S AP SHOTS

Meet one of the faces of success

Michael Chopp, Ph.D., scientific
director of the Neuroscience
Institute and vice chairman for
Neurology-Research at Henry
Ford. Hospital in Detroit, is a
member of the Henry Ford
Medical Group. He is also a
distinguished professor of physics
at Oakland University in
Rochester.

Mentors Serve Youth

Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit hosted its first Mingle
with the Mentors evening in May at the Andiamo-Second City of
Novi. Mentor Connection is a non-sectarian program of Jewish
Family Service. It matches school- and community—based men-
tors with Oakland County youth who may have low self-esteem,
academic shortcomings, a troubled home environment or poor
social skills. Above, Connection chairs Richard Cherkasky and Susan
Leemaster, both of Franklin, standing, enjoy the Second City Show
with the event sponsors, MetroBank President Ronald DiCicco and
West Bloomfield Branch Manager Carole McDougall.

As a physicist, Michael Chopp had
always planned on a career in aca-
demics. With a doctorate in physics
and mathematics from New York
University, it seemed a natural
progression. That path encoun-
tered a detour many years ago.

"In the late seventies, I was asked
by a neurosurgeon to watch a pro-
cedure on a patient with hydro-
cephalus, or 'water on the brain',"
says Dr. Chopp.

"Watching the pressure in the
spinal column as it was being mon-
itored, I noticed periodic pulsa-r
Eons in the pressure and wondered
if this could be interpreted as an
indicator of disease."

He studied the question in more
detail, with the findings of his early
studies confirming that the pulsa-
tions in spinal pressure were linked
to health, and reflected the brain's
ability to regulate blood flow.

"I made the move from physicist to
a researcher of biomedical prob-
lems," he says. "In particular, the
neurosciences."

Dr. Chopp joined Henry Ford 23
years ago to pursue his research
interest in the treatment of
neurological disease. He has done
numerous studies on stroke and
brain tumors, helping to better
understand the mechanisms of
brain cell death and repair.

Glorious Kitchens

The National Council of Jewish Women/Greater Detroit Section held
a "Captivating Kitchens" fund-raising tour of eight designer kitchens
to support Meals on Wheels and local community service projects,
such as the All Kids Playground in Waterford, Wrapped in Love, Teen
Dating Abuse Project and Children's Advocates. A related patron
event featuring a silent auction, culinary demonstrations and wine
tasting was held at Specialties Showroom in Berkley. The May events
were under the leadership of past vice president Irma Glaser of West
Bloomfield and, shown above, event chairs Abbey Brasch Nathan of
Bloomfield Hills Nancy Josephson of West Bloomfield and Shayna
Silverman of Farmington Hills.

"What happens to the brain during
a stroke?" he asks. "What causes
brain damage? How can the death
of brain cells be reduced or
delayed? Can we develop ways to
protect brain cells? These are the
key questions we try to answer
with our research."

the level of
understanding
of brain func-
tion and has
led to the
development of
various treat-
ments for
stroke and
neurological
disease.

"During the
1990s, we discovered that after the
onset of injury the brain produces
new proteins and genes, reminis-
cent of the developing brain," he
says. "The brain actually tries to
renew itself by reverting to an ear-
lier state of development."

The window of opportunity that is
offered by this developmental
response to injury in the adult
brain gives physicians a chance to
learn more about how to help
patients with multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson's disease, and stroke.
Dr. Chopp is investigating how the
brain might be triggered at the
molecular level to restructure itself.

"The brain remodels itself," he
says.

Dr. Chopp has also pioneered the
use of cell therapy, particularly
with bone marrow, umbilical cord
blood cells, and adult stem cells,
for the treatment of neurological
disease. Henry Ford was the first in
the U.S. to administer such cell
therapies to treat stroke and neu-
rological disorders.

Other current studies involve test-
ing drugs such as statins, which are
medications that lower cholesterol,
and other drugs, such as Viagra, to
improve neurological function after
stroke, traumatic brain injury and
neurodegenerative disease. In
experimental studies, Dr. Chopp
has shown that these drugs restore
neurological function, developing
the field of restorative neurology.

He and his wife are affiliated with
Young Israel of Southfield.

That research has helped increase

For niore intOrmation 01' to make an
appointment call 1-80o-FIENRYFORD or
visit our Web site www.lienrulard.com

iN

June 15 • 2006

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