Hope Center investigator Jeanne M. Nerbonne, Ph.D., received the Distinguished Investigator Award from Washington University's School of Medicine. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in clinical care, community service, research and teaching. Read More >

January 2008 -- A recent study undertaken by a research team including Hope Center researchers Kelvin A. Yamada, Liu Lin Thio, and Michael Wong revealed that dietary changes to increase leptin levels, intranasal delivery of leptin, or pharmacological targeting of JAK2/PI3K signaling pathways may reduce the length and frequency of epileptic symptoms. Read More >

Using multi-photon microscopy to observe structural changes in the neurons of living animals, investigators in Michael Wong's lab show loss of dendritic spines in an animal model of epilepsy. The goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of brain injury following seizures. Read More >

Dr. Susan Mackinnon has been elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine, one of 65 individuals from across the country. Read More >

Dr. Dennis Choi has been selected to lead two major neuroscience initiatives at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Choi was Chair of the Department of Neurology at Washington University from 1991 until 2001. He was founding director of the Center for the Study of Nervous System Injury, which led in part to the creation of the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders in 2005. Read More >

Philip Bayly and colleagues hope that an understanding of mechanisms which underlie folding of the brain will provide an understanding of disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and lissencephaly. Read More >

A team led by Hope Center investigator, Dr. Guojun Bu, has revealed a connection between cholesterol processing and the toxic Alzheimer's protein, amyloid. Read More >

A tem led by Hope Center faculty member, Bradley L. Schlaggar, M.D., Ph.D., has uncovered new pathways of brain development in childhood. Dr. Schlaggar is an assistant professor of pediatrics, radiology, neurology and neurobiology and anatomy. Read More >

Hope Center member Susan Mackinnon, M.D. is an expert in surgical repair of injured nerves. She has been elected president of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Read More >

A new research publication advances the link between stress and Alzheimer's Disease. The project was directed by Dr. David Holtzman, Hope Center steering committee chair and Head of the Department of Neurology. Read More >

Kathryn Ayers, a senior at Parkway West High School, was a winner in the Honors Division of the Greater St. Louis Science Fair, held March 30-31, 2007. She was awarded for a research project conducted at the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, in which she examined regeneration of spinal cord axons following strokes in mice. Read More >

In addition to his role in promoting research science, Hope Center Director, Mark Goldberg, MD, also creates internet resources to educate patients, families, and health professionals about brain diseases. Read More >

Jean Maritz Hobler, a major philanthropist , the founder of the ALS Hope Foundation (now Hope Happens), as well as a board and committee member of numerous non-profit organizations in the St. Louis community, was honored for her tremendous volunteer efforts at the 52nd Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon on Tuesday May 15th at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. Read More >

Dr. William H. Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus of Washington University, was presented with the inaugural Christopher Hobler Spirit of Hope Award at an Evening of Hope, a gala dinner and concert Monday, May 14, 2007 at Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. The award from Hope Happens honors Dr. Danforth’s support of medical research of neurological diseases. Read More >

The third annual Evening of Hope Gala, May 14, 2007, starred world renowned pianist Misha Dichter appearing with concertmaster David Halen and members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mike Chen (viola), Heidi Harris (violin) and Daniel Lee (cello). Read More >

A research team including Hope Center member Dr. Susan McKinnon has found a better way to repair injured nerves. Read More >

Robert Baloh, M.D., Ph.D. has received the S. Weir Mitchell Award from the American Academy of Neurology, for work in the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders conducted with Jeffrey Milbrandt, M.D., Ph.D. The S. Weir Mitchell Award is presented annually for the best neuroscience project by a physician who has recently completed training in neurology. Dr. Baloh is an Instructor in the Department of Neurology, Hope Center, and the Neuromuscular Division. Read More >

The Washington University Program in Neuroscience was ranked in the top 10 in the latest survey of graduate and professional programs from US News & World Report. Hope Center faculty member Dr. Karen O'Malley is co-director of the interdepartmental program, which is responsible for graduate training in neuroscience. Read More >

Scientists today released results of a trial of neurturin in gene therapy for Parkinson's Disease patients. Neurturin is a brain cell growth factor first discovered by Hope Center faculty members Drs. Paul Kotzbauer, Eugene Johnson, and Jeff Milbrandt. Read More >

April 11, 2007 -- A study of how the brain of a premature infant responds to injury has found vulnerabilities similar to those in the mature brain but also identified at least one significant difference, according to neuroscientists and neonatologists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Read More >

Hope Center scientist, Christina Gurnett, M.D., Ph.D., is a pediatric neurologist with expertise in genetics research for brain diseases such as epilepsy. In this work, she is collaborating with with Matthew Dobbs, M.D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgeryto establishs a DNA databank of musculoskeletal disorders. Read More >

Hope Center member Russ Van Gelder, MD PhD, has been awarded a Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. The aim of this prestigious award is to allow physician-scientists the flexibility to pursue novel questions. Van Gelder is one of eleven to receive this honor. Read More >

Hope Center neurologist, Dr. James Galvin, is beginning an NIH-sponsored clinical trial of a fish compound, DHA, for patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Read More >

March 19, 2007 -- Washington University today joined a consortium of leading scientific and medical institutions around the country to warn Congress that persistent flat-funding of biomedical research could thwart advances in treatments for such diseases as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Read More >

St. Louis medical news reporter Kay Quinn recently visited the Hope Center and provided this report. The video of her tour and inspiring interview with Hope Happens supporter and long-term multiple sclerosis survivor, Carole Wilson can be viewed at the KSDK web site. Read More >

An article in Nature Neuroscience describes a new scientific approach to controlling nerve cell function using drugs activated by light. The Washington University team includes Hope Center faculty Steven Mennerick, PhD, Charles Zorumski, MD, and Alex Evers, MD. Read More >

Hope Center investigator, Carl Frieden, Ph.D, will receive the 2007 Christian B. Anfinsen Award at the 21st Symposium of the Protein Society July 21-25 in Boston. Dr. Frieden is professor of biochemistry and of molecular biophysics. Read More >

Feb. 23, 2007 -- David M. Holtzman, M.D., the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and head of Neurology, is co-recipient of the MetLife Foundation Award for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease. Holtzman is also associate director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and a member of the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Read More >

Hope Center investigator, Dr. Jan Brunstom, was featured in a recent story about the importance of correcting visual defects in children with cerebral palsy. Dr. Brunstrom directs the Washington University Pediatric Neurology Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Read More >

Jan. 18, 2007 -- Leonard Berg, M.D., the founder and former director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, following a stroke. He was 79. Read More >

Jan. 9, 2007 -- By all expectations, it shouldn't have worked as well as it did. A combination of bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy greatly lengthened the lives of laboratory mice doomed by a rapidly progressing, fatal neurodegenerative disorder also found in people. Read More >