MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A bill to send $2 million to the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute was in Morgantown by Governor Jim Justice Monday.
During the ceremony, Associate Dean of Neuroscience at West Virginia University (WVU) and Executive Chair and Director of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Dr. Ali Rezai told the crowd assembled the impact they are making is worldwide.
“People from all 50 states and 15 countries come here to this building for their care,” Rezai said. “This is world-class care we offer for everybody in West Virginia and across the world.”
Dr. Rezai and the RNI were the focus of a special two-segment 60 Minutes broadcast highlighting their groundbreaking efforts to treat Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and addiction with ultrasound rather than brain surgery. In trials, ultrasound treatments have been more directed and efficient than current treatments with IV drugs.
“The first in-world treatments we developed here with our team for Alzheimer’s disease, for addiction, Parkinson’s disease, and drug addition,” Rezai said.
Rezai said Monday the expansion into additional areas of treatment will begin immediately with the signing of the bill. Now, the brief outpatient procedure will be expanded to help improve the quality of life for people suffering additional disorders.
“Now we can expand that to help people with food and behavioral addictions as well as people that are veterans impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder,” Rezai said.
The continued support from federal, state, and local lawmakers to provide these resources allows trials to grow and expand for the only program of its kind in the world. Rezai said the thanks not only come from those receiving the treatments but also from the more than 2,000 RNI employees that will continue their work.
“Our U.S. Senators in this state and local government leaders have provided steadfast support for this institute and key resources that position us to be world leaders for addiction and innovations in neurotechnology to treat Alzheimer’s disease.”
The governor also announced a $1 million grant through the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program for the next phase of the KOA Campground.
“Additional cabins, paving, and other things that will make this park, the park in West Virginia,” Mylan Park Foundation Board President Ron Justice said.