Medical research is what has made today’s cures possible, and it is what is driving new life-saving therapies. At Baptist Health, a trio of physician-scientists focused on diseases of the brain – “the brains behind the brain” – continues to make vast contributions to scientific knowledge. Individually, each has had numerous papers published in scientific journals and their research has been cited again and again by their peers around the globe.
Dr. Michael McDermott: Leading meningioma research at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute
Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive and the Irma & Kalman Bass Distinguished Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute
Meningiomas are one of the most common primary intracranial tumors. Even benign meningiomas can cause headaches, weakness and balance issues, seizures, speech difficulties and other debilitating symptoms, says Michael McDermott, M.D., chief medical executive and the Irma & Kalman Bass Distinguished Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute and one of the world’s leading experts on meningiomas, the most common type of primary brain tumor.
“Publishing is essential so that we can share scientific knowledge that drives advances and impacts patient care,” says Dr. McDermott, who is also the Irma & Kalman Bass Distinguished Endowed Chair in Clinical Neuroscience at the Institute and chief of the Division of Neuroscience and professor of Translational Medicine at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. “The collaboration between physicians at Miami Neuroscience Institute and others around the world increases the globalization of health information.”
Dr. McDermott was recently named the most-published author of papers on meningioma research. He also ranks third on the Highly Ranked ScholarsTM meningioma list of the “most productive (number of publications) authors whose works are of profound impact (citations) and of utmost quality (h-index)” in a five-year period.”
While research and publishing are priorities for Dr. McDermott, he is also considered an innovator in the industry. Recently, he was awarded a new U.S. patent for the design of a protective helmet for surfers — now in prototype development — that lowers the risk of head injuries. Because it covers the ears, the helmet also should help lower the chance of skin cancer, he says.
Dr. McDermott has submitted another patent that he says will be issued soon. “It’s for a sporting helmet design that includes football, car racing, hockey, lacrosse and equestrian sports,” he says, noting that repetitive concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition that results in permanent brain damage.
Dr. Minesh Mehta: Leading brain metastases research at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
Minesh Mehta, M.D., deputy director, chief of radiation oncology and the John and Mary Lou Dasburg Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute
At Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute, patients with brain metastases, a particularly challenging type of cancer, are benefiting from research led by Minesh Mehta, M.D., deputy director, chief of radiation oncology and the John and Mary Lou Dasburg Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology.
Named the most prolific and cited author over a lifetime in the field of brain metastasis by Highly Ranked ScholarsTM, Dr. Mehta has built a formidable team of researchers at the Institute and a body of research that is resulting in better and more individualized care for brain metastasis patients. One area of focus for Dr. Mehta and his team has been on improving traditional approaches to lower the rate of side effects from treatment; another is developing novel technologies and new uses for existing technologies.
Under Dr. Mehta, Miami Cancer Institute became South Florida’s first proton therapy program, which today is the most experienced in the region. The Institute also was the first center in the U.S. to pair the latest-generation proton delivery platform with pencil beam scanning, which delivers more-precise treatments that improve outcomes and reduce side effects.
Dr. Mehta views his research work as “an evolution of ideas” based on the work of many people and in collaboration with many others. “While each of those publications may seem like an isolated work to someone who doesn’t know the end goal, they are really like the steps of a ladder. Each paper is a rung.”
Dr. Mehta adds that Miami Cancer Institute is fortunate to have internationally and nationally known experts who have come together collectively. “We have a culture of clinical research here that involves developing clinical trials, testing our ideas in scientifically sound and safe ways and publishing our results openly to the world to help us all improve.”
Dr. Manmeet Ahluwalia: Leading glioblastoma research at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute
Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO, deputy director, chief of medical oncology and chief scientific officer at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
The fact that more than two million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year highlights the importance of research, says Manmeet Ahluwalia, M.D., MBA, FASCO, deputy director, chief of medical oncology and chief scientific officer at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.
Dr. Ahluwalia, who is also the Fernandez Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, says the Institute offers hundreds of groundbreaking clinical trials and research studies for cancers of all types, including brain cancer, that promise to increase the number of novel treatment options and extend the lives of cancer patients.
For example, Miami Cancer Institute researchers have received a $3.4 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to further research into glioblastoma, the most common type of brain cancer and also the deadliest, largely because of its location and its resistance to treatment. Even with advances in cancer care, the prognosis for glioblastoma patients has not changed significantly and patients typically survive just 15-18 months beyond diagnosis.
Dr. Ahluwalia says the award, widely regarded as among the most prestigious grants from the government, acknowledges the significant contributions of physician-scientists at Miami Cancer Institute.
“We’re very excited about the NIH/NCI R01 grant because research such as this drives the revolutionary change necessary to improve the quality of our patients’ lives and to extend their survival,” says Dr. Ahluwalia, whom Highly Ranked ScholarsTM recently named “the most published author of papers on brain metastasis in the past five years.”
For Dr. Ahluwalia, it’s the research and collaboration behind the papers that is really the driving force for change. And it’s that perspective that keeps him on task as he pushes the envelope, searching for breakthroughs in cancer care.
“Our experts here have a track record of publishing multiple papers with collaborators across the globe,” Dr. Ahluwalia says. “It’s not just about a ranking on a piece of paper, though. It’s about the breadth and depth of our work and the impact we are making on the lives of patients in South Florida and far beyond.”
