Guardians of the Neuroaxis

Our Mission

The University of Florida "Guardians of the Neuroaxis" of the division of Neurocritical Care, are dedicated to a variety of research projects – all with the ultimate goal to positively impact patients with acute neurological illness. Our ongoing projects reflect the diversity of interests and expertise of the neurocritical care faculty – spanning clinical, basic science, translational, educational, and quality improvement realms, our projects include: innovations in neuroscience and neurocritical care education, prognostication in neurocritical illness, expanding understanding in traumatic brain injury and brain edema, exploring the gut-brain axis, establishing new treatment avenues for headache in the neuroICU, and expanding clinical treatment for post-cardiac arrest survivors with status epilepticus, among others. We hope our scientific endeavors will help patients and families in many ways – by saving neurons, improving the odds of recovery, or providing solace in times of distress – all while inspiring the next generation of academic neurointensivists.

Our Leaders

Dr. Katharina Busl

Katharina M. Busl, MD, is the division chief of neurocritical care at University of Florida Health and co-director of the UF Health Shands Hospital Neuro Intensive Care Unit. She is a neurointensivist with faculty appointments in the departments of neurology and neurosurgery. Dr. Busl received her medical degree with high honors from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. She moved to Boston to complete her neurology residency in the Harvard Neurology Residency Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she also served as chief resident.

Dr. Carolina Maciel

Dr. Maciel is a neurointensivist with dedicated training in EEG monitoring in critically ill patients. Dr. Maciel received her medical degree with honors from Universidade Federal Fluminense in Brazil, and completed her Neurology residency at Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She subsequently moved to New Haven, where she underwent Neurocritical Care and ICU EEG fellowship training at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Subsequently, she obtained a Masters of Science in Clinical Research at Medical University of South Carolina.