Dr. Brenner’s clinical and academic interests in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery focus on optimizing patient outcomes and quality of life after nerve injury and facial reconstruction. His laboratory research in cranial nerve injury involves study of axonal guidance, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and the use of stem cells with tissue engineered constructs. Translational projects investigate novel approaches to nerve reconstruction, methods to enhance nerve regeneration and improving reinnervation.
Bench-to-bedside research on nerve regeneration and guidance
Credentials
- Northwestern University Medical School, 2000
- Washington University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology, MO, 2007
- Facial Plastic Surgery, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, 2008
Honors & Awards
- Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, Early Career, Dept. of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, 2016
- Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Honors Award, 2016
- Who’s Who in the World (2014-2016), Who’s Who in America (2012-2016)
- Vitals Patient’s Choice Award, 2014
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Induction, 2013
- American College of Surgeons/AAO-HNSF Executive Health Policy Scholar, 2012
- Junior Faculty Researcher of the Year Award in Surgery, SIU School of Medicine, 2010
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons Induction, 2009
- 1st prize AO North America Craniomaxillofacial competition (Minneapolis, MN), 2007
- 1st prize Walter Work Award Triological Middle Section (San Diego, CA), 2006
- Michael Paparella Research Award 24th Ogura Lectureship, 2005
- Outstanding Nerve Paper, American Society for Peripheral Nerve meeting, 2004
- 1st prize Resident Paper American Society for Peripheral Nerve (Palm Springs, CA), 2004
- 1st prize Resident Paper WUMS Plastic Surgery Research (St. Louis, MO), 2003
- 1st prize Resident Paper Midwestern Association for Plastic Surgery (Chicago, IL), 2003
- Johnson F. Hammond, MD, Memorial Scholarship for Medical Journalism, 2000
- 1st prize Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society National Writing Competition, 1999
Brenner News

August 30, 2019
Examining the Usage of Motor vs Sensory Nerves in Facial Nerve Reconstruction
Dr. Ahmed Ali discovered that replacing the injured portion of the facial nerve in a rodent model with an easily accessible sensory nerve restored facial nerve function.