Fort Worth group gives $25 million for brain disorder research at UT Southwestern
A Fort Worth foundation is committing $25 million to create a new brain research project at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, the school announced Thursday.
The Once Upon a Time Foundation is donating money to create the Raynor Cerebellum Project. The project will investigate diseases linked to the cerebullum, a part of the brain located at the base of the skull. Researchers will try to discover “how to preserve and restore lost brain function,” according to a news release from UT Southwestern.
Historically, the cerebellum is linked to movement control and balance, but new research is linking the part of the brain with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
Dr. Peter Tsai, an associate professor of neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics and neuroscience, said the cerebellum’s role in motor function is well known, but that its impact on other parts of the brain is still not clearly understood. That’s where he hopes this new project will make a difference.
“There’s a lot we do not know about what the cerebellum does, and ultimately what it’s contributing to in terms of diseases and disorders that affect folks in DFW and beyond,” Tsai said.
Better understanding the cerebellum’s role could lead to greater clarity for a range of conditions and diagnoses, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, he said.
The Raynor Cerebellum Project is named for Geoffrey Raynor, a Fort Worth investment banker and the founder of the Once Upon a Time Foundation.
“I have always been fascinated with unraveling the mysteries of the brain,” Raynor said in a statement. “Existing cerebellum research has suffered from a piecemeal approach, which has necessitated a need for focus and a streamlined path to treatments for those suffering from cerebellar dysfunction.”
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 4:30 PM.
