Research Update

We are pleased to announce the new research contracts we have approved for 2015, and to summarize our accomplishments of the past year.

Our post-traumatic syringomyelia (SM) work continues to break new ground for identifying the mechanisms of syrinx formation, and influencing these mechanisms. This research also has direct benefit for those who suffer from SM caused by Chiari malformation (CM).

Our new study in Warwick England continues the most promising work in discovering the origins of CM to date. This work appears to be leading to a paradigm shift, in genetic research, away from the traditional genetic studies which have had little success in the last several decades.

Our projects, while focused on CM/SM, are producing discoveries that have broad scientific/medical implications, thanks to our fine researchers and our donors.

Accomplishments for 2014:

In 2014, Column of Hope co-sponsored the Conquer Chiari Conference, an international research meeting focusing on Chiari (CM), allowing many of the top researchers in the world to share their progress in their research and patient care.

Our Australian studies made considerable progress. MRI and computational fluid dynamics findings were again published in the Journal of Biomechanics in 2014. Our joint study in Oslo, Norway and Madison, Wisconsin, studying how obstructions, such as CM, impact cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) flow, was also published in the Journal of Biomechanics in 2014. A follow up study in Madison, to determine if there are morphometric measures that could act as indicators for surgical intervention, is nearing completion. Actual patient MRI scans are being used.

Our Australian research has progressed to a point where our researcher’s ability to influence fluid flow out of the syrinx had outstripped science’s ability to measure that flow. In 2014, our team successfully developed new scientific tools to measure this flow in vivo, and it is expected to be published in 2015. We believe that these techniques will have implications for all research involving CSF flow, even for non-CM or SM disorders.

COH publications since 2011 have been cited over 80 times to date. A total of 14 COH studies have been published in prestigious journals over the last 6 years, including the cover article of the Journal of Neurosurgery in April of 2010. An anticipated 6 more scientific and clinical papers are in various stages of completion, with the expectation of 2015 or early 2016 publications.

Commitments for 2015:

Sydney Australia:

• A 3 Year Commitment to a dedicated PhD Student to add to the permanent staff of CM/SM researchers. If we can expand our donation base, we hope start a new student each year to add 3 PhD students to the research team to accelerate the projects.
• An electron microscopy study of CSF flow in the perivascular spaces in the spinal cord, to better understand and eventually control the flow.
• Documentation and publication of three innovative surgical techniques to better treat Chiari and/or syringomyelia patients.

Warwick England:

Completion of a groundbreaking project to discover the cellular origin of the tissue surrounding the foramen magnum, as well as to understand how defective neural crest cells cause premature closure of the growth plates in the clivus, leading to Chiari malformation. For several decades, traditional genetic researchers have searched in vain to solve the mystery of Chiari malformation. In a few short years, the Warwick team may have become the world’s leading research group understanding an underlying cause of CM. We believe the study will literally change the scientific landscape around not only the cause of CM, but also the impact of defective neuro crest cells on other disorders and failed surgeries.

PLEASE mark your calendars for October 10, 2015 for our 13th annual Gala (and our 4th annual CME session). Please contact me at Mark_Kane@columnofhope.org if you would like to participate in person, donate an auction item or make a monetary donation.

Your support of our work is greatly appreciated!!! 

Have a great summer and remember to prepare for the Gala in the fall!

Thank you, Mark Kane, President