Partners in Pursuing Cures

W

hen Dorothy “Dottie” Mangurian was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD) in the mid-1990s, little was known about this progressive, incurable brain disease. For more than 25 years, the foundation started by her husband, Harry T. Mangurian Jr., has worked to change that.

Early on, the Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation recognized the importance of the work of neurology and cognitive aging researchers like James E. Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., professor of neurology and director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health and the Lewy Body Dementia Research Center of Excellence at the Miller School.

“Dr. Galvin’s aggressiveness in research into neurological issues was so impressive,” said Stephen Mehallis, who has been president of the Mangurian Foundation since 1999. “We think the world of him, and we’ve been happy to support him.”

Prior to Dr. Galvin’s arrival at the Miller School in 2020, the Mangurian Foundation funded his research efforts in LBD and other neurodegenerative diseases. For Dr. Galvin’s current work, the foundation’s support has shifted to what Mehallis calls “bricks and mortar capital items,” such as equipment fundamental to research.

The Mangurian Foundation, which is based in Fort Lauderdale, began with a broad mission to support medical, educational and environmental causes. Over the years, though, its mission evolved to focus mainly on medically related projects. Mehallis estimates that more than 90% of the foundation’s grants have been dedicated to medicine.

Mehallis recalls spirited discussions between Mangurian and a member of his cohort about the most effective way to combat poorly understood diseases like LBD. Mangurian insisted that getting information out to promote support for such diseases was the priority. The other gentleman insisted that research was the best way to attack the problem.

Thanks to those conversations, Mehallis said, the Mangurian Foundation uses a two-pronged approach to tackle medical problems like LBD. The foundation raises awareness about these diseases and allocates funds to major universities and hospitals for medical research like Dr. Galvin’s.

“We’re very proud of Dr. Galvin and what he’s been able to do,” Mehallis said. “He’s one of the superstars in the area of neuroscience, and I think what he’s going to be able to do with brain research in the near future will be transformational.”

Dr. Galvin joined Dean Ford on the Inside U Miami Medicine podcast to give insight into this devastating illness and the search for better outcomes.