January 28, 2015
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center plans to expand its Neurological Institute with the addition of a new Brain and Spine Hospital in the former Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, pending approval of the $14.3 million renovation by Ohio State’s Board of Trustees on Friday.
The Brain and Spine Hospital will open in early 2016 to meet the growing need for services for patients with neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke and many others. The Brain and Spine Hospital, which will be part of Ohio State’s Neurological Institute, will provide advanced clinical services and innovative research to improve the diagnosis, treatment and cure of neurological diseases.
“Neuroscience research and discoveries about the human brain and nervous system are growing at an unprecedented rate. With this new era of discovery around the brain, the University will be well-positioned to make monumental strides in improving the lives of those who have a neurological condition or injury,” said Ohio State President Michael V. Drake. “The new Brain and Spine Hospital will create a ‘neurological cluster’ of disease-specific subspecialty units where multidisciplinary teams are focused on providing comprehensive, coordinated, efficient and compassionate care for the best patient experience and outcomes.”
Ohio State’s Neurological Institute is a University-wide initiative involving 14 colleges – including engineering, business, dentistry, social work, nursing and pharmacy – along with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, that are collaborating with Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center in areas of neuroscience and brain research.
“Our Neurological Institute is a comprehensive multidisciplinary clinical, research, education and innovation initiative comprising of over 180 dedicated world class physician and research faculty from neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and physical medicine and rehabilitation Departments. These experts work closely together to advance neuroscience research and to develop innovative treatments to help patients with disabling neurological conditions,” said Dr. Ali Rezai, director of the Ohio State’s Neurological Institute. “Today, our team is conducting over 300 clinical research trials, including new treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and ALS, many offered only at Ohio State. We are also providing comprehensive education for over 110 residents, graduate students and trainees in the Neurological Institute. They are the foundation for the future of neuroscience research and patient care.”
The expansion of services at the Brain and Spine Hospital will not only serve patients in central Ohio, but will help residents throughout the state by providing access to Ohio State’s stroke experts through the extensive telemedicine program as well as the new acute brain and spinal cord injury care units.
More than 50 million people in the United States and more than a billion worldwide are affected by the more than 1,000 disorders of the brain, spine and the nervous system. The number of individuals challenged by neurological disorders is increasing due to the aging population, longer life expectancies and the rising incidence of chronic diseases.
The new Brain and Spine Hospital will expand in-patient capacity, utilizing 90 private rooms, including some dedicated solely to clinical trials .Once the renovation is completed, the Neurological Institute’s clinical enterprise will include the new Brain and Spine Hospital, Dodd Hall for inpatient rehabilitation, Harding Hospital for behavioral health and Talbot Hall for alcohol and drug addiction services.
The Neurological Institute is comprised of researchers, scientists and clinicians in neuroscience, neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and physical medicine and rehabilitation, focusing on neuro-oncology/skull base, spine/spine trauma, stroke/cerebrovascular, neuromuscular/multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders/dementia, movement disorders, epilepsy, spinal cord injury, pain and psychiatric disorders.
Requests for proposals for professional services, including architecture, engineering and construction management, will be issued in early February. Construction will be phased in over a 14-month period.
Media Contact: Eileen Scahill, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, 614-293-3737, Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu
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