Jason Chu, MD, MSc

Dr. Jason Chu, MD, MSc is a board-certified Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and an Attending Neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Chu is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and earned his Bachelors of Science from Queen’s University in Kingston, as well as a Master’s of Science at the University of Toronto. He is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed his Neurosurgery training at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. Dr. Chu finished his Pediatric Neurosurgery fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country, where he received specialized training in epilepsy surgery, including minimally invasive stereoencephalography (sEEG) and laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) techniques. Dr. Chu also has expertise in the treatment of pediatric cerebrovascular disorders, including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), Moyamoya and cavernous malformations of the brain and spinal cord.

Working with a specialized team of physicians at the CHLA Fetal-Maternal Center, CHLA Spina Bifida Program and Keck School of Medicine Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Dr. Chu performs fetal surgery for patients with spina bifida and myelomeningocele. The results of the Management of Myelomeningocele (MOMs) Trial suggest that in utero repair of myelomeningocele can decrease the development of symptomatic hydrocephalus, as well as improve developmental and motor outcomes in patients with open neural tube defects. Our group has worked on developing a minimally-invasive technique that minimizes the risks of the surgery for the mother, while preserving the potential benefits of in utero repair for the fetus.

Dr. Chu is also member of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN), a national, multi-center collaborative research network devoted to improving the understanding and treatment of hydrocephalus in infants and children. He is the CHLA site investigator for the HCRN Endoscopic versus Shunt Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Infants (ESTHI) trial for infantile hydrocephalus.

Dr. Chu has authored over 30 peer-reviewed papers and 5 book chapters. His research interests lie in translational neuroscience, functional neuroimaging in brain development and improving clinical outcomes for his patients. He is a member of the American Association of the Neurological Surgeons (AANS), The Congress of Neurologic Surgeons (CNS) and the AANS/CNS Section of Pediatric Neurological Surgery.