The Montana Neuroscience Institute Foundation
Connecting research and clinical medicine for the advancement of patient care

The Montana Neuroscience Institute is a unique non-profit partnership between St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center and The University of Montana for the specific purpose of linking neuroscience research and patient care. Through collaborations fostered by the Institute, experts in research and clinical medicine develop innovations in patient care to help those afflicted with diseases of the nervous system for the citizens of Montana and beyond.

Creating a Premier Institute
In 1997, a group of creative collaborators began planning an innovative non-profit organization that focused on the goals of linking basic research to patient care. These efforts included clinicians from the St. Patrick Hospital, faculty researchers from The University of Montana, and senior administrators from both institutions. Playing central roles in the early development were Dr. Howard Chandler, a neurosurgeon, and Professors Richard Bridges and Diana Lurie from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at The University of Montana. In 1998, the Montana Neuroscience Institute Foundation officially became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Since that time the Institute has successfully recruited its first translational researcher, Research Assistant Professor Dave Poulsen, as well as a Clinical Research Manager, Cindi Laukes. In 2003, Cindy Poulsen was hired as a Program Assistant.
Pamela Meck, involved since 1997, continues to serve as the Clinical Research Coordinator for MNIF at the hospital.

Beginning a Successful Partnership
"The greatest thing the Institute will do is be a conduit for the flow of ideas between the campus and the hospital," -Professor Richard Bridges

Drawing upon the momentum and support of the Institute's unique partnership, Bridges and Chandler immediately began an active research collaboration investigating glutamate metabolism in brain tumors, a project that has led to the creation of a brain tumor bank at The University of Montana available to researchers in the Northwest. Since then, the University has been awarded a $6.2 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health to create a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Structural and Functional Neuroscience. Professor Bridges will serve as the director of this Center and oversee its basic research efforts in brain cell function and disease.

Benefits to the Community
"We're essentially creating an environment where the type of research done only in medical schools can be done here in Montana." -Dr. Nick Chandler

In addition to meeting its research goals, MNIF will prove to be an invaluable resource to both the community of Missoula and to the state of Montana by bringing with it state-of-the art medical research and technologies. The Institute has already conducted clinical trials dealing with both pharmaceuticals and neurosurgical devices. The middle ground in this collaboration is translational research, which can lead to the development of new drugs, devices and protocols. As many of such discoveries are patentable, this venture should also have a positive impact on the State's economy through the creation of new jobs and companies.