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WSU Announces Gleason Institute

Gerald Herbert
/
AP

Washington State University officials Tuesday announced the establishment of a center to provide care and cures for those with brain disease.

WSU Health Sciences Spokane announced the new Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience, named after the former WSU and NFL star who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease ALS in 2011.

The institute will be housed in an office space on East Sprague, part of the South University District.

The facility will focus on research and bridging the gap between care and treatment of diseases related to the brain.

Nancy Isserlis of the Health Sciences and Service Authority of Spokane County announced that her organization was presenting a grant of $250,000 to the institute.

"More important are the exciting opportunities for treatment, care and, hopefully one day, cure for the devastating and debilitating diseases like ALS, Parkinsons, and Alzheimers, which affect families and loved ones," she said.

The institute will feature a clinical research and care unit, focusing on motor and cognitive therapy, an Assistive Technology and Smart Home Center for patient training and advancement of brain machine interfaces, and a Discovery Research Unit with shared facilities for scientists and support staff.

Spokane Mayor David Condon said the institute fits in well with Spokane's move to a more innovative economy.

"Generally speaking, we talk about Spokane being a smarter, healthier, and safer community. The Gleason Institute will advance all of those goals. The addition of the institute speaks volumes about the smart health innovation economy, and really about what this part of the university district is going to be and, frankly, today is," Condon said.

The center will collaborate with St. Luke's, Providence, and MultiCare.

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.