News

Ronald Lukas, PhD, is St. Joseph's new vice president of Research. Dr. Lukas joined St. Joseph's in 1980 as director of the Laboratory of Neurochemistry at Barrow and will continue to serve as a senior staff scientist in the Division of Neuro biology. Barrow Neurological Foundation has long supported his research.

In his new position, Dr. Lukas will oversee the hospital's research projects and clinical studies. He will also administer collaborative partnerships, educational training, and the review and approval of research activities.

“St. Joseph's houses one of Arizona's key research enterprises,” says Dr. Lukas. “I look forward to facilitating the contributions of our clinical, translational and basic research faculty to their fields and to participating in the growth of research programs at the hospital. The explosive growth of biomedical research in Arizona is remarkable, and we hope to contribute to it through our own efforts and collaborations with other research institutes and industry partners.”

Dr. Lukas is a highly skilled and renowned research expert. His research has focused mainly on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are critically involved in chemical signaling throughout the brain and body. Dr. Lukas has written numerous reviews and reports on original research findings. He holds appointments on the Committee on Neuroscience at the University of Arizona and as a research professor in the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona State University.

Dr. Lukas received his doctorate degree in biophysics from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center and completed postdoctoral
training in chemical biodynamics at the University of California, Berkeley, and in neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Teens attend science camp

Teenagers became scientists for a week by participating in Biotechnology Medical Institute (BMI) at Barrow this summer. The science camp, sponsored by the Arizona Science Center, allowed teenagers to research a cure for cancer and market their cure to a pseudo pharmaceutical company. Participants also extracted DNA from plant tissue, explored working laboratories and operating rooms, developed oncology treatment methods, and researched the effectiveness of various medications to treat cancerous tumor cells.

Mark C. Preul, PhD, director of Neuro surgery Research, and Adrienne C. Scheck, PhD, senior staff scientist, hosted the camp for the third year, helping more than 40 students with their research. “This hands-on camp teaches teenagers that science can be fun,” says Dr. Scheck. “They are given the opportunity to really understand biotechnology and how it is used in their everyday lives.”

Student wins competition

Michael Mitchell, a Flinn Scholar who has worked in the laboratory of Adrienne C. Scheck, PhD, since high school through the Scientific Enrichment Program for Students, won a poster competition at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). In the past, Mitchell was one of only a few high school students who presented their work at the AACR meeting, which usually draws more than 16,000 cancer scientists from around the world. This year, Mitchell presented his research as a college freshman.

The AACR poster competition is open to all undergraduates presenting their research at the meeting. This year’s competition included 10 college seniors, 13 juniors, 11 sophomores and Mitchell, the only freshman. The title of Mitchell’s winning poster is “Proteomic Analysis of Therapy Resistance in Primary and Recurrent Human Gliomas.”

Barrow nurse practitioner co-authors book on pediatric neurosurgery

Donna Wallace, RN, MS, CPNP, pediatric nurse practitioner at Barrow, has co-written Nursing Care of the Pediatric Neurosurgery Patient, a reference and parent education book for nurses caring for children with neurosurgical conditions. There is no other reference available on caring for pediatric neurosurgical patients.

“ We describe in detail—using pictures, diagrams and drawings—how to thoroughly and properly care for a child with neurosurgical conditions,” says Wallace.“It’s an in-depth resource not just for nurses, but for any health care professional caring for a child with such specific conditions.”

Wallace and co-writer Cathy Cartwright, RN, pediatric clinical nurse specialist in the Division of Neurosurgery at University of Missouri Health Care’s Children’s Hospital, spent seven years completing the 270-page book. Nearly 30 authors throughout the United States and Canada contributed.

Day on the Lake participants enjoy day of water sports

About 100 people with neurological disabilities participated in Barrow’s 11th annual Day on the Lake at Bartlett Lake Marina on June 1-2. Participants enjoyed water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, kayaking and boat rides.

Day on the Lake gives people with neurological impairments an opportunity to experience water recreation. With the help of Barrow and a specialized team from California, participants are able to try their hand at water sports in a safe and encouraging environment.

“Everyone has the right to play and live life to its fullest,” says Natalie Connolly, certified therapeutic recreation specialist at Barrow. “Day on the Lake provides the neurologically disabled an opportunity to become more active.”

Researcher receives $120,000 grant to study flicker fusion

Stephen Macknik, PhD, director of Laboratory and Behavioral Neurophysiology at Barrow, recently received a Competitive Advantage Award worth $120,000 from the Science Foundation of Arizona. Dr. Macknik is one of 10 biologists in Arizona who was selected to receive the one-year grant.

Dr. Macknik will use the grant to study flicker fusion to help develop safe brain products for people with epilepsy and other neurological conditions. Flicker fusion is a process that allows the eyes to perceive flickering data as continuous images. Computer screens, televisions and other forms of artificial lighting are estimated to flicker approximately 60 times per second.

Dr. Macknik and his research team have discovered that the brain can follow the flicker of lights but the eyes are unable to see it because of inhibition circuits in the brain. The grant will help Dr. Macknik predict new visual illusions that may exist and investigate a process to make the flickering seem stable to the brain.

“Many people with epilepsy are unable to fully function in a normal work environment because of the flicker in artificial lighting,” says Dr. Macknik. “The grant will allow us to research how the flickering occurs and how to make it appear steady.”

U.S. News & World Report names Barrow a top-10 neuroscience center

U.S. News & World Report has named St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center one of the 10 best hospitals in the United States for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The magazine’s 18th annual edition of America’s Best Hospitals hit newsstands in mid July. U.S. News & World Report ranks hospitals in 16 specialties. Out of 5,462 hospitals, only 173 scored high enough to make the list.

Barrow Neurological Institute, the neurological division at St. Joseph’s, has long been recognized for providing state-of-the-art care for people with brain and spine disease, disorders and injuries. Barrow is known throughout the world for its quality patient care, medical education and innovative research.

U.S. News & World Report ranks hospitals based on a variety of criteria, including reputation, mortality rates, patient volumes and key technologies.

Student makes important discovery

Veronica Shi, a graduate of Corona del Sol High School who has worked in the laboratory of Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD, at Barrow for the last three years, has made an independent discovery of great importance. She has discovered that the brightness of an object’s surface depends on the size of the surface’s image on the retina of the eye. This discovery, which propelled her into USA Today’s 2007 All- USA High School Academic Team and into the 2007 freshman class at Harvard University, has major implications for how we see and could be used, in part, as a method to increase visibility in the partially blind.

Pediatric epileptologist recognized for contributions

Yu-Tze Ng, MD, received “The Wood” this year from John Bodensteiner, the chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurology at St. Joseph’s Children’s Health Center. “The Wood” is given each year in recognition of the individual who makes contributions to the Division of Pediatric Neurology that most exemplify the spirit and goals of the division. Dr. Ng will be the “Keeper of the Wood” until next year when it will be passed on to another deserving individual.

Business attorney joins BNF Board

E. Jeffrey Walsh has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Barrow Neurological Foundation (BNF).

Walsh is a shareholder in the international law firm Greenberg Taurig, LLP. He is an AV-rated litigator who has been recognized in Lawyers in America (2005-2006 and 2006-2007) and the Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar” in the Phoenix metro area (2005 and 2006). His practice focuses on business litigation and trials, real-estate litigation and construction law.

Walsh received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame and his juris doctorate degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is a prolific writer and frequent speaker on topics pertaining to alternative dispute resolution, negotiation and construction law.

In addition to his position on the BNF Board of Trustees, he is a board member of the Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.

Other members of the BNF Board are Tom Reahard, chairman; Dennis Sage, vice chairman, Patricia Boyd Gentry, secretary; Mac Magruder, treasurer, Jean-Pierre Millon, past chairman; Jane Alfano, Greg Anderson, Mary Jane Crist, Wayne Doran, Gee Gee Entz, Armen Ervanian, Cassandra Groh, Lee Hanley, Linda Hunt, Mike Ingram, Guy Inzalaco, Frank Leonesio, Stanley Levine, William Long, Richard Nagler, Herman Orcutt and Anne Robbs.

Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology Residency Program receives accreditation

The Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology Residency Program at Barrow has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACME). It is the only endovascular fellowship in the country that is sponsored by neurosurgery. The program is headed by Cameron McDougall, MD. The Endovascular Interventional Fellowship has received initial accreditation, and two neurosurgeons began fellowships in the program in July.

Walk the Fight Walk-A-Thon raises funds for MAPC

“The weather could not have been better,” said Rasheda Ali Walsh, daughter of Muhammad Ali and honorary chairperson of the Annual Walk the Fight Walk-A-Thon held Feb. 18 at Tempe Town Lake.

The walk attracted 200 participants and 50 volunteers. Two courses were available—a 5K and a two-block course. Some participants walked on their own, while others used canes, walkers and even mobility scooters. Many families with children and moms pushing strollers joined in.

More than $14,000 was raised for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow. Corporate sponsors included Valient Pharmaceuticals, Medtronic, Healthsouth, Jackson White Attorneys At Law and Teva Neuroscience. The Parkinson Network of Arizona, an aff i liate of The National Parkinson Foundation, and the Foundation for Parkinson’s and Neurological Research organized the event.

Jazz and Blues Festival to benefit Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center

The first annual Jazz and Blues Festival to benefit the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow will be held Sunday, Nov. 4, in Scottsdale. The Parkinson Network of Arizona, an affiliate chapter of The National Parkinson Foundation, is sponsoring the event. Anyone interested in serving on an organizing committee can call chapter president Jack Goldwater at 480-883-2002.

Help discover the causes of breast cancer sister by sister

The Sister Study, a national research study to learn how the environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer, is enrolling women who have never had breast cancer, aged 35-74, but who have a sister who has had breast cancer. To learn more or to order recruitment materials, please call 1-877-4SISTER (1-877- 474-7837, Spanish and English) or visit www.sisterstudy.org or www.estudiodehermanas.org ¦