Hope Center laboratories study a range of nervous system diseases with the common feature of neurodegeneration, or death of nerve cells. These include chronic or degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease as well as acute conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Advances in basic and applied neuroscience offer new hope for discovery of effective therapies for many of these conditions.
The Hope Center builds upon a research structure established in 1991 by Dennis Choi, M.D., Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Neurology. The Center builds upon the idea that scientific principles of nervous system degeneration and repair are shared by many different neurological diseases. This vision has led to creation of a multi-departmental research environment which fosters outstanding interdisciplinary collaboration in disease-focused research.
Research excellence
Hope Center faculty are internationally recognized investigators with access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources. The goals of the Hope Center are made possible through collaboration with scientists at Washington University who make this one of the leading institutions for research in neurobiology and the biological sciences.
Translating scientific discoveries to patient care
Many investigators of the Hope Center are physician-scientists who are actively involved in the care of patients with neurological diseases. This unique perspective allows the Hope Center to take advantage of the most current advances in laboratory neuroscience and to rapidly translate scientific discoveries to patient care. Disease-focused clinical research is carried out through Washington University's interdepartmental clinical centers, such as the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), Stroke Center, Cognitive Rehabilitation Research Group, and many others.
The Hope Center also fosters the translation of basic science discoveries to disease applications. Many Washington University scientists are leading authorities in fields such as molecular biology or engineering. To promote translational research, the Center encourages collaboration between basic scientists and those researchers who focus on disease, and provides access to core resources and animal models.
Promoting recovery and repair
Patients and family members affected by brain and spinal cord diseases suffer devastating disability and personal loss. Until cures are found, it is important to identify treatments which can offer meaningful improvements in neurological abilities and quality of life. Hope Center investigators share these goals and are working to identify paths to restoration and recovery of function.
Scientific approaches
Developing new treatments for neurological disorders requires understanding of mechanisms of brain injury and degeneration, and application of basic neuroscience of nervous system development, molecular biology, cellular function and neural systems. Recovery strategies may include behavioral, drug, gene, and transplantation therapies which enhance normal brain plasticity or create novel repair mechanisms. Scientific approaches used in the Hope Center include cellular and developmental neuroscience, genetics, behavior, molecular biology, microscopy and imaging.