Civitan International Research Center Achievements

Transcription

1 Civitan International Research Center Achievements

2 Autism. Cerebral palsy. Rett syndrome. These are not just words. For millions of families, developmental disabilities are a daily reality. 2

3 Modern science has brought wondrous new ways to diagnose and treat neurological disorders. For many conditions, treatment is now within reach for the very first time. For many families, there is new hope. The Civitan International Research Center is at the leading edge of this work. The CIRC was founded at the University of Alabama at Birmingham through a commitment from Civitan International, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping those with developmental disabilities. The center is a hub of cutting-edge research into illnesses of the human brain - from developmental disabilities such as autism, to other disorders such as brain cancer and epilepsy. 3

4 Touching Lives, Changing Futures Center Director Dr. Harald Sontheimer and the scientists and staff at the CIRC and its partner facility, the Civitan-Sparks Clinics are providing the way to a brighter future for all those who live with developmental disabilities. For many families, it is an uphill battle to find the medical care their children need. Many doctors are not trained to give them treatment, and parents can spend weeks traveling between physicians, counselors and social workers. Fortunately, the Civitan-Sparks Clinics are changing that. Physicians here give diagnosis, counseling, and treatment to thousands of children with developmental disabilities each year and families are given access to many other resources that would ordinarily be closed to them. Doctors and medical students also travel to Civitan-Sparks for professional training in this field. They then take that knowledge back to their own communities and out into the world. 4

5 ACQUIREc Therapy at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics One such training program at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics is the innovative ACQUIREc therapy program. This treatment was actually developed at Civitan-Sparks by Stephanie Deluca, to treat children with hemiplegia. Children with hemiplegia have limited or complete paralysis on one side of the body. They cannot fully use their affected arm or leg, and can t perform many of the activities most children take for granted. Something as simple as playing with blocks can be a frustrating, painful struggle. In ACQUIREc therapy, children are guided through exercises to help their brains adapt and learn to use their once-paralyzed limbs. Many of these children can now dress themselves, use a coloring book, write their name even play ball for the very first time. Dr. Deluca and her team now manage a training program for other physicians, so children around the world can receive this life-changing therapy. 5

6 Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder affecting thousands of children, primarily young girls. Infants develop normally at first, but at six to eighteen months, they begin to lose their motor skills. They have difficulty speaking or walking, and develop symptoms associated with autism or cerebral palsy. Children with Rett syndrome will need physical assistance for their entire lives. Dr. Alan Percy, Medical Director, with one of his patients at the CIRC First identified in the 1960 s, much about Rett syndrome is still a mystery. The CIRC s medical director, Dr. Alan Percy, is one of the world s foremost authorities on Rett syndrome, and has dedicated years of his life to studying this illness. He is on the road nearly every week visiting patients with this and other rare childhood diseases. 6

7 In 1999, researchers made an important discovery when they identified the gene, MECP2, in which mutations occur that cause Rett syndrome. This discovery may also have implications for a wide range of disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, and neonatal encephalopathy. There is currently no cure for Rett syndrome, but work at the CIRC is giving new hope. Scientists such as Dr. Lucas Pozzo-Miller are now investigating potential treatments at the microscopic level. With natural proteins already found in the brain, they may be able to repair brain cells damaged by Rett syndrome, and reverse its effects. This research is a bold step toward treating, repairing, and someday even curing this devastating illness. The dream of real medical treatment is being built into reality. 7

8 Autism is a developmental brain disorder characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships, and in using language and abstract concepts. Today, it is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism. Treatment was once impossible for children diagnosed with autism, as well. For these boys and girls, social interaction can be challenging, frightening, or even impossible. They are often isolated, and even physical contact can be traumatic. Now, through behavioral intervention therapy, young children with autism can learn to interact with others, communicate, and build crucial life skills. Through extensive work, therapists can help them minimize or overcome many symptoms of autism. 8

9 Dr. Rajesh Kana, Ph.D., (pictured above right) is an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Psychology, and was the recipient of the McNulty Civitan Scientist award. He oversees the autism brain imaging laboratory at the UAB Civitan International Research Center, which utilizes the CIRC s functional (fmri) machine. Research projects at this lab are aimed at better understanding autism in terms of brain activity. This will go on to help develop better treatment and intervention programs, which actually improve the neural connectivity in the brains of people with autism. Through these programs, children with autism are able to better communicate, socialize, and interact with the world around them. The CIRC s fmri machine Dr. Kana s research spans across several areas of autism study, including language comprehension, social understanding, and the learning processes. One of his studies, examining the social skills of people with autism in terms of brain connectivity, was recently published in the Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 9

10 Since the 1950 s, Civitan International has had a special emphasis on helping those with developmental disabilities. In 1992, that focus was solidified with the founding of the UAB Civitan International Research Center, located at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This world-class medical facility was made possible by a $20 million commitment from Civitan International, and conducts groundbreaking research into developmental disabilities and illnesses of the human brain. Illnesses studied at the Civitan International Research Center: Alexander disease Alzheimer s disease Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Autism spectrum disorders Brain tumors Cerebral palsy Down syndrome Epilepsy Glial cell dysfunction Multiple sclerosis Parkinson s disease Rett syndrome Schizophrenia Spinal cord injuries Traumatic brain injuries and other cognitive disorders In order to continue the fight against cognitive illnesses, mankind must better our understanding of the brain with basic medical research. This amazing work is made possible by the fundraising efforts of Civitans around the world. Within these pages, are some of the research projects and programs going on at the CIRC, funded by these donations. This is Civitan s gift to the world, and to future generations. Please help us continue our mission of helping those with developmental disabilities and donate today! CIVITAN 10