Setting the Foundation for Neurosciences Research

Neuroscience Research | November 4, 2018 | cookchildrens

Research. On the surface a conceptually simple task: you ask a question, design a study to test your hypothesis and arrive at a conclusion. All great medical programs focus on research as one of the three pillars of program excellence, along with superior clinical care and education of the next generation of providers. Without research, programs fail to evolve, their care fails to progress and their patients inevitably are the ones that suffer. However, research is no simple task. It takes a team of personnel dedicated to research design, data acquisition, patient safety, data analysis and regulatory compliance.

The Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center at Cook Children's has long been a leader in quality care of nervous system diseases, evidenced by first class programs to treat epilepsy, movement disorders, stroke, headaches, brain tumors and more. Through the support of donors and the dedication of our faculty, our programs have pioneered technologies such as deep brain stimulation for childhood dystonias and robot-assisted minimally invasive laser ablations to treat epilepsy. The Neurosciences Research Endowment, a $30 million fund to support research infrastructure and development, will ensure Cook Children's continues to grow as a leader in neurosciences research, building on our strong foundation of innovative care.

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Thanks to a generous $15 Million endowment gift from the Dodson Living Trust, Cook Children's will now enhance the Jane and John Justin Neuroscience Center by establishing a dedicated clinical neuroscience research team to expand research efforts; affording our patients access to the most advanced neurological care. For over two decades Clarabele (Pit) Dodson and her late husband Tom have generously supported Cook Children's in our pursuit to make this region one of the healthiest to raise a child. When asked about her support of Cook Children's, Ms. Dodson simply states, “Our children are our future.”

M. Scott Perry M.D., medical director of Neurology said, “The Dodson Foundation's generous gift is an unprecedented vote of confidence in what Cook Children's Neurosciences can accomplish. They've seen our past successes and believe in our vision for the future of pediatric neurological care. With this support, we can raise the quality of our research to match that of our superior clinical care.”

The dedicated Neurosciences research staff will work closely with faculty on study design, data analysis and publication of results. Dr. Perry's vision is to increase collaborations with other national and international centers, improving the quality of investigator-initiated studies as well as patient outcomes through this endeavor. This gift marks a turning point in research at Cook Children's and lays a solid foundation for great things to come.

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Contributing author

M. Scott Perry, MD

Neurology

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Great outcomes begin with great input. Having a medical system where every department, doctor, and care team member works together means that your child can have quick access to testing, diagnosis and treatment, and that means better outcomes now and in the future.

Contact the Jane and John Justin Neuroscience Center at Cook Children's with your questions at 682-885-2500.