About the Hofstetter Lab team

Christoph Hofstetter, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician scientist in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. Dr. Hofstetter earned his M.D. from University of Vienna, and Ph.D. at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. 

Dr. Hofstetter is an expert in experimental and translational spinal cord injury research. His research focuses on the development on biomarkers for prognosis and treatment guidance following acute spinal cord injury. Together with his collaborator Dr. Matt Bruce, his laboratory has developed a novel type of contrast-enhanced ultrasound which allows to visualize specific segments of the vascular tree. This innovative imaging modality allows his laboratory to assess the impact of trauma on local tissue perfusion. Dr. Hofstetter also investigates the use of stem cells and specialized polymers to improve recovery following acute spinal cord injury. His research also includes the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation with both preclinical and clinical trials in close collaboration with Drs. Moritz and Perlmutter. Dr. Hofstetter is former chairman of the Section of Spinal cord Injury of the North American Spine Society and serves as Associate Member of the AO Spinal cord injury knowledge forum.

Ali earned his Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering, which he worked in the field of tissue engineering and mostly focused on neural regeneration. He developed conductive nanofibrous scaffold to modulate neural cell behaviour and promote regeneration in combination with in vitro electrical stimulation.

He has extensive experience with the design and fabrication of bioengineering tools such as biomaterial and bio-scaffolds for tissue engineering and controlled release targeted drug delivery. Also, he previously worked with neurosurgery groups to alleviate symptoms of patients with Neurological Disorder using Deep Brain Stimulation and Spinal Cord Stimulation. In his current role, he is expanding his knowledge and experiences to the in vivo model by developing closed-loop stimulation in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) to provide functional recovery after SCI.

TBD

Denis Routkevitch completed his MD/PhD at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where his doctoral work in biomedical engineering focused on ultrasound monitoring of spinal cord perfusion. Working with Nicholas Theodore, MD, and Nitish Thakor, PhD, he developed a system for closed-loop vasopressor titration for individualized MAP management in acute SCI. At UW, he plans to continue translational research that can be applied in the operating room and in the neuro ICU, drawing on his training in both biomedical engineering and neurosurgery. 

Nico is a research technician in the Hofstetter lab, and a recent graduate of the University of Washington, with his B.S in Biochemistry. In the lab, he works to investigate spinal cord injuries using specialized contrast-enhanced ultrasound equipment. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine as a physician with a focus in trauma surgery and prehospital care. Outside of the lab, Nico is an EMT in the city of Seattle for American Medical Response, working to improve his practical skills and aid patients in emergency settings. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor recreation, film photography, and racing cars.

Tyler recently joined the Hofstetter lab as a research coordinator. He was previously working as a research study assistant for the University of Washington at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, where his team focused on renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. He graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. With the Hofstetter lab, Tyler works to recruit patients to numerous studies. He hopes to become a compassionate physician and has current interests in surgery, oncology, and anesthesiology. Ultimately, he aims to improve patient quality of life and satisfaction. Beyond his professional endeavors, Tyler's interests include soccer, running, hiking, volunteering at Mary's Place, climbing, throwing pottery, and baking.

Essa Ali is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington with an interest in computational neuroscience. His work with neural networks deepened his curiosity about the biology of the nervous system, drawing him to research on spinal cord injury. He hopes to build on these interests while pursuing a future career in surgery. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing basketball and chess, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Saif is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington majoring in Bioengineering, before the Hoffstetter lab he was involved in Bioinformatics research which centered on studying the environment in which microorganisms interact, and how those relationships could evolve on a large enough time scale, now he is interested in medicine from a Bioengineering perspective, with an interest in medical imaging and neural computation. Right now his work in Dr. Hofstetter's lab involves finding a better measure for spinal cord perfusion. He hopes to be a Physician in the long term and is particularly interested in Trauma Surgery. In his free time, he likes to nap.

I’m excited to be back at UW. I spent 14 wonderful years here before taking a 7-year journey in the pharmacology industry. Now, Christoph has asked me to bring that industry-level efficiency, speed, and productivity to our work, and I’m thrilled to be doing that alongside such a strong team. These have been challenging times for all of us in science, but with teamwork and dedication, I truly believe we can keep science not only alive but thriving.

Phil Bohlen, MD, is a physician from the University Clinic of Cologne, Germany. He joined the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington as a postdoctoral scholar. After several years of clinical work in orthopedics and trauma surgery, his main clinical interest remains traumatic and degenerative pathologies of the spine. In addition, he serves as a prehospital emergency physician.

In Prof. Hofstetter’s Spine Lab, his research focuses on vascular pathomechanisms of spinal cord injuries, as well as novel RNA-based approaches and their potential for future clinical translation.

Outside the lab, Phil stays active, exploring Seattle’s waterfronts and nearby national parks.

Dr. Woo-Keun Kwon is a neurosurgeon and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Korea University College of Medicine, Korea Univ. Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. As a physician-scientist, he pursues clinical spine research not limited to but centered on minimally invasive and full-endoscopic techniques, alongside in vitro laboratory work on the intervertebral disc, ligamentum flavum, and dural cells. He is currently spending a research year with the Hofstetter Lab, learning from and exchanging ideas with the team through close collaboration on their spine research projects.

Cathryn is a clinical research coordinator that has been working with the Hofstetter Lab since 2023. She most recently graduated with her Master of Science in Epidemiology from Columbia University. Prior to this, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in community health sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno. One of her many important tasks is to recruit participants for studies as well as ensure the studies are compliant with human subject regulations.

Richard Wang is a Research Technologist in the Hofstetter Lab at the University of Washington Department of Neurological Surgery. He graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Applied Mathematics and has experience in behavioral testing, histology, imaging, and data analysis. He plans to pursue a career in medicine with an interest in translating scientific research into improved patient care. Outside of the lab, Richard enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming, playing piano, and video games.

Jack is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington pursuing a pre-med track with a minor in business. Originally from the Bay Area, he now lives, studies, and works in Seattle. Outside of academics and research, he enjoy playing sports, music, and exploring the outdoors. Jack hopes to follow the steps to orthopedic surgery after graduating in 2029 by attending medical school.

Nikos is an undergraduate at the University of Washington pursuing a degree in neuroscience. He joined Hofstetter lab in the summer of 2026. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, he enjoys making video edits, playing volleyball, video games, drawing, and hanging out with friends.