202 2 WOMEN’S BOARD PROJECT
DR. MIRZADEH / DIABETES RESEARCH IN 2006, THE WOMEN’S BOARD began choosing a specific research project to fund on behalf of the members. These projects have been chosen to highlight key areas of Barrow research that are not only innovative, but also make a measurable impact on patient lives. The Women’s Board is proud to select the innovative research of Zaman Mirzadeh, MD, PhD, a clinician, researcher, and neurosurgeon at Barrow. Dr. Mirzadeh is paving the way for brain-based solutions to solve an important problem faced by millions of patients across the country – diabetes. Dr. Mirzadeh seeks to help those suffering from both Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). His goal is to pave the way for potential new therapies for diabetes patients by investigating and clinically translating a brain-based approach to controlling blood sugar. For those suffering from T1D, there is currently only one drug available to stabilize blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin is controlled through the pancreas. For patients with T1D, insulin is not produced naturally in the body. Dr. Mirzadeh is studying the role of leptin, a hormone related to body fat, in its ability to regulate blood sugar levels through the brain rather than the pancreas. In lab studies, when
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WOMEN’S BOARD
10% Diabetes affects over
30 MILLION AMERICANS,
nearly 10% of the general population
40 NEW DIABETES DRUGS
developed since 2005 for T2D, but no noticeable improvement in outcomes for diabetic patients
THERE IS NO DRUG AVAILABLE
on the market that can stabilize a diabetic patient for more than a few hours. Insulin is the only drug for T1D patients.
The brain is the
THERMOSTAT that regulates blood sugar
leptin was injected directly into the brain, blood sugar levels slowly stabilized over a period of weeks; while insulin stabilizes blood sugar for only a period of a few hours. Clinical trials begin at Barrow in Summer 2021, with recruitment support from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). A successful study would open the door for brain-based therapies, meaning T1D patients could eliminate blood glucose monitoring. For those with T2D, insulin is overproduced by the pancreas and the body’s cells have become insulinresistant, adding stress to major organs and causing long-term health issues, including weight gain, heart disease and hypoglycemia. The malfunction for these patients is not the pancreas, but rather the brain – researchers at Barrow are using FGF1, a growth factor protein, to treat T2D at the cellular level. In clinical trials beginning this summer, spanning the next two years, 20 patients with existing back pain and T2D will have a spinal cord stimulator implanted. The implant will simultaneously disrupt pain pathways and inject FGF1 into the brain to regulate blood glucose levels.
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Support Phase 2 human leptin study for T1D • Fund a new wireless tracking system for the research lab • Recruit a post-doctoral research fellow
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PITUITARY / NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
ALTHOUGH ONLY THE SIZE of a pea, the pituitary gland secretes hormones that regulate functions throughout the body. Since a lack or excess of a hormone can be masked by other common symptoms, such as hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, forgetfulness and high blood pressure, pituitary tumors are extremely difficult to diagnose. With an increasing amount of patients seeking pituitary disorder treatment, Barrow has begun conducting research to better understand how pituitary disorders develop and to find biomarkers to track progression. The Barrow Pituitary Center, led by medical director Kevin Yuen, MD, the only such center in Arizona, treats more patients with pituitary disorders than many other centers across the country. Barrow neurosurgeon Andrew Little, MD, is director of the Barrow Pituitary Center and the Skull Base Program, leading the Center’s surgical side.
1 OUT OF EVERY 5 people suffers from a pituitary issue
When the pituitary malfunctions, it can cause
WIDESPREAD CHALLENGES
in brain function, cognition, reproduction, mood, visions, skin, bones and weight 4
WOMEN’S BOARD
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Increase educational and research opportunities • Clinical Trial: Support a Barrow-led, multi-center study enrolling 50 patients in an effort to improve patient outcomes after surgery
1/5 ONE-FIFTH
of all AVM hemorrhages are fatal
BARROW ANEURYSM AND AVM RESEARCH CENTER BARROW IS THE world leader in surgical treatment of AVMs and among the top for aneurysms, yet Barrow surgeons cannot treat every single patient who suffers a devastating rupture. Research into origins, treatments and prevention is the best answer. However, for each
A brain aneurysm bursts in the United States
EVERY 18 MINUTES
– that means every 3 hours, 10 people are affected. Of those, 4 will die and 6 will experience permanent neurological deficits
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Identify new treatments for brain AVMs by funding research into the development and progress of abnormal blood vessels in the brain • Improve clinical outcomes and patient care by building the Barrow Registry for Aneurysm and Vascular Malformation Outcomes (BRAVO)
person afflicted, the federal government only spends 83 cents per year on brain aneurysm research. This stunning statistic demonstrates why supporting the Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, led by Barrow President and CEO Michael T. Lawton, MD, is critical.
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IVY BRAIN TUMOR CENTER
THE LACK OF NEW treatments for aggressive brain tumors requires
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
an innovative approach to rapidly identify new therapies that will increase life expectancy and contribute to a cure. The Ivy Brain Tumor Center’s precision medicine program is the first of its kind in neuro-oncology and reflects a commitment to pushing
MATCHING OPPORTUNITY
• Double Your Impact: All gifts to the Ivy Center will be matched by a generous donor
the envelope for brain tumor patients around the world. The Ivy Center, led by Nader Sanai, MD, has pioneered a unique Phase 0 clinical trials program to treat a specific patient with specific medication at the right time. The Center’s new, and first of its kind, in-human sonodynamic therapy clinical trial uses a focused ultrasound device that activates a drug given to the patient pre-surgery to become a lethal form that kills tumor cells while sparing the surrounding normal brain tissue. This drug-and-device combination therapy will overcome the most challenging part of treating brain cancer, breaking through the protective shell around the brain, called the blood-brain barrier.
9 OUT OF 10
glioblastoma (GBM) patients lost their battle with the disease within 5 years
MORE THAN 138,000 Americans are struggling with malignant brain tumors
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WOMEN’S BOARD
20 YEARS
20 YEARS
since the FDA has approved new therapies for brain tumors
Migraines are the
39 MILLION
Americans suffer from migraines
2ND LEADING CAUSE of disability in the United States
In Arizona,
1.4 MILLION
people experience acute headaches
THE JAN & TOM LEWIS MIGRAINE TREATMENT PROGRAM THE JAN & TOM LEWIS Migraine Treatment Program at Barrow Neurological Institute is dedicated to comprehensive care of patients and research aimed at finding better ways to diagnose, prevent and treat migraines. Under the direction of Kerry Knievel, DO, the program has seen a 20% increase in new patient appointments each of the last three years, seeing 7,000 patient visits in 2020 with the help of telemedicine. With the expanded patient volume, the program is positioned to expand clinical trial opportunities and create a substantial research program that will advance the science of migraine and headache and take patient
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Science-Based Research: Fund a translational research scientist focusing on the biology of headache and development of new therapies • Advance treatment and support for patient outreach and education
care to the next level. Expanding research will allow clinicians to participate in national and international collaborations to develop and test new treatments and medications. BA R ROW N E U ROLO G IC A L F OU N DAT ION
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ALZHEIMER’S AND MEMORY DISORDERS PROGRAM BARROW’S MISSION FOR the Alzhiemer’s and Memory Disorders Program, led by Anna Burke, MD, includes unsurpassed patient care, curative research, world-class education and compassionate outreach. In June 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly two decades. Rather than targeting the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, this treatment is the first ever to target the disease itself, attacking amyloid proteins (one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s) to slow disease progression. Not only was
6TH LEADING CAUSE
Barrow instrumental in the studies that led to FDA approval of this treatment, but it will also be able to safely administer and closely monitor the treatment for patients here in Arizona.
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Double Your Impact: All gifts up to $300,000 will be matched by a generous donor
EVERY 66 SECONDS
someone in America is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease
of death in the United States
6TH
MATCHING OPPORTUNITY
12 CLINICAL TRIALS
studying dementia treatments 8
WOMEN’S BOARD
88% of
In Arizona, 7,000 –12,000
HIGH SCHOOLERS
suffer one or more concussions a year
88%
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS
Barrow is one of only three institutions in the country offering a fellowship in
SPORTS NEUROLOGY with extensive training in the diagnosis and management of traumatic brain injury
suffered more than 1 head injury
CONCUSSION AND BRAIN INJURY CENTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object or when an object pierces the skull, damaging the brain. Commonly called concussions, TBIs are highly prevalent among victims of domestic violence, athletes of all ages, and children and older adults who fall. While most TBIs are mild, even those cases can have lasting impacts. Whether the patient is a victim escaping domestic violence, a professional athlete starring on the field, or a child or senior citizen going about their everyday business, the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center, led by Javier Cárdenas, MD, offers comprehensive, compassionate, cutting-edge treatment and rehabilitation for all. Glynnis Zieman, MD, is using her training as a graduated Barrow
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Domestic Violence Program Expansion: To expand to a dozen more shelters so we can reach more women and to convert “Brains Club,” our cognitive program for victims, to an online, telemedicine format • Sports Neurology Fellowship: Fund two additional sports neurology fellowships
sports neurology fellow to treat victims of domestic violence who have suffered a head injury throughout Arizona. BA R ROW N E U ROLO G IC A L F OU N DAT ION
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MUHAMMAD ALI PARKINSON CENTER
PHYSICIANS AND SCIENTISTS at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center are world leaders in Parkinson’s clinical care and research at the largest and most comprehensive Parkinson’s center in the country. Barrow physicians and scientists are investigating Parkinson’s disease from every angle, to discover better diagnostic tools, better target treatments and find better ways to measure progression. Center director Holly Shill, MD, FAAN, the Bob & Renee Parsons Chair in Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, and Frederic Manfredsson, PhD, an internationally renowned scientist recently recruited to Barrow, are investigating new treatment protocols that can control symptoms for longer periods of time.
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
7-10 MILLION people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease
1 IN 5
Parkinson’s diagnoses are inaccurate, meaning patients have to wait months or years for a definitive answer
ESSENTIAL TREMOR
is the most common movement disorder, affecting an estimated 3% of the US population, or 10M individuals 10
WOMEN’S BOARD
• Expanded Clinical Trials: A new clinical trial to test drug combinations to prevent or reduce impaired voluntary movements • Ultrasound Therapy: Help support non-invasive ultrasound therapy research to eliminate tremors
Elderly patients with hearing loss are
TWICE AS LIKELY to develop cognitive impairment
Patients can
LOSE THEIR HEARING
due to loud noises, head trauma and tumors
ENT & SKULL BASE SURGERY BARROW HAS LONG been recognized as a premiere destination for subspecialized neurosciences treatment. The Institute continues this mission with its newest service line, the recently-formed Department of ENT and Skull Base Surgery. The department is led by neurotologist and skull base surgeon Shawn M. Stevens,
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Support research surrounding implantable hearing devices
team treats patients with hearing loss and disorders of
• Audiology Booths: Fund specialty testing suite to allow for research and assessment for hearing loss
the head and neck, sino-nasal passages, ear, vestibular
• Fund neuro-otology fellowship
MD, and by otolaryngologist Griffin Santarelli, MD. The
system, facial nerve and skull base.
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NEUROIMAGING INNOVATION CENTER IMAGING IS VITAL to the care of patients with neurological disorders and brain cancer. Imaging informs diagnosis, determines disease extent, guides biopsies and surgery, sets doses for radiation and measures whether treatments are effective. Scientists at the Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center, led by Chad Quarles, PhD, continue to uphold their reputation for innovation through developing new technologies to capture biological signatures of disease through imaging. New techniques focused on imaging the underlying molecular biology within a tumor need to be confirmed through physical evidence, and Barrow is well suited for this. The Barrow team is able to perform image-guided biopsies to validate new imaging techniques. Setting up such a process is challenging, so other labs shy away from exploring imaging at the molecular level.
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Support research to develop new techniques to evaluate degenerative disc disease and chronic lower back pain • Veterans Imaging Study: Develop new technologies to help reverse paralysis and improve mobility in injured veterans 12
WOMEN’S BOARD
Building a
CURRENT TECHNOLOGY
cannot accurately outline the edges of tumors or pathologies
BETTER CAMERA
to treat neurological diseases more effectively
HUNDREDS OF SCANS daily at Barrow for patient care and research
NEUROMODULATION
BARROW IS THE LEADING center in the U.S. for implanting deep brain stimulation (DBS) devices. The Barrow Center for Neuromodulation explores and expands therapies used to restore and improve brain function in patients with neurodegenerative disease. Center director Francisco Ponce, MD, performs more DBS implantations than any other neurosurgeon in the country. DBS has proven effective as a surgical intervention for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, epilepsy and dystonia. It uses electrical stimulation to correct abnormal rhythms of the brain. Research has shown that DBS can alleviate pain and provide relief for tinnitus, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. In the next four to seven years, scientists hope to record the brain waves of as many DBS patients as possible, to expand the use of DBS in thousands of patients who may benefit. HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
1,250
DBS surgeries at Barrow DBS is the
PACEMAKER of the brain
Pioneered
ASLEEP
• Ultrasound Therapy: Help support noninvasive ultrasound therapy research to eliminate tremors
DBS surgery
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EPILEPSY PROGRAM IMPROVING THE QUALITY of care and quality of life for epilepsy patients requires research into the causes of the condition and more effective treatments for it. Under the direction of Susan Herman, MD, Barrow is a leader in the Epilepsy Learning Healthcare System – a collaborative network of patients, families, epilepsy advocates and physician-scientists collecting information from every patient visit. Barrow researchers also are exploring the best, most cost-effective imaging techniques to track seizures, ways to make neurosurgery less invasive, and methods of collecting data from patients experiencing seizures while in the intensive care unit. Barrow is accredited as a level 4 epilepsy center, the highest designation possible.
50%
of epilepsy cases have no identifiable cause
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Epilepsy Fellowship: Create an advanced training program for a young physician-researcher to lead Barrow research efforts • Epilepsy Research: Identify biomarkers to determine likelihood of developing epilepsy after a brain injury
3.4 MILLION Americans have epilepsy
4TH 14
WOMEN’S BOARD
1/2 4TH MOST COMMON neurological condition in the United States
3 OUT OF 4
Americans suffer back pain at some point in their life
$50 BILLION
spent providing care for spinal disorders every year in the United States
SONNTAG SPINE CENTER
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
THE SONNTAG SPINE CENTER seeks to revolutionize
• Virtual Reality: Expand research and education for residents
treatment of spinal disorders and spinal injuries through collaboration and innovation by bringing together medical residents, scientists, rehabilitation and physical therapists. Led by Juan Uribe, MD, the Center will work with scientists to advance minimally
• Biomechanics Lab: Provide funding for research to determine the effects of new surgical procedures on the spine and joints
invasive surgical techniques and expand research and education in spinal disorders. BA R ROW N E U ROLO G IC A L F OU N DAT ION
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PETZNICK STROKE CENTER THE STROKE PROGRAM at Barrow Neurological Institute, led by the Dorrance Chair of Vascular Neurology, Michael Waters, MD, PhD, is one of the most comprehensive in the country. In 2020, the Barrow Stroke Program earned the prestigious Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus
PROGRAM UPDATE FROM THE 2021 PROJECT: Thanks to generous donations through the 2021 Barrow Grand Ball, the Stroke Program has been able to order a second mobile stroke unit
Quality Achievement Award. This designation recognizes the Program’s commitment to and success in implementing high-quality stroke care by ensuring that patients receive treatment that meets nationally accepted, evidence-based standards and recommendations. Barrow believes every person who has a stroke or suspects they may be having a stroke deserves to be evaluated by a vascular neurologist.
Likelihood of a good outcome
HOW YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE: • Increase research into stroke prevention • Expand Telestroke Program across the Valley
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WOMEN’S BOARD
DECREASES 10%
EVERY 40 SECONDS
in the US, someone suffers from a stroke; every 4 minutes, someone dies
for every 30 minutes that blood flow is blocked to the brain
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT BARROW Thurston Innovation Center For neurosurgeons seeking a training program in neurosurgical innovation, there is one name boldly at the top of the list – Barrow. The Institute’s Thurston Innovation Center, co-directed by neurosurgery residents Dr. Clinton Morgan and Dr. Scott Brigeman, offers formal training in innovation among residency programs and serves as a hub for entrepreneurial thinking, device development, and more. The Center also collaborates with Arizona State University and its student engineers, and in the coming year, it will continue its core mission of innovation education – advancing the field of neurosurgery by providing surgeon-scientists of the future with the skills, knowledge and opportunity needed to revolutionize the field. Such work requires significant funding, and our team is seeking additional financial support for forward-thinking projects.
Neuro-Nursing Barrow nurses are highly specialized and trained to care for the most critical of patients, with funding needed for ongoing education and innovation in their field. With a team of over 400 neuroscience nurses, Barrow is at the forefront of innovation and patient care. The American Board of Neuroscience Nursing is the only national accrediting board for nurses who wish to pursue national certification as a certified neuroscience registered nurse (CNRN). The nursing team at Barrow includes 125 nurses who have received the CNRN certification – more than any other hospital in the world. Invest in the well-being of Barrow nurses, both mentally and physically, through the new Resilence Rooms.
ALS / Neuromuscular The Gregory W. Fulton ALS and Neuromuscular Disease Center is one of the few in the world to combine expert patient care, groundbreaking research, world-class medical education and compassionate outreach. Known for delivering exemplary care through a comprehensive team approach, the Fulton Center is also among the top five ALS centers worldwide for clinical and basic
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science research. Investing in telemedicine will
Neuro-Rehabilitation
ensure all patients can receive care regardless
The Barrow Neuro-Rehabilitation
of where they live or their level of mobility. Additional support is needed for post-doctoral fellowships to expand research for new biomarkers and therapeutics for ALS.
Multiple Sclerosis The Barrow Multiple Sclerosis Program is the only nationally recognized Center for Comprehensive Care for MS in Arizona. The Program, led by Aimee Borazanci, MD, has need for a centralized MS patient database. This database would include information about each patient’s condition, as well as links to tissue or blood specimens. Dr. Borazanci’s vision for this database is to match the right MS patient with the right MS clinical trial at the right time, all done by simply typing characteristics of a study into the database.
Clinical Neuropsychology
care, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, intensive work and school re-entry programs for adults and adolescents 14 years and older through our Center for Transitional Neuro-Rehabilitation (CTN), and opportunities to participate in adaptive recreation and support groups through our Therapeutic Recreation & Adventures Program. Your support of neurorehabilitation will help Barrow build the rehab of the future. For in-patient rehab, your gift will bring a new wave of technology to the patient and clinician, pushing the limits on the patient experience and enhancing the staff ’s ability to create efficiencies in their workflow. Within CTN, your gift can be designated to provide charity care, conduct more patient research, fund an InMotion ARM
Physical challenges facing those with
robotics, provide transportation assistance
Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis or
to patients, build a CTN Storefront or fund
traumatic brain injuries are often obvious to the
an Endowed Chair. Out-patient rehab is in
eye. Less visible, but not less serious, are the
need of an overhead robotics track to assist
behavioral or cognitive changes that result from
patients in walking again and a new van to
damage to the brain. The Barrow Department
transport patients to community outings.
of Clinical Neuropsychology, led by Dr.
Finally, for outpatient therapeutic recreation,
Alexander Tröster, PhD, is among the largest
your support will provide meaningful sports,
departments of its kind in the nation. There are
recreation and outreach programs to increase
several subspecialists in movement disorders,
independence and enhance quality of life.
Alzheimer’s, dementia, multiple sclerosis, head injury and epilepsy. Adding a research endowment will not only provide educational opportunities for a fellow, but also allow researches to find better ways to diagnose and provide patient care. Support is also needed for multicultural care. By conducting evaluations in Spanish, Barrow will extend its reach to an underserved population in Arizona.
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Center provides a complete spectrum of
WOMEN’S BOARD
$83 MILLION
$8.7 MILLION
raised by the Women’s Board since 1965
raised through a virtual event during the pandemic
HOW YOUR GIFT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE 30,000
450
outpatient Neuro-Rehabilitation visits annually
neuroscience nurses
28
28,596
Barrow neurosurgery residents, with
COVID and telemedicine visits during the pandemic
4
neurosurgery fellows Dr. Lawton has performed
MORE THAN 5,000
5,700
number of brain and spine surgeries at Barrow annually
aneurysm surgeries
77,600+
38 Barrow neurology residents, with 12 neurology fellows
total number of patients seen at Barrow annually
1,250
deep brain stimulation procedures by Dr. Francisco Ponce
320+
number of active research studies
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