• Non-Intrusive Sleep Apnea Treatment;
• Confocal Microscope;
• Diamond Jubilee Tea;
• Automation Advances;
• HMRI Receives Top Rating;
• Golf Tournament;
• Guild Fashion Show;
• HMRI Colorectal Research Fund;
• HMRI Research Inspires Youth;
• Employee Anniversary Luncheon;
• Volunteer Spotlight – Jeannette Martin;
• Partners in Discovery;
• HMRI Publications;
• Board of Directors.

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An independent, non-profit organization, HMRI is proud to be the center of innovation for developing medical technologies that are used world-wide.  Its accomplishments include the  hydrocephalus shunt, original conceptual designs for seat belts and other auto safety equipment, pioneering studies of laser energy, neural stimulating devices, and the development of magnetic resonance imaging.

“The funds raised at our 60^th anniversary celebration will be earmarked for HMRI’s Scientific Equipment  Fund,” said CEO Dr. William Opel.  “With state-of-the-art equipment, we are able to shorten the time it takes to get from bold ideas to breakthrough medical discoveries.  It’s important that our researchers have the latest technology in microscopes and automated equipment in their laboratories to streamline workflow so they can focus on the discovery process.”

“We are pleased with the success of our event and the tribute to our wonderful researchers at HMRI – both past and present,” commented Jeannette Martin, event chairperson.  “Our supporters were very generous and made this evening a memorable milestone.”

At a VIP champagne reception prior to the event and a program at the end of the evening, acknowledgement was given to HMRI, VIP guests and supporters. Mayor Bogaard presented a commendation from the City of Pasadena in recognition of HMRI’s outstanding medical contributions over the years.  He praised HMRI’s world-class researchers and physicians for their “collaborative efforts in the exploration of biomedical solutions.”

As our world becomes a faster-paced environment, life sciences have turned to automation to reduce costs and create more efficient operations.  Thanks to a grant from the Roy E. Thomas Foundation, researchers in the HMRI Tissue Engineering laboratory have recently acquired two new instruments that will allow them to streamline workflow through automation and spend more time on the discovery process in their search for new anti-cancer drugs.

With the new Biomek 4000 Laboratory Automation Workstation, our Tissue Engineering program has the ability to increase production of tumor histoids – living human mini-tumors – used in testing new anti-cancer drugs.  Producing the large number of tumor histoids required for drug testing would be virtually impossible without robotic fluid handling offered by the Biomek 4000.  Much of the exorbitant cost of developing new anti-cancer drugs is attributed to the use of unreliable and inefficient test systems during screening of potential new drugs and can cost upwards of $1 billion to bring one new drug to market.

The grant from the Roy E. Thomas Foundation also enabled the purchase of a second essential piece of equipment, the Synergy H1 Hybrid Multi-Mode Microplate Reader.  Placed next to the Biomek 4000 robotic system, this temperature-controlled programmable plate reader is used for spectrophotometric analysis of tumor histoids within their droplets.  Both pieces of equipment are housed within a laminar flow tissue culture hood, a requirement for maintaining the integrity of sterile cultures.

“We are absolutely delighted, to say nothing of relieved and grateful, to have the important new equipment which will allow us to advance to a new phase of our research,” said Dr. Marylou Ingram, senior research scientist with the Tissue Engineering & In Vitro Systems program. “The grant from the Roy E. Thomas Foundation could not have been more timely or important to our research.”

HMRI has developed a new non-intrusive treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The new technology compactly fits into a dental appliance such as the “bite guard” now utilized for the treatment of bruxism (nocturnal grinding of teeth).  It contains an infra-red sensor which detects the position of the tongue in the mouth.  If the tongue falls toward the back of the mouth, a slight electrical stimulation would cause the person to move the tongue forward again, with the goal of eventually “training” the tongue to move itself into the forward position when it falls back.  This is all accomplished without disturbing sleep in any way.

“The airway obstruction in OSA is caused by two things,” Dr. Douglas McCreery, director of HMRI’s Neural Engineering program and designer of the device, explained.  “First, it’s caused by the tongue partially falling back into the airway, blocking the airway.  Second, it’s caused by lack of good muscle tone in some of the other muscles that surround the upper airway that are connected to the tongue.  As it turns out, if you move the tongue forward you get the tongue out of the way of the airway and that action tends to dilate the other muscles in the upper airway. These actions make it possible for a person to breathe throughout the night without interruption.”

HMRI received a patent for the new technology on August 31, 2012. This patent provides a protection for the technology so that it can be licensed to commercial manufacturers for broad distribution.

Currently, the most common treatment for OSA is a technology called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – a method by which air pressure is applied through a mask worn while sleeping.  While this method is highly effective, it has been found that OSA patients using CPAP only use it 54 percent of the time due to discomfort and other issues.  Five percent of users actually give up on the method leaving them with no treatment at all.

“Our objective was to find a way of treating OSA that was more acceptable to users than treatments such as CPAP,” McCreery said.  “CPAP is 100 percent effective when used, but because the user must wear a hose and attachments that connect to the nose, people often fine it intrusive and generally don’t like it.  We set out to devise something with the efficacy of CPAP, but that is more generally acceptable and that people will use 100 percent of the time.  In your mouth, the device feels exactly like a bite guard – no difference whatsoever.  It’s very comfortable.”

OSA is a treatable disorder in which the upper airway collapses during sleep, causing cessation of breathing for several seconds at a time, numerous times throughout the night.  The disorder affects 9 percent of working-age women and 24 percent of working-age men – and it is estimated that only one in five persons afflicted with OSA receive effective treatment.  It is hoped that this new technology will significantly increase those numbers.

OSA has a number of negative medical ramifications.  Those afflicted suffer frequently interrupted sleep, which causes fatigue during waking – usually working – hours.  In addition to constant tiredness, research has indicated that increased risk of cardiovascular disease is associated with OSA as well as a markedly increased mortality rate relative to the general population.

McCreery emphasized that the as-yet-named device is not ready for use in patient treatment.  A prototype device has been developed and McCreery will soon be seeking permission to proceed with clinical trials.  When needed funding for the trials is obtained, clinical trials will start with non-OSA participants to finalize issues such as comfort and acceptability.  Once that phase is completed, trials will then move forward with OSA sufferers.  These trials will be conducted in partnership with a neurologist or pulmonologist whose input and analysis will be critical to the outcomes.

Since joining HMRI in 1979, McCreery has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of 18 research grants and contracts from the National Institutes of Health.  He participated in the development of the vagus-nerve-stimulating electrode, which has now helped more than 30,000 people afflicted with epilepsy. McCreery and his team have been instrumental in defining procedures and criteria for safe therapeutic stimulation of neural tissue data which has been used by the FDA for the certification of implantable medical devises. These include the deep brain stimulator manufactured by Medtronic, which has been utilized in the treatment of more than 50,000 patients with Parkinson’s disease.

McCreery is enthusiastic about the development of this new technology for the treatment of OSA.  “Looking at the incidence of this disease and the number of people that are not getting treatment, along with the number of people that are somewhat reluctant to use or don’t adapt well to CPAP, we are confident that we have the ability to find a way to get more  people on board,” McCreery concluded. “It would be of great benefit to have a larger percentage of the population receiving acceptable, effective treatment.”

“Thank you for inspiring [us] with science.  The fact I found most interesting is that neurologists do not know the causes of brain diseases.  I will look into becoming a neurologist.”

“I learned so much from you about our brain.  My dad was amazed that I knew so much.”

These are but a few of the many accolades expressed in “thank you” letters received by Dr. Michael Harrington, HMRI’s director of Molecular Neurology, following his presentation at a reverse science fair at Holy Redeeemer Middle School in Montrose.  Harrington was one of a number of physicians, researchers and engineers invited to participate in this annual event to give 7^th and 8^th graders an opportunity to understand science and medicine “up close and personal.”

Beth Cohen, Holy Redeemer’s science teacher, acknowledged that Harrington’s presentation regarding the brain is the most popular which is why she invites him back every year.  “He truly knows how to inspire these kids and pique their curiosity,” she noted.  “His style is very real rather than sounding like a text book.”  The classroom presentation included viewing a real human brain followed by an explanation of the function of the brain and the mystery of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and migraine.

“As a researcher, I feel we have a moral and social responsibility to share information with our youth through science education,” noted Harrington.  “I thoroughly enjoy this annual opportunity to interact with our young people.”

Part of HMRI’s year-long 60^th anniversary celebration, the golf tournament brought together a “Who’s Who” of Pasadena philanthropy as supporters and sponsors.  HMRI board member Ann Hall served as tournament chair.  Serving as honorary co-chairs were Michael C. Doyle, HMRI’s board chairman, and H. Thomas Boyle, Annandale’s club president.  Mr. and Mrs. Roger Engemann were the tournament’s major sponsor.  Lending their support as tournament sponsors were Tom Boyle and Wendy Lees, Symes Automotive Group, and the Emelco Foundation.  A number of corporate and business sponsors were also involved, including Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Sullivan Curtis Monroe Insurance Services, Cooperative of American Physicians and Citizens Business Bank.

The day began with arrivals and registration at 9:30 a.m.  Guests were greeted by a distinguished group of gentlemen in blue blazers and grey slacks.  The “A” list greeters included HMRI President Dr. William Opel.  Lunch on the commons followed, sponsored by Huntington Hospital and HMRI Board Chairman Mike Doyle.  After golf, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and PBWS Architects.  The day concluded with an awards dinner with all proceeds from the tournament benefitting HMRI.

Twenty-three foursomes vied for awards for Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Flights.  The day also included contests for Men’s and Women’s Closest-to-the-Pin, Men’s and Women’s Longest Drive, and two separate Hole-in-One prizes – one for $10,000 in cash, and one for a Cadillac.

Congratulations to the award winners, and thanks to all who made the HMRI Lynn Smith Founders’ Classic the perfect celebration for 60 years of research excellence.

HMRI Lynn Smith Founders’ Classic Winners:

Men’s Flight

Frank Davis, Bryant Davis, Ed Freeman and David West

Ladies’ Flight

Denise Allen, Vickie Miller and Wendy Cobleigh

Mixed Flight

Theresa D’Andria, Frank Tamburo, Christopher Kopecky and Joe Jardino

(Thomas & Bebette Coleman Foundation)

Closest to Pin #9

Men’s – Tony Solano – 9’ (Symes Automotive Group)

Ladies’ – Vickie Miller – 4’5”

Long Drive #6

Men’s – Greg Greenwood (Symes Automotive Group)

Ladies’ – Rita Whitney (Wells Fargo Home Mortgage)