The Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience fuels new research and clinical applications to improve neurodegenerative health. We uphold the exchange of ideas and collaboration among students, fellows, faculty, and scientists.
In keeping with our mission, the Gleason Institute previously awarded the following seed grants for neurodegenerative disease research.
For information on being considered for seed grants, contact Ken Isaacs.
The goal of this collaborative project with Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center is to identify biomarkers of ALS in cerebral spinal fluid to speed up the diagnosis of the disease, extend the treatment period, and potentially lengthen the survival of individuals with ALS.
The St. Luke’s team will collaborate with WSU Spokane research service center staff to develop a medical device that will help individuals with neurodegenerative diseases who are impacted by abnormal bowel function. This novel technology will have the potential to improve the quality of life of individuals with neurodegenerative disease and their caregivers.
Led by a team of investigators from WSU and Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center, this study will objectively measure neck strength and muscle activity in people with ALS, an understudied area that will yield new knowledge that could be used to improve assistive technologies such as head-controlled wheelchairs.
This study will test the hypothesis that sleep reverses oxidative stress in the brain through a process that relies on nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. A joint effort between researchers in the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the study will help determine the feasibility of nicotinamide supplementation as a way to reduce brain oxidative stress and protect against neurodegenerative disease.