Blood-Brain Barrier Program Team

Our team in the International Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Program at Oregon Health & Science University combines basic science, research and comprehensive patient care to treat patients with brain tumors.

Program History

In the early 1980s, Edward A. Neuwelt, M.D., an OHSU neurosurgeon, pioneered a unique method of outwitting the brain's protective blood-brain barrier. By temporarily opening this barrier, chemotherapy, antibodies and other potential new therapeutics can pass into the brain and reach the tumor.

Since then, Dr. Neuwelt has devoted his neuro-oncology practice to researching and refining this treatment for patients with brain tumors. A recent development is the use of chemoprotective agents which may provide bone marrow and hearing protection for patients undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy with BBBD.

Patient Care

Alongside Dr. Neuwelt, our select team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and preclinical researchers work to meet the challenge of successfully treating patients.

The BBB team is committed to treating the whole person, and not just the brain tumor. This comprehensive approach to patient care  addresses not only patients' medical concerns, but also offers them help with the many complex emotional and physical challenges that arise. This approach includes education, behavior modification, case management, social services, medical management, nursing care and follow-up support.

From patients' first treatment to their last, and long after they've completed our program, the BBB team is here to help.

International Blood-Brain Barrier Consortium

OHSU is the coordinating center for the International BBB Consortium. The technique of opening the blood-brain barrier, as well as the chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody protocols and guidelines, have been developed by OHSU with input from the consortium's participating universities.