Pacific Neuroscience Institute Research Paves a Way to the Future

Pacific Neuroscience Institute was featured at the SoCal Biomedical Conference’s CEO Dinner & Reception at the Hilton Hotel in Long Beach on Thursday, September 27, 2017. PNI co-founders Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD, director of the Neuroscience Research Center at PNI and professor of neurosciences and chair of the department of translational neurosciences and neurotherapeutics at Saint John’s Cancer Institute and Chester F. Griffiths, MD, FACS, director of PNI’s Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, gave insightful presentations to the attendees who gathered together from across the biotech industry.

The SoCalBio Conference is an annual event organized by the Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio) to showcase the strength and future of the bioscience industry in Los Angeles/Orange County and neighboring communities. PNI exemplifies both of these qualities while providing neuroscience care in not only greater Los Angeles, but worldwide.

As pioneers in their respective fields, Drs. Griffiths and Kesari lead the way in advancing surgical techniques, novel therapies and use of innovative technology across the neurosciences.

Paul Notaras, a Saint John’s Health Center Foundation committee member and SoCalBio Council member introduced Dr. Griffiths, who gave an inspiring talk highlighting the differentiating features of PNI that make it such a unique institution in this new era of healthcare. “The mission of the PNI Founders was to create something that would advance and revolutionize the neurosciences,” he declared. “At PNI, we combine individual patient care that is championed in the private practice model with translational bench-to-bedside research that is championed by academic centers. We call it ‘Privademics’. Because of this, PNI has the advantage of quicker turnaround timelines – the ability to accelerate research and clinical trials that larger institutions cannot match.”

Dr. Kesari introduced the audience to the innovative work that PNI continues to pursue and drive forward. PNI’s roster of clinical trials in brain tumor and stroke is impressive. Studies include investigation of novel therapies for primary brain tumors and cancers that have metastasized to the brain from primary cancers such as breast, prostate, and melanoma; stem cell therapy for chronic motor deficits due to ischemic stroke; and protocols dealing with quality of life challenges for brain cancer patients and their caregivers. He highlighted the partnerships that PNI has created with companies across the industry both nationally and internationally, and focused on ways in which PNI and the biotech industry continue to collaborate to advance one of the final frontiers in medicine.

“PNI has previously partnered with various biotech companies and will continue to partner with innovators in the industry,” said Dr. Kesari. “Both sides are motivated by finding cures and accelerating progress, prevention and treatment for neurological diseases and restoring these patients’ quality of life.”

One of PNI’s goal’s for 2018 is to support and sustain its Neuroscience Research Center, one of the world’s leading centers for neuro-health. The Pacific Neuroscience Research Center is focused on understanding and targeting the genetic, molecular, and immune basis of brain cancer; advancing innovative diagnostic techniques such as liquid biopsy; and developing new neuro-technologies for stroke (including stem cell therapy), neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s and dementia), hereditary hearing loss, convection-enhanced drug delivery to brain tumors, and non-invasive brain stimulation technologies.

“The community of physicians, scientists, researchers and industry represented at the SoCalBio Conference makes it clear that we are all here to collaborate in moving science forward. It takes clinical trials and resources to make advances in treatment and to ultimately find a cure.” Dr. Kesari concluded.

Pacific Neuroscience Institute is dedicated to finding cures and advancing progress across the neurosciences for neurological and cranial disorders. To learn more about the Pacific Neuroscience Research Center or about how you can partner with the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation to help advance one of the final frontiers in medicine, please contact Karter White, PNI Foundation Administrative Director at 310-829-8271.

Karter White is the Administrative Director of PNI Foundation. She oversees the strategic, operational and philanthropic efforts of the PNI Foundation in support of the PNI physician programs, Centers of Excellence, and innovative research initiatives. She works in partnership with the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation development team and the PNI Founders (Drs. Kelly, Griffiths, Krauss and Kesari) to foster relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations to support the life-changing work of PNI. Karter helps expand support programs and advance clinical trials, fellowship training, physician and patient education, and community outreach for PNI.