Alkins | Department of Surgery | School of Medicine

Dr. Ryan Alkins

Position(s)

Assistant Professor

Attending Staff, Kingston Health Sciences Centre

Contact Info

T. 613.549.6666 ext. 7327

F. 613.548.1346

Education and Training:

• 2015-2016	Neurosurgery Fellow, Department of Surgery, Queen's University
• 2007-2015	Neurosurgery Residency, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
• 2010-2015	Phd, Medical Physics and Imaging, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
• 2010-2015	Surgeon-Scientist Training Program, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
• 2010-2015	Clinician-Investigator Program, University of Toronto, RCPSC
• 2003-2007	MD, University of British Columbia
• 2005	Graduate Summer Session Program, International Space University
• 1999-2003	BSc - Honours Physics, University of British Columbia

Qualifications, Certifications and Licenses:

• 2015-present	License - Independent Practice, Neurosurgery, CPSO, Ontario, Canada
• 2015-present	FRCSC - Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, Neurosurgery, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Employment:

• 2016-present	Associate, Adjunct Professor, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
• 2016-present	Neurosurgeon, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Academic Honours and Awards (Last 5 years):

• 2015	Canadian Neurosurgical Society K.G. McKenzie Prize in Basic Neuroscience
• 2012	Thomas P Morley Prize, 37th Annual William S Keith Professorship in Neurosurgery (Best basic science presentation by a neurosurgery resident)
• 2012	New Investigator Award (Basic Science), American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Convention
• 2011-12	Johnson and Johnson Medical Products Surgeon-Scientist Program Fellowship
• 2011	Edward Christie Stevens Fellowship in Medicine
• 2011	Joseph M West Family Memorial Fund

Clinical Trial/Grant History:

Agency: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre/Focused Ultrasound Foundation
I.D.#: Health Canada NOA Control #2156000, NCT02343991
Title: A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Feasibility of Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Using Transcranial MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound with Intravenous Ultrasound Contrast Agents and Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Brain Tumours
P.I.: Todd Mainprize
Role: Investigator
Total costs for project period: $17,700/patient
Project period: 01 Jan 2015-present

Agency: Kingston General Hospital/Queen's University
I.D.#: N/A
Title: Characterization of brain tumours by mass spectrometry: Evaluation of the iKnife system for neuro-oncological applications
P.I.: Ryan Alkins
Project period: 24 Nov 2016-present

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

1	Cho N, Alkins R, Khan OH, Ginsberg H, Cusimano M. Unilateral lumbar facet dislocation: Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery Spine 2016- under review
2	Huang Y, Alkins R, Schwartz M, Hynynen K. Opening the Blood-Brain Barrier with MR Imaging-guided Focused Ultrasound: Preclinical Testing on a TransHuman Skull Porcine Model. Radiology. 2017 Jan;282:123-130
3	Alkins R, Burgess A, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Early Treatment of HER2-amplified Brain Tumors with Targeted NK-92 Cells and Focused Ultrasound Improves Survival. Neuro Oncol. 2016Jul;18(7):974-81
4	Jalali S, Singh S, Agnihotri S, Wataya T, Salehi F, Alkins R, Burrell K, Navab R, Croul S, Aldape K, Zadeh G. A Role for matrix remodelling proteins in invasive and malignant meningiomas. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2015;41(2):e16-28
5	Aviv RI, Huynh T, Huang Y, Ramsay D, Van Slyke P, Dumont D, Asmah P, Alkins R, Liu R, Hynynen K. An In Vivo, MRI-Integrated Real-Time Model of Active Contrast Extravasation in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2014;35(9):1693-9
6	Nynynen K, Burgess A, O'Reilly MM, Alkins R, Pajek D, Ellens N, Hughes A. Advances in ultrasound methods for therapy. J Acoust Soc Am. 2013;134(5):4088
7	Alkins R, Huang Y, Pajek D, Hynynen K. Cavitation-based third ventriculostomy using MRI-guided focused ultrasound. J Neurosurg. 2013;119(6):1520-9
8	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Focused Ultrasound Delivers Targeted Immune Cells to Metastatic Brain Tumors. Cancer Res 2013;73(6):1892-9
9	Alkins R, Brodersen P, Sodhi R, Hynynen K. Enhancing Drug Delivery for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of Brain Tumors with Focused Ultrasound Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption. Neuro Oncol. 2013;15(9):1225-35
10	Salehi F, Jalali S, Alkins R, Lee JI, Lwu S< Burrell K, Gentili F, Croul S, Zadeh G. Proteins involved in regulating bone invasion in skull base meningiomas. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2012;155(3):421-7
11	Alkins R, Matouk CC, Cruz JP, Marotta T, Montanera W, Spears J. Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting for Patients Less than 70 years of Age: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Can J Neurol Sci 2012;39(3):338-342
12	Arnfield M, Otto K, Aroumougame V, Alkins R. The use of film dosimetry of the penumbra region to improve the accuracy of intensity modulated radiotherapy. Medical Physics 2005;32(1):12-18

Book Chapters:

1	Alkins R, Mainprize TG. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation Therapy of Gliomas. In: Chernov M ed. Progress in Neurological Surgery. Basel, Switzerland: Karger AG.
2	Alkins R, Hynynen K. Therapeutic Ultrasound. In: Brahme, A ed. Comprehensive Biomedical Physics. Oxford, England: Elselvier; 2014:153-168
3	Alkins R, Rutka JT. Epilepsy Surgery in Children. In: Kazadi K, Kato Y, Dechmabenoit G, eds. Essential Practice of Neurosurgery. Nagoya, Japan: Access Publishing Co.; 2009:1199-1215

Conference Proceedings and Presentations:

1	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Early treatment of HER2-amplified brain tumours with targeted NK-92 cells and focused ultrasound improves survival. Abstract in: Can J Neurol Sci 2015:42(S1):S11. Presented in CNSS Chair's Select Abstracts, Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 50th Annual Congress, Toronto, ON, June 09-12, 2015
2	Huang Y, Alkins R, Schwartz M, Hynynen K. MR-Guided Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: Preclinical Testing on Trans-Human Skull Pig Model. Oral Presentation. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 23rd Annual Meeting, Toronto ON, 30 May-5 June 2015
3	Huang Y, Alkins R, Schwartz M, Hynynen K. MR-Guided Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: Preclinical Testing on Trans-Human Skull Pig Model. Oral Presentation, International Symposium of Therapeutic Ultrasound, Utrecht, The Netherlands, April 15-18 2015
4	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Early treatment of HER2-amplified brain tumours with targeted NK-92 cells and focused ultrasound improves survival. Rapid Report Oral Presentation. Society of Neuro-Oncology, Miami Beach, Florida, 13-16 Nov 2014
5	Huang Y, Alkins R, Hynynen K. Protocol Optimization in a Pig Model for Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption by Transcranial Focused Ultrasound. 14th International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2-5 April 2014
6	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Improved survival in a metastatic brain tumour model with combined focused ultrasound and targeted natural killer cells. Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB. Milan, Italy, 10-16 May 2014
7	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Blood-brain barrier disruption with focused ultrasound allows brain tumour therapy with targeted immune cells. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana, 13-17 October 2012
8	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Francia G, Kerbel R, Wels W, Hynynen K. Blood-brain barrier disruption with focused ultrasound allows brain tumour therapy with targeted immune cells. 12th International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound. Heidelberg, Germany, 10-13 June 2012
9	Huang Y, Song J, Alkins R, Ganguly M, Hynynen K. Verification of the Cavitation Safety Mechanism of the ExAblate Brain HIFU System in a Pig Model. 12th International Symposium on Therapeutic Ultrasound. Heidelberg, Germany, 10-13 June 2012
10	Alkins R, Yuexi H, Hynynen K. MRI-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neurosurgery Using Inertial Cavitation to Perform Third Ventriculostomy. American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Congress. Miami, Florida, 14-18 April 2012
11	Alkins R, Burgess A, Ganguly M, Wels W, Hynynen K. Blood-brain barrier disruption with focused ultrasound allows brain tumour therapy with targeted immune cells. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Convention. Phoenix, Arizona 29 March-01 April 2012
12	Alkins R, Yuexi H, Hynynen K. MRI-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurosurgery using inertial cavitation to perform third ventriculostomy. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Convention. Phoenix, Arizona, 29 March-1st April 2012
13	Alkins R, Sodhi R, Brodersen P, Hynynen K. Enhancing drug delivery for boron neutron capture therapy of glioblastoma with focused ultrasound. Society for Neuro-oncology, Orange County, California, USA 18-20 November 2011
14	Alkins R, Matouk CC, Cruz JP, Marotta T, Montanera W, Spears J. The effect of patient age on the safety of carotid artery angioplasty and stenting. World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology 11th Congress, Cape Town, South Africa, 8-11 November 2011
15	Alkins R, Matouk CC, Cruz JP, Marotta T, Montanera W, Spears J. Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting for Patients Less than 70 Years of Age. Neurosurgical forum, Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 1-6 October 2011
16	Alkins R, Matouk CC, Cruz JP, Marotta T, Montanera W, Spears J. Carotid Artery Angioplasty and Stenting for Patients Less than 70 Years of Age. Proceedings of the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 46th Annual Congress, Vancouver, Canada 15-17 June 2011
17	Salehi F, Alkins R, Jalali S, Radovanovic I, Hayhurst C, Burrell K, Lee J, Agnithori S, Croul S, Zadeh G. Tissue and RNA Microarray Analysis of Invasive and Noninvasive Meningiomas. Skull Base 2011; 21 - A096. Presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the North American Skull Base Society, Scottsdale, Arizona, 18-20 February 2011
18	Salehi F, Alkins R, Jalali S, Radovanovic I, Hayhurst C, Burrell K, Lee J, Agnithori S, Croul S, Zadeh G. Differential protein and mRNA expression between invasive and non-invasive meningiomas. Canadian Association of Neuropathologists 50th Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada 13-16 October 2010
19	V Singhroy, R Alkins, T Bouvet, A Cartier, A Drew, C Guilera, K Pulver. Wildfire Mitigation Using Space Technology. 56th Annual International Astronautical Congress Also presented to:
20	United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, Vienna, Austria, 23 February 2006
21	K Otto, R Alkins, B G Clark. Improved IMRT Dose Calculations using Pencil Beam Kernels Derived from High Resolution Film Dosimetry. 49th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists/Canadian College of Physicists in Medicine, Edmonton, Canada 5-7 June 2003
22	K Otto, R Alkins, BG Clark. Limitations of IMRT Planning with Low Resolution Pencil Beam Kernels. 7th Biennial ESTRO Meeting on Physics and Radiation Technology for Clinical Radiotherapy, Geneva, Switzerland, 13-18 September 2003

Invited Talks:

1	Focused Ultrasound Foundation Blood-Brain Barrier Workshop, Bethesda, Maryland, Sept 11-13, 2013
2	Sunrise Session Co-Chair - High Frequency Ultrasound in the Management of Brain Tumors. Society for Neuro-Oncology 2014 Annual Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida, Nov 13-16, 2014
3	Invited Speaker, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston ON, March 30th 2016

Course Faculty:

1	Pre-clerkship medical student surgical skills, Toronto ON, Feb 2012
2	PGY-1 neurosurgical summer crash course, Toronto ON, Jul-Aug 2011

Professional Affiliations:

2007-present	Member, Ontario Medical Association
2007-present	Member, Canadian Medical Association
2007-present	Member, Canadian Neurosurgical Society
2015-present	Fellow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Updated July 17, 2018

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