News

Mission Connect Symposium

Mission Connect holds fourth annual scientific symposium with more than 120 scientists, physicians and graduate students in attendance. December 3, 2010, esteemed keynote speakers Drs. Aileen Anderson and Scott Whittemore spoke at Mission Connect's fourth annual symposium. Dr. Anderson, Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of California at Irvine, presented her research on inflammation in spinal cord injury and its impact on stem cell repair strategies. Dr. Whittemore, Professor and Vice Chairman for Research for the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Louisville, presented his views on the therapeutic relevancy of current experimental spinal cord injury models and treatments.

In addition to the presentations by the distinguished keynote speakers, 45 research posters were presented by graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Of these, 22 posters were judged by Mission Connect members with Quin Chen, Baylor of College of Medicine, receiving the highest overall score.

The annual Mission Connect Symposium was created to initiate a dialogue among the members of Mission Connect and the larger scientific community, and continue that dialogue within the institutions, labs, and classrooms of the attendees.

Susan Howley Dinner

Mission Connect hosts informational dinner featuring Susan Howley, the Executive Vice President and Director of Research for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. As an acknowledged leader in the effort to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injury, Ms. Howley graciously shared her insights and expertise drawn from her extensive experience in developing research programs and fostering collaborations. Mission Connect and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation are committed to advancing medical science's knowledge of the molecular processes and repair of the human central nervous system. In support of this effort, Mission Connect and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation are providing funding for a groundbreaking research including the "Clinical Trial of Riluzole as a Neuroprotective Agent in Spinal Cord Injury: The North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN)".

Dr. Grossman receives Mission Connect Grant

Mission Connect has awarded one of its founding members, Dr. Robert G. Grossman, M.D., a $161,702 grant to support his medical research project, the "Clinical Trial of Riluzole as a Neuroprotective Agent in Spinal Cord Injury: the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN)". NACTN was established in 2004 to advance discoveries that have improved the outcomes of spinal cord injury in animal studies to clinical trial, and ultimately into clinical practice. Since 2006, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command of the Department of Defense and the Christopher Reeve Foundation have provided funding to support NACTN. Mission Connect initiated funding for NACTN in 2009 by supporting the coordinating center at The Methodist Hospital Department of Neurosurgery. The support of Mission Connect was instrumental in enabling NACTN to open its first clinical trial, the use of Riluzole as a neuroprotective agent, in April 2010.

Project Victory receives grant from Million Dollar Round Table Foundation

Project Victory is a traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program for American military service members injured during their deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. In January 2011, the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation announced a $5,000 grant to support community outings and family services for clients enrolled in Project Victory.

Since 2007, more than 130 members of our nation's military have completed Project Victory's rehabilitation program and regained their ability to pursue their life goals. Community reintegration is a key component of Project Victory as well as family education and therapy. "The integration of client, family, and community is a crucial part of the recovery process for individuals who have sustained a brain injury and in particular military service members whose injuries were sustained far from home and in a combat arena" said Cynthia Adkins, Executive Director of TIRR Foundation. "We are deeply grateful for the support from the MDRT Foundation for Project Victory and the help it will provide our injured military service members and their families", Adkins said.

The generous funding from the MDRT Foundation will provide Project Victory clients and family members with recreational and community activities where strategies and coping techniques learned in therapy are applied to real life social situations. During these outings, Project Victory clients and their family members will assisted by the clinical staff to fine–tune coping strategies for psycho-social, cognitive, and physical complications of a TBI and co-occurring symptoms of PTSD.

The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. The MDRT Foundation showcases the generous and caring spirit of MDRT members, which raises the integrity of the entire life insurance profession to a whole new level.
Since its formation in 1959, the MDRT Foundation has granted $26 million to charitable organizations serving people in 67 countries and all 50 U.S. states.

To learn more about Project Victory, please visit www.projectvictory.org, or contact Shawn Brossart at
sbrossart@tlc-galveston.org

The TIRR Family 2012 membership drive begins in September. Annual memberships begin at $50 and progress up to $1,000 for a lifetime membership. Look for your letter in the mail. You can also join by visiting the TIRR Family Website. Or, you can call or email Sandra Jochen at 713-877-0499 or jochens@tirrfoundation.org.