He has gained media attention for popularizing the concept that physicians have historically underestimated the brain’s resilience and capacity for recovery.
[4] Mayer originated the concept of ultra-early hemostatic therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and served as principal investigator of a multinational multicenter testing program evaluating recombinant factor VIIa for this indication.
[5][6][7][8] Mayer predominantly uses invasive brain multimodality monitoring to guide therapy and increase situational awareness in the treatment of coma.
[9] Other contributions to the field of neurocritical care that Mayer and colleagues have introduced include the Bedside Shivering Assessment Scale[10] and the Columbia Anti-Shivering Protocol,[11] both of which are used to facilitate therapeutic temperature modulation throughout the world; the Modified Fisher Scale,[12] the most widely-used scale to assess vasospasm risk after subarachnoid hemorrhage; and the concept of “CTA-for-All” for stroke imaging, to increase the likelihood of successful endovascular reperfusion.
[13][14] Mayer's work in helping victims of severe brain injury has been featured in two books, Back from the Brink by Edward Sylvester[15] and Cheating Death by CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta.