Three Nebraska universities are launching an all-out attack on diseases of the brain with the creation of a Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders. The purpose of the center, which was approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Sept. 5, is to combine clinical and basic research efforts in diseases of the brain — such as AIDS and Alzheimer’s disease — that can lead to dementia.
The center will be based at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and be a collaborative effort involving scientists and physicians at UNMC, Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
“This center represents a natural fusion of two already strong research and clinical programs into one — even stronger — program,” said David Crouse, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC. “It’s a unique merger which will maximize the talents of some of our top researchers for the betterment of people throughout the world.”
Howard Gendelman, M.D., UNMC professor in pathology and microbiology, medicine and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, will serve as director of the new center. William Burke, M.D., professor of psychiatry in the combined Creighton-Nebraska Department of Psychiatry, will serve as co-director and chief of clinical affairs.
UNMC’s AIDS research/clinical program has become internationally-renowned for its work in studying the brain complications of HIV disease, Dr. Crouse said. Likewise, the UNMC clinical research program in Alzheimer’s dementia also has garnered international acclaim.
“Surprisingly, AIDS dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have shared mechanisms for disease,” Dr. Gendelman said. “Both involve inflammatory responses in the brain — either in response to virus or abnormal proteins that occur with aging.
“Because of this similarity, we believe many new drugs that affect brain inflammation in AIDS can potentially have real benefit for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. We’re optimistic that new treatments for dementia and neurodegeneration will emerge from these efforts.”
In the United States, Nebraska is among those states with the highest percentage of people over age 65. In addition, Nebraska ranks among the top four states in the percentage of people who are 85 years old or older.
It is this over 85 population group that is at greatest risk for dementia and other cognitive disorders. Nebraska currently has an estimated 40,000 citizens with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, and that number is expected to grow to approximately 77,000 by the turn of the century, Dr. Gendelman said.
HIV and AIDS, meanwhile, continue to be the greatest disease epidemic of this century, Dr. Gendelman said. The UNMC HIV clinic presently serves more than 525 patients, and approximately 25 percent of these patients have some sort of neurological impairment.
At UNMC, the center will bring together 11 faculty members from four different departments — medicine, psychiatry, radiology and pathology and microbiology. The UNL liaison will be Charles Wood, Ph.D., who recently joined the UNL department of biological sciences following several years at the University of Miami School of Medicine. At Creighton University, a team of three scientists from the department of medical microbiology and immunology will be headed by Roderick Nairn, Ph.D.
By establishing the center, Dr. Gendelman said numerous benefits will be derived including:
- the consolidation of unique neuroscience research interests on the three campuses;
- better coordination of research and clinical efforts in neurosciences;
- attracting more faculty to develop research interest in neurosciences;
- enhancing the ability to attract additional extramural funding and patients;
- establishing a sound program for continued development of graduate and post-doctoral education;
- improving the clinical care given to Nebraska citizens with neurovirological diseases and dementia.
The cost of establishing the center will be $130,000 annually, Dr. Crouse said, with $90,000 coming from the UNMC College of Medicine and $40,000 coming from the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology.
The center will be dedicated on Nov. 10 and 11 when a group of eight world-renowned scientists and physicians from the National Institutes of Health and leading universities in the U.S. and Canada will come to Omaha. These experts will provide guidance to local researchers for future developments in basic and applied research, Dr. Gendelman said.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state. Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. Nearly $25 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.