Stan and Jodi Ross believe in the future of brain health research

The outstanding care their son received after a car accident and wanting to be a part of the future of neuroscience prompted Jodi and Stan to donate $10 million to establish the Stanley D. and Joan H. Ross Center for Brain Health and Performance.

Stan gave his first donation of $10 to The Ohio State University in 1969. He and his wife, Jodi remained strong supporters over the years but it was after their son, Malcolm, broke his neck in a single seat, open-wheel racecar accident at the Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1993, that they felt the desire to become even more involved.

Malcolm was transported by Life Flight to a hospital in Indianapolis, where he received care and treatment for a month before transferring to Ohio State's Dodd Hall for in-patient rehabilitation. A team of neurologists, physical therapists and other medical professionals at Ohio State helped Malcolm complete his recovery. It's because of the care Malcolm received and the positive outcome that Stan and Jodi felt compelled to give more.

"The brain is the last frontier in medicine, and we’re just at the beginning of discovering what can be done to optimize the brain, and help millions of people who are affected by a whole panoply of neurological disorders and brain injuries," said Stan Ross, a retired attorney living in the Columbus area. "We see our gift as an opportunity to help a lot of people for many generations to come."

The Rosses have also endowed the Stanley D. and Joan H. Ross Chair in Neuromodulation, currently held by neurosurgeon Dr. Ali Rezai, who leads Ohio State's Neurological Institute.

The Rosses are hopeful their gift will help Ohio State become a significant world leader in brain health and performance.