Research, Innovation & Education

Academic Work at the Intersection of Neurosurgery, Technology and Education

Dr. Jerold Justo’s academic work focuses on improving how complex neurosurgical conditions are studied, treated and taught. His interests bring together skull base and endoscopic surgery, surgical innovation, surgical data science, 3D printing, simulation and multidisciplinary education, with particular attention to approaches that can be adapted responsibly to the Philippine setting.

Research Interests

• Skull base, pituitary and other complex cranial tumors

• Chordoma and other rare skull-base tumors

• Endoscopic endonasal, transcranial and minimally invasive approaches

• Surgical anatomy, technique refinement and outcomes

• Surgical data science, surgical video and responsible applications of artificial intelligence

• 3D printing, simulation and patient-specific anatomical models

• Surgical education, curriculum design and cadaveric training

• Development of specialized neurosurgical services and regional access to care

Surgical Innovation

A central interest is the careful refinement and implementation of techniques that improve visualization, access, ergonomics and surgical education. Areas of interest include endoscopic endonasal surgery, open and combined skull-base approaches, minimally invasive neurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, instrument handling and the endoscopic chopsticks technique.

Innovation is presented as a process of anatomical study, technical evaluation, collaboration and responsible adoption—not as a guarantee that a particular approach is appropriate for every patient.

Surgical Data Science

Surgical data science brings together operative video, structured clinical information, computer vision, artificial intelligence and collaborative research. Dr. Justo’s interest in this field includes collaboration with the Surgical Data Science Collective (SDSC) and the study of how responsibly governed surgical data can support research, technical feedback, education, quality improvement and wider access to expertise.

Particular interests include video-based analysis of neurosurgical procedures, standardized descriptions of operative techniques, multicenter collaboration and the use of data to improve how surgeons learn and evaluate complex procedures.

3D Printing in Neurosurgery

Three-dimensional printing can connect medical imaging with anatomical understanding and hands-on learning. Areas of interest include patient-specific anatomical models, skull-base simulation, procedural planning, resident and medical-student education, and models that allow complex anatomy to be taught more clearly.

Research and educational applications should be evaluated for anatomical accuracy, clinical usefulness, cost, reproducibility and accessibility in different healthcare settings.

Surgical Education

Dr. Justo serves as Course Director of the Philippine Skull Base Masterclass, an advanced open and endoscopic skull-base dissection course that brings together local and international faculty for anatomical training, technical instruction and multidisciplinary exchange.

His educational interests include cadaveric dissection, simulation, structured operative teaching, curriculum development, inter-hospital learning and the creation of practical educational opportunities for neurosurgeons and trainees in the Philippines and the wider region.

Selected Research and Professional Work

Selected publications, presentations, teaching activities and professional appointments are maintained on the Research & Professional Profile page. This section will be updated as new peer-reviewed work and publicly disclosed projects become available.

Academic and Institutional Collaboration

Dr. Justo welcomes appropriate collaboration with clinicians, anatomists, engineers, data scientists, educators, research institutions, professional organizations, industry partners and patient-advocacy groups whose work aligns with responsible neurosurgical research and education.

Potential areas include multicenter studies, surgical video and data research, 3D-printed anatomical models, simulation, curriculum development, cadaveric training, rare-tumor research, registries and patient education. Proposed collaborations should be ethical, transparent, institutionally appropriate and patient-centered.