The Jansky/Bander Family Fund, a generous commitment of $1,100,000 over five years, has been established to advance critical initiatives within the Section of Movement Disorders at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Department of Neurology. This significant financial contribution is earmarked for two primary functions under the direction of Joel Perlmutter, MD: funding fellowships and supporting the brain bank.
“This is an incredibly generous gift from Jon and Barbara to support two critical needs in the Section of Movement Disorders: fellowships and the brain bank. These are two critical needs for the section,” Perlmutter, the Elliot Stein Family Professor of Neurology, said.
The fellowships funded by the Jansky/Bander Family Fund are set to provide invaluable opportunities for emerging scientists and clinicians to engage in groundbreaking studies within the field of movement disorders. By fostering the next generation of experts, these fellowships are essential for driving innovation and improving patient care. The first Jansky-Bander fellow, Laura Xavier, MD, obtained an American Academy of Neurology grant to continue her training.
“I am profoundly grateful for being entrusted with this fellowship. This type of support becomes fundamental in a landscape of dwindling funding and increasing need for movement disorders-trained clinicians and scientists,” Xavier said.
The Jansky/Bander Family Fund will also significantly enhance the Section of Movement Disorder’s brain bank, a key resource for neurological research. Improvements to the brain bank will enable better collection, preservation and examination of brain tissue, thus facilitating collaborative research efforts and leading to a deeper understanding of movement disorders. The collaboration with distinguished experts in the field will be crucial in maximizing the impact of this initiative.
The implementation of the Jansky/Bander Family Fund is a strategic move to sustain and expand the research capabilities of the Section of Movement Disorders. By directly supporting both the development of skilled researchers and the enhancement of vital research infrastructure, this fund is poised to contribute to significant advancements in the diagnosis, treatment and management of movement disorders.