Dr. Michael Fehlings is a world-renowned neurosurgeon and leading authority in spinal cord injury research and complex spine surgery. He currently serves as Professor of Neurosurgery and Vice Chair Research in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto, where he also holds the Gerald and Tootsie Halbert Chair in Neural Repair and Regeneration at University Health Network. After receiving his MD Summa Cum Laude from the University of Toronto in 1983, he completed his PhD in 1989 in the Institute of Medical Sciences for his pioneering work on experimental spinal cord injury. He joined the Neurosurgical Staff at the Toronto Western Hospital in 1992 and has since held numerous leadership positions including Co-Director of the University of Toronto Spine Program and Head of the Spinal Program at the Toronto Western Hospital, where he established himself as a preeminent figure in neural repair and regeneration.
Dr. Fehlings is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to understanding spinal cord injury pathophysiology and developing novel therapeutic approaches. His research program integrates molecular, imaging, electrophysiological and neurobehavioural approaches to examine the pathophysiology and treatment of central nervous system injury, with current studies focused on neuroprotection, stem cell transplantation strategies, and mechanisms of the secondary injury after SCI. He has authored over 1,100 peer-reviewed publications with an h-index of 130 and more than 70,000 citations, demonstrating the profound impact of his work on the field. As a key player in SCI-NET (Spinal Cord Injury New Emerging Team), he has led interdisciplinary collaborations that have advanced translational research from bench to bedside, developing and characterizing animal models of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and examining strategies for improving outcomes in this common condition.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Fehlings has held significant leadership roles including Director of the University of Toronto Neuroscience Program and Medical Director of the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at University Health Network. He has been instrumental in developing clinical practice guidelines for spinal cord injury management and has mentored numerous trainees who have gone on to become leaders in the field. His transformative work has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Reeve-Irvine Medal, the Olivecrona Award from the Karolinska Institute, and the Ryman Prize presented by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Currently, he continues to lead clinical trials bringing lab-tested therapeutics to clinical application, with his research program focused on discovering novel treatments to improve functional outcomes following spinal cord injury and related neurological conditions.
