Assist. Prof. Dr Sae-Yeon Won | Biomaterials | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sae-Yeon Won 🧠⚕️ is a distinguished neurosurgeon and researcher at Rostock University Medical Center, Germany. With an MD and PhD in Neurological Surgery 🎓, he has over 85 peer-reviewed publications 📚 and an H-index of 17 📊. His research focuses on neurovascular diseases, brain trauma, and innovative surgical materials 🧪🔬. A former scholar at Harvard University 🌍, he has received prestigious grants and leads collaborative projects across Germany 🇩🇪. As founder of the Posterior Fossa Community 🧩 and active member of top neurosurgical societies, Dr. Won’s work bridges clinical excellence with groundbreaking biomedical research 💡🏥.

Assist. Prof. Dr Sae-Yeon Won, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany

Profile

ORCID

SCOPUS

Education 🎓

Dr. Sae-Yeon Won earned his MD from J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt 🇩🇪 (2007–2014), complemented by a research stint at Harvard University 🧠🇺🇸 in 2012. He received his Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.) in 2015, graduating summa cum laude 🏅 with a dissertation on dual-energy CT imaging in brain hemorrhages 🧪🩻. In 2021, he achieved a PhD (Habilitation) in Neurological Surgery from Rostock University Medical Centre 🏥, focusing on epilepsy in subdural hematoma patients 💡⚡. His academic journey reflects deep commitment to neurosurgical research and clinical excellence across global institutions 📚🌐.

Professional Journey 🧠🏥

Dr. Sae-Yeon Won began his neurosurgical residency at J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt 🇩🇪 (2014–2020) under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Volker Seifert. He continued his residency at University Medical Centre Rostock 🏥, followed by a clinical fellowship (2020–2021) 🩺. Since June 2021, he has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery under Prof. Dr. Thomas M. Freiman 🎓. His continuous advancement in clinical neurosurgery reflects exceptional dedication, hands-on expertise in complex brain disorders 🧬, and a strong commitment to academic medicine 📚👨‍⚕️.

Grants & Scholarships 🎓💰

Dr. Sae-Yeon Won has been awarded multiple prestigious grants, including the Clinical Price in NeuroWiss (€1,500) in 2019 for his research on aneurysms 🧠. In 2021, he received the FORUN 2021 Research Award (€18,867) and DePuy Spine Scholarship (€2,000) 🏆. He was also awarded State Graduate Funding (€24,000) for coagulation disorder research and the DGNI Young Scientist Award (€20,000) for intracranial pressure monitoring 🧬. Additionally, his Teaching Grant (€8,800) supports innovative virtual reality training for neurosurgical students 🎮💡.

Contributions 💡

Dr. Sae-Yeon Won’s research demonstrates the potential of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a safer hemostatic agent in neurosurgery 🩺. Unlike traditional bipolar coagulation, H₂O₂ showed minimal neuronal damage, with limited impact (≤1mm from the surface) 🧬. This suggests it could be a viable alternative to conventional methods, reducing risks during surgery. Additionally, his study found H₂O₂ had visible effects on tumor cells, opening new possibilities for its use in brain tumor treatment 🎯. This research holds promise for more effective brain tumor surgeries, prioritizing tumor removal while preserving surrounding brain tissue 🌟.

Research Focus 🔬

Dr. Sae-Yeon Won’s research spans several critical areas in neurosurgery and neurology. His work focuses on stroke 🩸, exploring innovative treatments and early detection methods. He also investigates neurovascular diseases 🩺, aiming to improve understanding and management of conditions like aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. In neurooncology 🎯, his studies explore novel approaches for treating brain tumors, especially in minimizing damage to healthy tissue during surgery. Furthermore, Dr. Won’s research addresses traumatic brain injury 💥, seeking new solutions for recovery and minimizing long-term effects on patients. His work combines cutting-edge treatments with clinical practice.

Publications 📝

Enhancing Surgical Education for Medical Students Through Virtual Reality: The Digital Surgical Operating Theatre Tour

  • Authors: D. Dubinski, S. Won, C. Hardung, F.A. Gessler, B.F.M. Romeike

  • Journal: World Neurosurgery, 2025

The Velocity of Temporalis Muscle Wasting in Cerebral Metastasis Is Prognostic for Poor Survival

  • Authors: A. Rafaelian, S. Won, B. Behmanesh, F.A. Gessler, D. Dubinski

  • Journal: Frontiers in Oncology, 2025

Surgical Infarct Volume Reduction and Functional Outcomes in Patients with Ischemic Cerebellar Stroke: Results from a Multicentric Retrospective Study

  • Authors: S. Hernández-Durán, J. Walter, B. Behmanesh, S. Won, F.A. Gessler

  • Journal: Journal of Neurosurgery, 2024

Hybrid-3D Robotic Suite in Spine and Trauma Surgery – Experiences in 210 Patients

  • Authors: D.M. Haida, P. Mohr, S. Won, M. Hanschen, S.M. Huber-Wagner

  • Journal: Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 2024

Efficacy and Safety of Bedside Percutaneous Three-Millimeter Twist-Drill Trephination Under Local Anesthesia—A Retrospective Study of 1000 Patients

  • Authors: B. Puhahn-Schmeiser, H. Wegent, S. Won, J.F. Zentner, T.M. Freiman

  • Journal: Acta Neurochirurgica, 2024

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Neurosurgery—Unveiling ChatGPT for Neurosurgical Discharge Summaries and Operative Reports

  • Authors: D. Dubinski, S. Won, S. Trnovec, T.M. Freiman, F.A. Gessler

  • Journal: Acta Neurochirurgica, 2024

Assist. Prof. Dr Sae-Yeon Won | Biomaterials | Best Researcher Award