Lois Pope LIFE Center begins new era in neuroscience research

A New era in neuroscience research has begun with the opening of the Lois Pope LIFE Center at the University of Miami School of Medicine. This state-of-the-art scientific facility will house many of the University’s neuroscience programs, including The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and key faculty in the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery.

"We are very grateful to Lois Pope for her magnificent gift. Her generosity has helped make this new research center a reality," said University President Edward T. Foote II. "The University has emerged as a leader in neuroscience research, and we are now able to bring together under one roof scientists, clinicians, and doctoral fellows who are working to find treatments and cures for neurological diseases and injuries."

The seven-story, 118,000-square-foot facility was dedicated at a special all-star celebration recently. NBC News anchorman Tom Brokaw emceed the event. Other distinguished guests included Lois Pope; UM Trustee Nick Buoniconti and his son, Marc; UM Trustee Gloria Estefan; Christopher Reeve; and General Norman Schwarzkopf.

"I hope my efforts awaken in others an understanding that making a difference in the world is the right and responsibility of each one of us," said Pope. "Everyone can make a difference."

Lois Pope is the founder of LIFE, Leaders in Furthering Education, an organization dedicated to rewarding and encouraging young people who exemplify volunteerism in their communities. She became interested in the neurosciences when Christopher Reeve, a friend and member of the LIFE board of directors, was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident. Following Reeve’s accident, she learned of The Miami Project’s work and was moved by its efforts to help people who face the daily challenges of living with paralysis.

Lois Pope has a major commitment to support the study of a wide range of other neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. Neurological diseases affect a large portion of the nation’s aging population and are the third leading cause of death. Pope’s gift also created 20 Lois Pope LIFE fellowships in the neurosciences at the University of Miami.

The opening of the Lois Pope LIFE Center brings to fruition Pope’s gift of $10 million in 1996, one of the largest private gifts ever directed for research on spinal cord and neurologic disorders. The gift was matched by the State of Florida in the spring of 1998 and joined by considerable commit-ments from the Buoniconti Fund. The new building will be the home of The Miami Project, cofounded in 1985 by Barth Green, chairman of neurological surgery at the School of Medicine, and the family of Miami Dolphins legend Nick Buoniconti. The collaboration began after Nick’s son, Marc, was paralyzed from the neck down following a spinal cord injury sustained in a college football game.

"Mrs. Pope’s gift, now culminating in this unparalleled new center, represents a significant investment that will undoubtedly forge progress and ensure future inroads toward the cure for paralysis," said Marc Buoniconti, Miami Project ambassador.

During the dedication, Marc Buoniconti paid tribute to Green and to his parents. He also recognized W. Dalton Dietrich, scientific director of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, and researcher Mary Bunge, whose husband, Richard, was scientific director until his death in 1996. "We know Dr. Bunge is looking down on us now and couldn’t be prouder," Buoniconti said.

Accomplishments at The Miami Project include comprehensive studies of human spinal cord tissues after injury, as well as studies of human nervous system cells. Such studies have provided direct evidence of regeneration of adult human central nervous system tissue. To exploit this potential for repair, scientists have developed techniques to grow millions of growth-supporting cells from both rodent and human nerves, with the goal of one day grafting a patient’s own cells into their spinal cord to promote regeneration.

"We’ve seen a major revolution in scientific thinking," said John G. Clarkson, senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. "The idea that spinal cord and brain tissue cannot regenerate has been rejected. Key members of our neuroscience faculty focus on making this happen through the use of genetic engineering and cellular transplantation.

"With a world-class facility like the Lois Pope Life Center and with the immensely talented team of researchers we’ve assembled, we are on the brink of greatness," added Clarkson at the dedication ceremony for the center. "With The Miami Project and many of our neuroscience programs housed in this state-of-the-art facility, we are making possible the collaboration that is so essential to the advancements in science."

University of Miami researchers have developed genetically engineered cell lines that demonstrate remarkable potential for replacing nerve cells lost after damage to the spinal cord or brain. Such cells are also proving to be effective in alleviating pain following nerve injury in rodents. Other Miami Project labs are improving survival of brain and spinal cord tissues after injury using mild cooling and/or drug therapies; studying the fates of stem cells grafted into the spinal cord; and testing rehabilitation techniques to retrain walking using electrical stimulation of nerves and/or body weight support and treadmill training.

"This gift was more than simply money," added Pope. "The opening of this center signifies a commitment of time, talents, and heart to finding a cure for neurological disease and paralysis."

• Seven stories–118,000-square foot facility
  
  
• Twenty laboratories housed on five floors
  
  
• Top floor houses state-of-the-art teleconferencing facilities for 150 people
  
  
• Over 100 neuroscience research faculty will make their homes here–from The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis to the Departments of Neurology and Neurological Surgery
  
  
• Located on the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus