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Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Propels Neurosurgery Research BY K ATE ANASTAS THROUGH POINTED RESE ARCH EFFORTS THAT AIM TO IMPROvE PATIENT OUTCOMES AND QUAlIT y OF lIFE, THE DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSURGERy AT PENN STATE HE AlTH MIlTON S. HERSHE y MEDICAl CENTER PROvIDES CENTR Al PENNSylvANIA AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WITH lE ADING-EDGE SURGICAl TRE ATMENTS FOR A vARIE T y OF NEUROlOGICAl CONDITIONS. IN THE FIELD of neurosurgery, research is critical for a better understanding of certain conditions and to give patients access to innovative treatments. The Department of Neurosurgery at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is devoted to both basic and clinical science research for improved patient care. SHAPING THE FUTURE OF NEUROSURGERY The Neurosurgery Department at Hershey Medical Center is one of the top-ranked neurosurgery departments nationally for receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. With NIH-funded grants, four Hershey Medical Center laboratories run by individual investigators were able to continue with clinical research within the following fields: + Hydrocepha lus prediction a nd prevention in East Africa — As a joint effort between the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Steven Schiff, MD, PhD, leads nationally awarded work for preventing infectious diseases that cause hydrocepha lus in children. + Neurodegenerative disease and brain tumor treatment — James Connor, MS, PhD, leading expert on the effects of brain iron metabolism on sev- eral conditions, directs a laboratory that discovers novel treatments for tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. Two spinoff companies were developed based on research from Connor's lab. + Treatment for stroke and brain trauma patients — Guohong Li, MD, PhD, has received NIH funding for several studies, some of which include therapeutic targeting of class IB PI3- kinase gamma to treat acute ischemic stroke and the role of CD147 in ischemic inflammation and brain injury. + Protein structure changes that lead to a disease state — Trained in both biomedical engineering and neurosci- ence, the laboratory of Elizabeth Proctor, PhD, looks at neurodegenerative disease at molecular, cellular, tissue and physi- ological levels, with the goal of providing strategies for early diagnoses and preven- tive care. Currently, a combined tota l of exter- na l f u nd i n g for t he Depa r t ment of Neurosurger y 's laboratories reached $9 million. The department continues to advance in studies of brain, nerve and spine conditions with more than 60 registries in clinical trials for a range of disorders. "If there is no treatment available, we are looking to change that in the future," says Robert Harbaugh, MD, FACS, FAHA, Neurosurgery Department chair at Hershey Medical Center. "It's rewarding to watch our clinicians interact with both patients and investigators to identify a problem, and then work to develop a solution." Dr. Harbaugh explains that neurosurgery residents take part as well. "With one of the largest neurosurgery residency programs in the country, we provide opportunities for residents to participate alongside our faculty in their research efforts," Dr. Harbaugh says. "We are ensuring that future patients will be taken care of thanks to continued research efforts." To find out more about neurosur- gery research at Penn State Health , call 717-531-4541 or visit research.med. psu.edu/departments/neurosurgery. n " We are proud to have a research-intensive department. With our dedication to research efforts, training new residents and outstanding patient care, we will continue to move the field of neurosurgery forward." — ROBERT HARBAUGH, MD, FACS, FAHA, NEUROSURGERY DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT PENN STATE HEALTH MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A l P E N N S y lvA N I A ■ 2 0 2 0 S P E C I A l F E A T U R E ❰❰❰❰❰ 1 3