Governor Gordon and Dr Sandra Banack at Jackson-based Brain Chemistry Labs.
Governor Mark Gordon visited Jackson-based Brain Chemistry Labs, Wyoming’s only drug discovery lab focused on diagnosing, treating, and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other brain diseases.
In a lab tour led by senior scientist Dr. Sandra Banack, Governor Gordon commented that he was “fascinated by all this” as he was shown equipment that examines nanoparticles, small particles containing both DNA and RNA. As the tour continued, Governor Gordon remained very engaged and deeply interested in the research capabilities of the Brain Chemistry Labs.
The Brain Chemistry Labs team members explained each area of the lab and its significance to their work, which includes testing of water samples to determine levels of BMAA, a neurotoxin that can lead to the development of neurologic diseases; how using a protein found in violets is being synthesized and evaluated as a possible combination treatment for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer; and advances in a blood diagnostic test that can—with an unprecedented degree of accuracy—detect ALS, a particularly difficult disease to diagnose in a timely fashion accurately.
A presentation detailing recent advances in research followed the lab tour, including discussion of a current trial underway at Houston Methodist Hospital on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a precursor to Alzheimer’s, and plans for upcoming clinical trials on ALS and Parkinson’s.
Governor Gordon was impressed with the innovation coming out of this unassuming log cabin in Jackson. “This is phenomenal research and it’s very exciting to see this coming out of Jackson,” commented Governor Gordon. “It’s encouraging that the research being done here in Wyoming has international reach through the global consortium of the Brain Chemistry Labs,” he added.
Dr. Banack remarked that she was “very grateful that the Governor took time to visit our lab. We appreciate his enthusiasm for our work, and his solid understanding of our lab equipment made for a very stimulating discussion.”