Wuwei Feng

Research Interests

Dr. Feng is a board-certified vascular neurologist as well as a physician-scientist. His research portfolios include developing imaging biomarker for post-stroke motor outcomes prediction, and use of non-invasive brain stimulation tools, such as, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nerve stimulation, low intensity focused ultrasound and transcranial light stimulation to enhance post-stroke recovery. His research has been actively funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and other various sources.  He is currently leading an NIH funded 8.9 million U01 12-center, phase II study called TRANSPORT 2 (TRANScranial direct current stimulation for POst-stroke motor Recovery – a phase II sTudy) – on the NINDS-funded stroke trial network. 

Bio

Wayne Feng is the Chief of Division of Stroke & Vascular Neurology, Medical Director of Duke Comprehensive Stroke Center, and Tenured Profess of Neurology and Biomedical Engineering at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Feng is a board-certified vascular neurologist as well as a physician scientist. His research portfolios include developing imaging biomarker for post-stroke motor outcomes prediction, and use of non-invasive brain stimulation tools, such as, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nerve stimulation, low intensity focused ultrasound and transcranial light stimulation to enhance post-stroke recovery. His research has been actively funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and other various sources.  He is currently leading an NIH funded 8.9 million U01 12-center, phase II study called TRANSPORT 2 (TRANScranial direct current stimulation for POst-stroke motor Recovery – a phase II sTudy) – on the NINDS funded stroke trial network.

Dr. Feng has published over 150 peer reviewed manuscripts (H index of 36), including two manuscripts featured on the cover page of brain stimulation journal, and one manuscript featured on Journal of Neuroscience. He co-edited - “Cerebral Venous System in Acute and Chronic Brain Injuries” book. He served as the associate editor for Translational Stroke Research from 2019 to 2021(IF=7.0). Dr. Feng received several prestigious awards for his research work in stroke and stroke recovery including the FIRST “Rehabilitation Award” from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in 2015, “Franz Gerstenbrand Award” from World Federation of Neurorehabilitation (WFNR) in 2016, Arthur Guyton New Investigator Award, Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control (COSEHC) in 2016 and “Clinical Investigator Award” from the Society of Chinese American Physician Entrepreneur (SCAPE). Currently, he is the Section Chair of Neural Repair & Rehabilitation, the American Academy of Neurology. He leads the global mentoring program for the WFNR. 

Education

• M.D. Central South University, Xiangya School of Medicine (China), 1996

Trainings & Certifications

• Residency, NEUROLOGY (2006 - 2010) Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine
• Vascular Neurology Fellowship, NEUROLOGY (2010 - 2011) Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Positions

• Professor of Neurology
• Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Department of Neurology
• Chief of Stroke & Vascular Neurology in the Department of Neurology
• Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

• Scientific Investigation Award. The Society of Chinese American Physicians. 2018
• Franz Gerstenbrand Award. World Federation of Neuorehabilitation. 2016
• Arthur Guyton New Investigator Award. Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control . 2016
• Stroke Rehabilitation Award. American Heart Association. 2015

Publications

• Ryan D, Ikramuddin S, Alexander S, Buckley C, Feng W. Three Pillars of Recovery After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Narrative Review. Transl Stroke Res. 2024 Apr 11;
• Feng W, Paik N-J. Challenges and solutions to optimize stroke recovery trial enrollment and execution. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2024 Mar;38:100844.
• Ryan D, Girotra T, Feng W. Choice and Timing of Antithrombotic after Ischemic Stroke, Intracerebral Hemorrhage or Cerebral Venous Thrombosis. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2024;23(2):135–52.
• Feng W, Domeracki A, Park C, Shah S, Chhatbar PY, Pawar S, et al. Revisiting Transcranial Light Stimulation as a Stroke Therapeutic-Hurdles and Opportunities. Transl Stroke Res. 2023 Dec;14(6):854–62.
• Keser Z, Ikramuddin S, Shekhar S, Feng W. Neuromodulation for Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: a Narrative Review of Invasive and Non‑Invasive Tools. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2023 Dec;23(12):893–906.
• Ikramuddin S, Liu S, Ryan D, Hassani S, Hasan D, Feng W. Propranolol or Beta-Blockers for Cerebral Cavernous Malformation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Literature in Both Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Transl Stroke Res. 2023 Oct 19;
• Feng W. Diagnosis of post-stroke dysphagia: towards better treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2023 Sep;22(9):778–9.
• Keser Z, Feng W. Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Motor Recovery-What Is Next? Transl Stroke Res. 2023 Aug;14(4):438–42.
• Feng W, Plow EB, Paik N-J. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Poststroke Motor Recovery: What We Have Learned. Stroke. 2023 Aug;54(8):1972–3.
• Dawson J, Engineer ND, Cramer SC, Wolf SL, Ali R, O’Dell MW, et al. Vagus Nerve Stimulation Paired With Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Motor Impairment and Function After Chronic Ischemic Stroke: Subgroup Analysis of the Randomized, Blinded, Pivotal, VNS-REHAB Device Trial. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2023 Jun;37(6):367–73.
• Rose D, Cavalier A, Kam W, Cantrell S, Lusk J, Schrag M, et al. Complications of Intravenous Tenecteplase Versus Alteplase for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Stroke. 2023 May;54(5):1192–204.
• Zavaliangos-Petropulu A, Lo B, Donnelly MR, Schweighofer N, Lohse K, Jahanshad N, et al. Chronic Stroke Sensorimotor Impairment Is Related to Smaller Hippocampal Volumes: An ENIGMA Analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 May 17;11(10):e025109.
• Mac Grory B, Piccini JP, Yaghi S, Poli S, De Havenon A, Rostanski SK, et al. Hyperglycemia, Risk of Subsequent Stroke, and Efficacy of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of the POINT Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Feb;11(3):e023223.
• Wang M, Han J, Jiang H, Zhu J, Feng W, Chhatbar PY, et al. Intracranial Electric Field Recording During Multichannel Transcranial Electrical Stimulation. 2021 Dec 21;
• Hong Z, Zheng H, Luo J, Yin M, Ai Y, Deng B, et al. Effects of Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Language Recovery in Poststroke Survivors With Aphasia: An Updated Meta-analysis. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2021 Aug;35(8):680–91.
• Mac Grory B, Landman SR, Ziegler PD, Boisvert CJ, Flood SP, Stretz C, et al. Detection of Atrial Fibrillation After Central Retinal Artery Occlusion. Stroke. 2021 Aug;52(9):2773–81.
• Mac Grory B, Schrag M, Poli S, Boisvert CJ, Spitzer MS, Schultheiss M, et al. Structural and Functional Imaging of the Retina in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion - Current Approaches and Future Directions. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2021 Jul;30(7):105828.
• Mac Grory B, Saldanha IJ, Mistry EA, Stretz C, Poli S, Sykora M, et al. Thrombolytic therapy for wake-up stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Neurol. 2021 Jun;28(6):2006–16.
• Dawson J, Liu CY, Francisco GE, Cramer SC, Wolf SL, Dixit A, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation paired with rehabilitation for upper limb motor function after ischaemic stroke (VNS-REHAB): a randomised, blinded, pivotal, device trial. Lancet. 2021 Apr 24;397(10284):1545–53.
• Wu Y, Chen F, Song H, Feng W, Sun J, Liu R, et al. Use of a Smartphone Platform to Help With Emergency Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Observational Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021 Feb 9;9(2):e25488.
• Inamullah O, Chiang YP, Bishawi M, Weiss M, Lutz MW, Blue LJ, et al. Characteristics of strokes associated with centrifugal flow left ventricular assist devices. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 18;11(1):1645.
• Kim T, Park C, Chhatbar PY, Feld J, Mac Grory B, Nam CS, et al. Effect of Low Intensity Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation on Neuromodulation in Animals and Humans: An Updated Systematic Review. Front Neurosci. 2021;15:620863.
• Humayun L, Smith C, Li W, Zhang YS, Park C, Feng W, et al. SARS-CoV-2-related vascular injury: mechanisms, imaging and models. Microphysiol Syst. 2021 Jan;5.
• Nam CS, Traylor Z, Chen M, Jiang X, Feng W, Chhatbar PY. Direct Communication Between Brains: A Systematic PRISMA Review of Brain-To-Brain Interface. Front Neurorobot. 2021;15:656943.
• Mattke S, Cramer SC, Wang M, Bettger JP, Cockroft KM, Feng W, et al. Estimating minimal clinically important differences for two scales in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury. Curr Med Res Opin. 2020 Dec;36(12):1999–2007.
• Wu Y, Chen F, Song H, Feng W, Sun J, Liu R, et al. Use of a Smartphone Platform to Help With Emergency Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Observational Study (Preprint). 2020 Nov 4;
• Khan M, Kumar P, Qiao F, Islam SMT, Singh AK, Won J-S, et al. Targeting GSNOR for functional recovery in a middle-aged mouse model of stroke. Brain Res. 2020 Aug 15;1741:146879.
• Broderick JP, Elm JJ, Janis LS, Zhao W, Moy CS, Dillon CR, et al. National Institutes of Health StrokeNet During the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond. Stroke. 2020 Aug;51(8):2580–6.
• Zhang L, Yang X, Yin M, Yang H, Li L, Parashos A, et al. An Animal Trial on the Optimal Time and Intensity of Exercise after Stroke. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Aug;52(8):1699–709.
• Yao X, Cui L, Wang J, Feng W, Bao Y, Xie Q. Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation with virtual reality on upper limb function in patients with ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled trial. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020 Jun 15;17(1):73.
• Liu S, Zheng H, Yu W, Ramakrishnan V, Shah S, Gonzalez LF, et al. Investigation of S-Nitrosoglutathione in stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of literature in pre-clinical and clinical research. Exp Neurol. 2020 Jun;328:113262.
• Alawieh AM, Langley EF, Feng W, Spiotta AM, Tomlinson S. Complement-Dependent Synaptic Uptake and Cognitive Decline after Stroke and Reperfusion Therapy. J Neurosci. 2020 May 13;40(20):4042–58.
• Weiss M, Shah S, Feng W. Letter by Weiss et al Regarding Article, "1/2SH: A Simple, Accurate, and Reliable Method of Calculating the Hematoma Volume of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage". Stroke. 2020 May;51(5):e90.
• Seo NJ, Enders LR, Fortune A, Cain S, Vatinno AA, Schuster E, et al. Phase I Safety Trial: Extended Daily Peripheral Sensory Stimulation Using a Wrist-Worn Vibrator in Stroke Survivors. Transl Stroke Res. 2020 Apr;11(2):204–13.
• Alawieh A, Fernando Gonzalez L, Feng W. Barriers and opportunities of cortical stimulation via cerebral venous approach. Brain Stimul. 2020;13(2):401–2.
• Shah S, Chhatbar PY, Feld JA, Feng W. Integrating tDCS into routine inpatient rehabilitation practice to boost post-stroke recovery. Brain Stimul. 2020;13(4):953–4.
• Wu Y, Chen F, Wang Z, Feng W, Liu Y, Wang Y, et al. Reductions in Hospital Admissions and Delays in Acute Stroke Care During the Pandemic of COVID-19. Front Neurol. 2020;11:584734.
• Liu S, Zheng H, Yu W, Ramakrishnan V, Shah S, Gonzalez LF, et al. Investigation of S-Nitrosoglutathione in Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Literature in Pre-clinical and Clinical Research. In: NEUROLOGY. 2020.
• Esquenazi A, Feng WW, Wittenberg G, Gallien P, Baricich A, Fanning K, et al. Clinical Characteristics that Impact OnabotulinumtoxinA Treatment Adherence in Patients with Spasticity from the ASPIRE Study. In: NEUROLOGY. 2020.
• Shah S, Liang L, Kosinski A, Hernandez AF, Schwamm LH, Smith EE, et al. Safety and Outcomes of Intravenous tPA in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Prior Stroke Within 3 Months: Findings From Get With The Guidelines-Stroke. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2020 Jan;13(1):e006031.
• Girotra T, Feng W. Effects of antiplatelet therapy after stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RESTART): are neurologists feeling more comfortable to RESTART antiplatelet? Ann Transl Med. 2019 Sep;7(Suppl 6):S214.
• Smith C, Almallouhi E, Feng W. Urinary tract infection after stroke: A narrative review. J Neurol Sci. 2019 Aug 15;403:146–52.
• Zheng H, Zhang B, Chhatbar PY, Dong Y, Alawieh A, Lowe F, et al. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Stroke: A Systematic Review of Literature in Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research. Cell Transplant. 2018 Dec;27(12):1723–30.
• Feng W, Kautz SA, Schlaug G, Meinzer C, George MS, Chhatbar PY. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Poststroke Motor Recovery: Challenges and Opportunities. PM R. 2018 Sep;10(9 Suppl 2):S157–64.
• Dong Y, Fang K, Wang X, Chen S, Liu X, Zhao Y, et al. The network of Shanghai Stroke Service System (4S): A public health-care web-based database using automatic extraction of electronic medical records. Int J Stroke. 2018 Jul;13(5):539–44.
• Chhatbar PY, Kautz SA, Takacs I, Rowland NC, Revuelta GJ, George MS, et al. Evidence of transcranial direct current stimulation-generated electric fields at subthalamic level in human brain in vivo. Brain Stimul. 2018;11(4):727–33.
• Chhatbar PY, George MS, Kautz SA, Feng W. Charge density, not current density, is a more comprehensive safety measure of transcranial direct current stimulation. Brain Behav Immun. 2017 Nov;66:414–5.
• Feng W, Chhatbar P, George M, Deardorff R, Kautz S. Safety and Tolerability of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Stroke Patients - A Phase I Current Escalation Study. In: ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY. WILEY; 2017. p. S142–S142.
• Liu S, Feng W, Chhatbar PY, Liu Y, Ji X, Ovbiagele B. Mobile health as a viable strategy to enhance stroke risk factor control: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol Sci. 2017 Jul 15;378:140–5.
• Spampinato MV, Chan C, Jensen JH, Helpern JA, Bonilha L, Kautz SA, et al. Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging and Motor Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017 Jul;38(7):1328–34.
• Chhatbar PY, Chen R, Deardorff R, Dellenbach B, Kautz SA, George MS, et al. Safety and tolerability of transcranial direct current stimulation to stroke patients - A phase I current escalation study. Brain Stimul. 2017;10(3):553–9.
• Chhatbar PY, George MS, Kautz SA, Feng W. Quantitative reassessment of safety limits of tDCS for two animal studies. Brain Stimul. 2017;10(5):1011–2.
• Owolabi M, Olowoyo P, Miranda JJ, Akinyemi R, Feng W, Yaria J, et al. Gaps in Hypertension Guidelines in Low- and Middle-Income Versus High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Hypertension. 2016 Dec;68(6):1328–37.
• Chhatbar PY, Ramakrishnan V, Kautz S, George MS, Adams RJ, Feng W. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Post-Stroke Upper Extremity Motor Recovery Studies Exhibit a Dose-Response Relationship. Brain Stimul. 2016;9(1):16–26.
• Chhatbar PY, Sawers JR, Feng W. The Proof is in the Pudding: Does tDCS Actually Deliver DC Stimulation? Brain Stimul. 2016;9(4):625–6.
• Chhatbar PY, Sawers JR, Feng W. Response to the Response to "Does tDCS Actually Deliver DC Stimulation?". Brain Stimul. 2016;9(6):952–4.
• Feng W, Wang J, Chhatbar PY, Doughty C, Landsittel D, Lioutas V-A, et al. Corticospinal tract lesion load: An imaging biomarker for stroke motor outcomes. Ann Neurol. 2015 Dec;78(6):860–70.
• Folsom J, Ezerioha N, Chhatbar P, Pawar S, Holmstedt C, Jauch E, et al. The Impact of Contrast Based CTA/CTP Brain Attack Protocol on Kidney Function. In: STROKE. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS; 2015.
• Feng W, Enabore JA, Kautz S, Adams RJ, Chhatbar P. Dose Response Relationship in Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Stroke Motor Recovery Studies. In: STROKE. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS; 2015.
• Chhatbar PY, Feng W. Data Synthesis in Meta-Analysis may Conclude Differently on Cognitive Effect From Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. Brain Stimul. 2015;8(5):974–6.