The Department of Defense Neurofibromatosis Research Program recently awarded Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center a one-year exploratory and developmental grant worth $105,600.
Researchers at Barrow will use the grant to investigate if gene defects in Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) disrupt the function of nerve cells and the movement of molecules from the cell body to the terminals where they are needed.
"This grant will help us study a new area of research in neurofibromatosis and might help us find a new target for treatment of NF1," says Vinodh Narayanan, M.D., senior staff investigator and pediatric neurogeneticist at Barrow.
Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that is usually diagnosed in childhood and causes tumors to grow along nerves anywhere in the body. NF1 is a distinct type of the disease that causes tumors and developmental problems and is believed to be the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene.
Dr. Narayanan and his team at Barrow treat many children with neurofibromatosis through Children's Rehabilitative Services at St. Joseph's. This provides a foundation for the hospital to develop new strategies to improve the treatment of the disease.
'"/>
Contact: Carmelle Malkovich
cmalkovich@chw.edu
602-406-3319
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
31-Jan-2007