):260-75.  PMID: 22120278.
  • Bly RA, Su D, Hannaford B, Ferreira M Jr., Moe KS. Computer modeled multiportal approaches to the skull base. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2012 Dec; 73(6): 415-23.
  • Ko A, Su DK, Born D, DeSantis A, Alan Failor R, Ferreira M Jr. Two patients with primary sellar leiomyomas, a rare entity. Clin Neurosci. 2013 Jun;20(6):897-901. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2012.07.001. Epub 2012 Dec 6.
  • Lim JH, Sardesai MG, Ferreira M Jr., Moe KS. Transorbital neuroendoscopic management of sinogenic complications involving the frontal sinus, orbit and anterior cranial fossa. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2012 Dec; 73(6): 394-400.
  • Bly RA, Su D, Lendvay TS, Friedman D, Hannaford B, Ferreira M Jr., Moe KS. Multiportal robotic access to the anterior cranial fossa: a surgical and engineering feasibility study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Dec; 149(6): 940-6.
  • Mantovani A, Di Maio S, Ferreira M Jr., Sekhar LN. Management of meningiomas invading the major dural venous sinuses: operative technique, results, and potential benefit for higher-grade tumors. World Neurosurg. 2013 Jul 10. pii: S1878-8750(13)00771-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2013.06.024. [Epub ahead of print]
  • Nerva JD, Morton RP, Levitt MR, Osbun JW, Ferreira M Jr., Ghodke BV, Kim LJ. Pipeline Embolization Device as primary treatment of blister aneurysms and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery. J Neurointerv Surg. 2014 Feb [Epub ahead of print].
  • Bly RA, Ramakrishna R, Ferreira M Jr., Moe KS. Lateral transorbital neuroendoscopic approach to the lateral cavernous sinus. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2014 Feb; 75(1): 11-17.
  • Ramakrishna R, Rostomily R, Sekhar LN, Rockhill J, Ferreira M Jr. Hemangiopericytoma: Radical resection remains the cornerstone of therapy. J Clin Neurosci. 2014 Apr; 21(4): 612-615.
  • Bly RA, Su D, Lendvay TS, Friedman D, Hannaford B, Ferreira M, Moe KS. Multiportal robotic access to the anterior cranial fossa: a surgical and engineering feasibility study. Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg. 2013;149(6):940-6. PMID:24154747
  • Ko A, Su DK, Born D, DeSantis A, Alan Failor R, Ferreira M, Jr. Two patients with primary sellar leiomyomas, a rare entity. J Clin Neurosci. 2013;20(6):897-901. PMID:23219820
  • Bly RA, Ramakrishna R, Ferreira M, Moe KS. Lateral transorbital neuroendoscopic approach to the lateral cavernous sinus. Journal of neurological surgery Part B, Skull base. 2014;75(1):11-7. PMID:24498584  PMC: 3912142
  • Mantovani A, Di Maio S, Ferreira MJ, Sekhar LN. Management of meningiomas invading the major dural venous sinuses: operative technique, results, and potential benefit for higher grade tumors. World Neurosurg. 2014;82(3-4):455-67. PMID:23851229
  • Ramakrishna R, Rostomily R, Sekhar L, Rockhill J, Ferreira M. Hemangiopericytoma: Radical resection remains the cornerstone of therapy. J Clin Neurosci. 2014;21(4):612-5. PMID:24231562
  • Ene CI, Morton RP, Ferreira M, Jr., Sekhar LN, Kim LJ. Spontaneous Hemorrhage from Central Nervous System Hemangioblastomas. World Neurosurg. 2015. PMID:2572730
  • Nerva JD, Morton RP, Levitt MR, Osbun JW, Ferreira MJ, Ghodke BV, Kim LJ. Pipeline Embolization Device as primary treatment for blister aneurysms and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery. Journal of neurointerventional surgery. 2015;7(3):210-6. PMID:24578484
  • Mortazavi MM, Brito da Silva H, Ferreira M Jr, Barber JK, Pridgeon JS, Sekhar LN. Planum Sphenoidale and Tuberculum Sellae Meningiomas: Operative Nuances of a Modern Surgical Technique with Outcome and Proposal of a New Classification System. World Neurosurg. 2016 Feb;86:270-86. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26409085
  • Ramakrishna R, Kim LJ, Bly RA, Moe K, Ferreira M Jr. Transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery for the treatment of skull base lesions. J Clin Neurosci. 2016 Feb;24:99-104. Epub 2015 Nov 10. PMID: 26563603.
  • Ene CI, Xu D, Morton RP, Emerson S, Levitt MR, Barber J, Rostomily RC, Ghodke BV, Hallam DK, Albuquerque FC, McDougall CG, Sekhar LN, Ferreira M Jr., Kim LJ, Chang SW. Safety and Efficacy of Preoperative Embolization of Intracranial Hemangioblastomas. Oper Neurosurg. 2016 Jun 1;12(2): 135- 140. PMID: 29506092.
  • Hanak BW, Haussen DC, Ambekar S, Ferreira M Jr, Ghodke BV, Peterson EC. Preoperative embolization of intracranial hemangiopericytomas: case series and introduction of the transtumoral embolization technique. J Neurointerv Surg. 2016 Oct;8(10):1084-94. PMID: 26475475
  • Ruzevick J, Koh EK, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Cimino PJ, Moe K, Wright LA, Failor R, Ferreira M. Clival paragangliomas: a report of two cases involving the midline skull base and review of the literature. J Neurooncol. 2017 May;132(3):473-478
  • Tatman P, Osbun J, Yakkioui Y, Kaur S, Parada C, Busald T, Born D, Ahmad O, Zhang J, Ferreira M. Kinase activity in recurring primary skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas: identification of novel pathways of oncogenesis and potential drug targets. World Neurosurg. 2017 Jun 21. pii: S1878- 8750(17)30998-1.
  • Berens AM, Harbison RA, Li Y, Bly RA, Aghdasi N, Ferreira M Jr, Hannaford B, Moe KS. Quantitative Analysis of Transnasal Anterior Skull Base Approach: Report of Technology for Intraoperative Assessment of Instrument Motion. Surg Innov. 2017 Aug;24(4):405-410 Epub 2017 Apr 15. PMID: 28412879
  • Osbun JW, Tatman PD, Kaur S, Parada C, Busald T, Gonzalez-Cuyar L, Shi M, Born DE, Zhang J, Ferreira MJ. Comparative Proteomic Profiling Using Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis and Identification via LC-MS/MS Reveals Novel Protein Biomarkers to Identify Aggressive Subtypes of WHO Grade I Meningioma. Journal of Neurological Surgery, part B. 2017 Skull Base. 2017 Oct;78(5):371-9. Epub 2017 Apr 26. PMID: 28875114
  • Brito da Silva H, Straus D, Barber JK, Rostomily RC, Ferreira M Jr, Sekhar LN. Cranial Chordoma: A New Preoperative Grading System.  Neurosurgery. 2018 Sept 1; 83(3):403-415. PMID: 29126120
  • Cimino PJ, Yoda RA, Wirsching HG, Warrick JI, Dorschner MO, Ferreira M Jr. Genomic Profiling of Anaplastic Meningioma Identifies Recurrent Genetic Alterations with Relevance to Lower-Grade Meningioma. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2019 Feb; 45(2): 179-182. PMID: 29675951.
  • Parada CA, Osbun J, Kaur S, Yakkioui Y, Shi M, Pan C, Busald T, Karasozen Y, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Rostomily R, Zhang J, Ferreira M Jr. Kinome and phosphoproteome of high-grade meningiomas reveal AKAP12 as a central regulator of aggressiveness and its possible role in progression. Scientific Reports. 2018 Feb 1; 8(1):2098. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19308-y. PMID: 29391485
  • Bass DI, Walker M, Ferreira M Jr., Ghodke B. A case report of an unruptured tectal AVM presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus that resolved upon spontaneous obliteration of the venous varix. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 2019 65: 157-160.
  • Ene CI, Macomber MW, Barber JK, Ferreira M Jr., Ellenbogen RG, Holland EC, Rockhill JK, Silbergeld DL, Halasz LM. Patterns of Failure after stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent high-grade glioma: a single institution experience of 10 years. Neurosurgery. 2019 Aug1;85(2):E322-E331. PMID: 30576476.
  • Ravanpay AC, Barkley A, White-Dzuro GA, Cimino PJ, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Lockwood C, Halasz LM, Hisama FM, Ferreira M Jr. Giant Pediatric Rhabdoid Meningioma Associated with a Germline BAP1 Pathogenic Variation: A Rare Clinical Case. World Neurosurgery. 2018 Nov; 119:402-415. PMID: 29981911.
  • Karasozen Y, Osbun JW, Parada CA, Busald T, Tatman P, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Hale CJ, Alcantara D, O’Driscoll M, Dobyns WB, Murray M, Kim LJ, Byers P, Dorschner MO, Ferreira M Jr. Somatic PDGFRB Activating Mutations in Cerebral Aneurysms. Am J Hum Genet. 2019 May 2; 104(5): 968-976. PMID: 31021011.
  • Chkheidze R, Cimino PJ, Hatanpaa KJ, White CL, Ferreira M Jr., Piccirillo SGM, Li L, Rajaram S, Nyagilo JO, Burns DK, Raisanen JM, Cai C. Distinct Expression Patterns of Carbonic Anhydrase IX in Clear Cell, Microcystic and Angiomatous Meningiomas. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2019 Dec 1; 78(12): 1081-1088.
  • Parada CA, Osbun JW, Busald T, Karazosen Y, Kaur S, Shi M, Adidharma W, Cimino PJ, Pan C, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Rostomily R, Zhang J, Ferreira M Jr. Phosphoproteomic and Kinomic Signature of Aggressive Grade I Meningiomas Reveals RB1 Signaling as a Novel Mediator and Biomarker. Clinical Cancer Research. 2020 Jan 1; 26(1): 193-205.
  • Nazem AA, Ruzevick J, Ferreira M Jr. Advances in meningioma genomics, proteomics, and epigenetics: insights into biomarker identification and targeted therapies. Oncotarget 2020; 11: 4544-4553. https://www.oncotarget.com/article/27841/
  • Cranmer LD, Chau B, Rockhill JK, Ferreira M Jr., Liao JJ. Chemotherapy in Esthesioneuroblastoma/Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 1973-2015 Database. Am J Clin Oncolo. 2020 Mar; 43(3): 203-209.
  • Ruzevick J, Tatman PD, Osbun J, Ahmad O, Mrugala MM, Rockhill JK, Gonzalez-Cuyar L, Born DE, Ferreira M Jr. Multimodality Treatment of 15 Malignant WHO Grade III (2007 Criteria) Meningiomas: Differential Survival Rates Between De Novo and Progressive Origins. Under Revision (Journal of Clinical Neuroscience).
  • Pan J, Levitt MR, Ferreira Jr M, Sekhar LN. Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following resection of skull base tumors: Case report and literature review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021 Jan 11;202:106482. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106482. Online ahead of print. PMID 33476886.
  • Shalhub, S, Hysa L, Byers P, Meissner M, Ferreira Jr M. True radial artery aneurysm in a patient with somatic mosaicism for a mutation in a platelet-derived growth factor receptor β gene. Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques. 2021 Feb. doi:10.1016/j.vscit.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

  • Ferreira M Jr. and Ogilvy CS. (2008) “Surgical Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage” (Chapter in “The Handbook of Neurointensivism of the Critical Care Society of Argentina, 2008”).
  • Ferreira M Jr. and Sekhar LN. (2010) “Revascularization Options for Complex Aneurysms” In Cerebral Revascularization: A Guide to Microsurgical and Endovascular Techniques, Thieme Publishing.
  • Osbun J, Ferreira M Jr., Kim LJ (2014) “Embolization of Vascular Tumors” In Neurovascular Surgery, 2nd Edition.
  • Mantovani A, Ferreira M Jr, Sekhar LN. (2014) “Subfrontal Approach to Adult Craniopharyngiomas”. In Craniopharyingiomas: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcome.
  • Mantovani A, Ferreira M Jr, Sekhar LN. (2014) “Parasagital and Peritorcular Meningiomas”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Oxford R, Moe KS, Ferreira M Jr, (2014) “Endoscopic Surgery: General Principles”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Hallasz, L, Rockhill J, Ferreira M Jr, (2014) “Radiosurgery of AVMs”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Haydon D, Sekhar LN, Ferreira M Jr, (2014) “Sphenoid Wing Meningiomas”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Oxford R, Rubinstein JT, Ferreira M Jr, (2014) “NF2 Tumors and Brainstem Auditory Implants”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Ramakrishna, R, Ferreira M Jr, Rostomily R, Sekhar LN. (2014) “Chordomas and Chondrosarcomas”. Atlas of Neurosurgical Techniques: Brain, 2nd Edition.
  • Ruzevick J, White-Dzuro G, Kim L, Levitt M, Ferreira M. (2018) “Intracranial arteriovenous malformations”. Management of Head and Neck Vascular Abnormalities. Ed: J Perkins and K Balakrishnan. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
  • Ruzevick J and Ferreira M Jr, (2018) “Management of Torcular Meningiomas”. Thieme Handbook on Meningiomas. Editor Walter Jean, MD, 1st Edition.
Centers/Clinics
Alvord Brain Tumor Center at UWMC - Montlake
Neurological Surgery Clinic at UWMC - Montlake
Neurosurgery Clinic at Seattle Children's