Research

The Rush Neurosciences Institute brings together neurologists, neurosurgeons, basic scientists and other medical professionals to conduct research and improve the care of individuals with neurological disease. The Institute annually attracts more than $15 million in external funding to support more than 75 research projects.

Research on degenerative diseases of the nervous system conducted at Rush has been nationally recognized. Research is carried on in several centers within the Institute, including:

• Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center
• Epilepsy Center
• Rush Multiple Sclerosis Center
• Rush Brain Bank (one if the largest collections of brain samples and spinal tissue in the world)
• Rush Movement Disorders Program, which includes the study of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea and Tourette's syndrome
• a comprehensive stroke program
• a neuromuscular disease program, which includes research into myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Research activities are located in the new research building at Rush. The central location enhances interdepartmental collaboration and accelerates the opportunity to translate research from the laboratory to the clinical environment. In addition, lab space is utilized for residents and faculty to hone surgical skills, as well as to evaluate new equipment and techniques.

Combined basic and clinical research projects ongoing in the Department of Neurosurgery. These include:

• Access to brain tumor material (approximately 200 brain tumors per year)
• Deep brain stimulation in Rhesus monkeys for the control of obesity
• Cortical stimulation for stroke and Parkinson's disease
• Carotid revascularization endarterectomy versus stenting (Crest-NIH)
• Gene identification (differential display technologies aimed at identifying uniquely expressed mRNAs)
• Development of neuropeptides for cognitive defects such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke and learning disabilities
• Therapeutic development (sense and antisense gene delivery to tumors and phase I clinical trial development)