Michael Lawton MD is the Tong-Po Kan Endowed Chair, Professor of neurological surgery, and Vice-Chairman of the department. He is chief of vascular neurosurgery, specializing in the surgical treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas, cavernous malformations, and cerebral revascularization, including carotid endarterectomy. As chief of the busiest cerebrovascular service on the West coast for over 16 years, he has experience in surgically treating over 3200 brain aneurysms and over 600 AVMs. He is also trained in the endovascular treatment of aneurysms.

Dr. Lawton conducts his research at the UCSF Center for Cerebrovascular Research, a collaborative research group funded by a program project grant from the National Institutes of Health that investigates the physiology of cerebral circulation and the pathophysiology of vascular malformations. His basic science investigations study the formation, underlying genetics, and rupture of brain AVMs, as well as the hemodynamics, rupture, and computational modeling of brain aneurysms. His clinical investigations study the anatomy of microsurgical approaches to vascular lesions and efficacy of aneurysm, AVM, and bypass surgery.

He has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, over 40 book chapters, and two textbooks, including his single-author book, Seven Aneurysms: Tenets and Techniques for Clipping. His awards include the Young Neurosurgeon Award from the World Federation of Neurological Societies, the Harold Rosegay Teaching Award, and the Diane Ralston Clinical and Basic Science Teaching Award. He has given over 500 invited lectures nationally and internationally, including visiting professorships at 25 neurosurgical institutions.