A Pioneer in Neuro-Oncology and the Nature of Consciousness

FOR Dr. Elizabeth A. Stoll ’99—–who earned her doctoral degree in neurobiology and behavior—–the human brain is an endless source of fascination. She has led award-winning research that has advanced our understanding of what makes brain tumors grow, made key discoveries about brain function and its relationship to aging and cancer and written a philosophical foray into the nature of consciousness entitled What We Are: The Physical Basis of Consciousness.

After conducting postdoctoral research in the United Kingdom, Stoll led a team of researchers at the Newcastle University Institute of Neuroscience in a quest to develop new treatments for neurological diseases. Her team was recognized by the Society for Neuro-Oncology for its groundbreaking research on new therapeutic interventions for malignant brain tumors.

She is now advancing knowledge as director of the Denver-based Western Institute for Advanced Study, which provides “Grand Challenge” grants to fellows in the fields of mathematics, physics and biological science to help us meet the myriad challenges confronting science and society today. Meanwhile, this pioneering researcher and author is investing her considerable intellect and energies in another ambitious endeavor: the development of her previous research findings on therapeutic interventions for malignant brain tumors toward clinical trial, with the goal of providing affordable new treatments for brain cancer patients. “There just aren’t many options out there to prolong the survival of patients with malignant brain tumors, and there is such a need for hope and progress,” she points out. “Meanwhile, I have this incredible dataset that I want to put to good use.” 4 F

To find out more about Dr. Stoll’s research, or to partner with her on drug development, please contact her at stoll@westerninstitute.org.