Before the sun rises at his home near Orlando, Florida, Rakesh Parekh, M.D., is already making the most of the day. He reviews patient notes and exercises before joining his wife, Tejal Parekh, in preparing their children for school. Time means a great deal to Dr. Parekh.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after muscle weakness began to affect his movement. ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Worsening over time, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.

Watch: Dr. Rakesh Parekh's story

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"You get this diagnosis, and, you know, within three to five years, you're no longer," says Dr. Parekh.

He was familiar with the disease long before his own diagnosis.

"My father lived with ALS," says Dr. Parekh. "I know time is of the essence."

Initially working with a care team closer to home, Tejal and Dr. Parekh were determined to find a way forward to preserve his quality of life and possibly help others, including their children, who have a chance of inheriting the gene mutation. The couple began messaging physicians, researchers and friends around the world. That's when they learned about the work of Dr. Bjorn Oskarsson, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

"Dr. Oskarsson was recommended to us by a friend, and it was like finding a diamond in the rough," says Tejal Parekh.

A personalized approach

Dr. Oskarsson and colleagues at Mayo Clinic have spent their careers looking for answers and options for people diagnosed with ALS. A multidisciplinary care team met with Dr. Parekh in May 2021 and began tests to determine the best way forward.

"We worked with our outside partner to develop an individualized treatment made just for him," says Dr. Oskarsson.

The therapy aims to stop protein production by targeting the gene mutation and halting the progression of the disease. After nearly two years of testing and preparations, Dr. Parekh's first treatment was an injection in his spine in April 2024.

"He is the first person in the world to have received this treatment," says Dr. Oskarsson.

He would repeat the trip from Orlando to Jacksonville for the next two months, then placed on a three-month dosage.

"More than just ourselves, this would be a step forward for all the other people getting diagnosed with ALS; it would be something for them, hope," says Tejal.

One year after treatment started, the results are exciting to the Parekhs and Dr. Oskarsson.

"This is something that is truly new, and one day we will get there for everyone," says Dr. Oskarsson. "And when that happens, there's nothing that compares. It's a beautiful thing."

Back home, Dr. Parekh reflects on how this treatment has changed his outlook. His 25 years working in healthcare did not prepare him for what it would be like to receive care, let alone a therapy that may benefit his children one day.

"Not only has it made an impact on our lives, but honestly, it's made an impact on the way I practice because I realize now what patients need beyond healthcare," says Dr. Parekh.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic's pioneering exploration of stem cell-based therapies for bone loss is headed to space. Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D., is medical director of Transfusion Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

He is leading research exploring how bone-forming stem cells behave in microgravity in hopes of developing novel treatments for diseases that cause bone loss, including osteoporosis. 

Dr. Zubair's research is one of several science experiments selected by NASA as part of the 33rd SpaceX Commercial Resupply Mission to the International Space Station.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket is targeted for 2:45 a.m. EDT, Sunday, Aug. 24, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

In addition to the science experiments, the Dragon spacecraft will deliver 5,000 pounds of supplies, including food and equipment to the crew at the orbital laboratory.

"For this project, our goal is to really understand how gravity affects bone formation and bone loss, particularly in relation to mesenchymal stem cells and other bone-forming cells," says Dr. Zubair.

"This is going to be significant because it will help us better understand the mechanisms of bone loss during vital times such as in menopausal women or people who are bedridden for extended amounts of time." 

Dr. Zubair believes the research also will provide hope for hundreds of millions of people worldwide affected by osteoporosis, the disease that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.

Dr. Zubair's research also is aimed at improving the health of astronauts. Astronauts lose measurable bone density while living in space.

Dr. Zubair's team has identified a protein in the body called IL-6 that can send signals to stem cells to promote bone formation or bone loss. Dr. Zubair's research will investigate whether a new compound can block IL-6 signals and reduce bone loss while in space. 

"If this compound we are testing is able to block the impact of microgravity to slow or stop bone loss, then we can find a treatment for the bone loss in space, and that might also give us a clue into how we may treat people on Earth," says Dr. Zubair.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Zubair has led the Stem Cell Laboratory on Mayo Clinic's Florida campus, developing safe, clinical-grade cell therapy products. His broader research focus aims to harness stem cells to treat degenerative diseases and engineer immune cells to enhance therapeutic outcomes and meet regulatory standards. 

Dr. Zubair's research could potentially advance treatments for brain injury, lung disease, stroke and neurological recovery, cancer, blood stem cell therapies, and epilepsy.

His newest research on bone loss will be his fourth space project selected by NASA at the space station. In recognition of his work, Dr. Zubair received an Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal from NASA.

From an early age in Nigeria, Dr. Zubair was captivated by space, spending countless hours gazing at the night sky and dreaming of becoming an astronaut. His work as a physician-scientist conducting research in space to improve humanity allows him the best of both worlds.

"I love it. It will be my fourth time attending a launch at the space center. I always get a thrill and wish I was on that rocket heading out," says Dr. Zubair. "It is an unbelievable experience."

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contacts:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
• Marty Velasco Hames, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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• Space: A new frontier for exploring stem cell therapy
• Blast off: Stem cells from Mayo Clinic physician’s lab launch into space

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For years, cancer researchers have been trying to halt a type of molecule that's involved in several cancers. The molecules — enzymes known as trypsins — split proteins that help tumors grow and spread.

Mayo Clinic cancer biologist Evette Radisky, Ph.D., previously found that one trypsin, called mesotrypsin, plays a role in breast, prostate, pancreatic and lung cancer. Like other enzymes, the molecule has an active site that kicks off reactions with other molecules. Researchers have tried to block the active site but haven’t found a molecule with a specific enough lock-and-key fit to jam the active region.

Recently, however, Dr. Radisky's lab at Mayo Clinic in Florida discovered a new way to block mesotrypsin. They found a "hidden pocket" in the molecule.

"The hidden pocket is separate from the active site, but we found that blocking it has a similar effect of locking the enzyme in an inactive state," says Dr. Radisky, principal investigator of the study that appeared in Science Advances. The team now is taking steps to discover drugs that fit the hidden pocket.

A mystery in the data

"It was a serendipitous finding," says the study’s lead author, Mathew Coban, of the pocket's discovery. As a research technologist in the Radisky lab and a master's degree student at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Coban had aimed to understand the structure of mesotrypsin through X-ray crystallography.

The complex technique, which records scattered X-rays as shadows, can describe the overall folds of amino acids in the enzyme and suggest complementary molecules that fit like a puzzle. While reviewing the X-ray crystallography results, Coban noticed a segment of the enzyme that looked out of place. The research team thought it might be an error in the data and set the results aside.

But Coban continued to wonder about the strange area. He had the idea to begin looking for alternate nooks in the mesotrypsin enzyme that could potentially contribute to a stable, non-active enzyme.

What Coban found was a site that was hidden. The team dubbed it a "cryptic pocket." The pocket, adjacent to the active site, opened at moments when mesotrypsin stabilized itself. The next step was clear. "If the pocket is there some of the time, maybe a drug would be able to bind at that site and trap the enzyme in its inactive state," he says.

Finding a drug that binds

The team worked with a colleague, Thomas Caulfield, Ph.D., a former Mayo researcher and drug discovery expert, to conduct a computational screen of potential drug compounds that might fit in the cryptic pocket. They found a single molecule that could bind in the cryptic pocket and inhibit the activity of mesotrypsin.

Importantly, the researchers note, the molecule blocks mesotrypsin selectively, without affecting other trypsins. This could mean less toxicity or fewer side effects for a patient. The finding also means that other cryptic pockets may exist in other trypsin molecules related to cancer, presenting new potential drug targets.  

The team is continuing to look for drug molecules that fit mesotrypsin even better. "Based on the structural information of mesotrypsin that we have now, we've been able to do more computational prediction to identify additional, more potent compounds that we’re now testing in the laboratory," says Dr. Radisky.

"This has been an important step in the understanding of this key enzyme. Our next steps will be to start testing how well our candidate drug molecules fit the cryptic pocket and block cancer invasion and metastasis in models of disease," she says.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program and Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility.  The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Dr. Shennen Mao, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon, says having a diverse pool of organ donors will help serve a growing wait list of those in need.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

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In the U.S., about 17 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant.

Nearly 60% of people on transplant waiting lists come from minority communities, while about 30% of donors are people of color.

"Blood types and certain HLA, or antibodies, tend to correlate with various ethnic groups," says Dr. Mao. "So it is not directly related to a particular minority group; however, organs will end up with someone of a similar background because the better matched an organ is, the more longevity that organ has."

Higher rates of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are present in minority communities, contributing to more organ failures.

"The more people we can help the sooner through transplant, the better," says Dr. Mao.

She says living donors do not experience a change in their quality of life after surgery, but a recipient's life can change for the better almost immediately.

"If somebody is approved to be a living donor, we expect they will live a full and normal life following their donation process," says Dr. Mao.

In most states, signing up to be a donor after death can be done online or when registering for a driver's license or identification card. For a living donation, contact the recipient's care team or a transplant center for more information.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic is ranked the No. 1 hospital in metro Jacksonville in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" 2025-2026 rankings. Mayo Clinic in Florida achieved significant gains in the publication's rankings, earning national recognition in 10 specialties and ranking as the top provider in six specialties within Florida.

"We are proud to once again be recognized as top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital in Florida by U.S. News & World Report," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida. "This recognition is a testament to our teams' unwavering commitment – day in and day out – to providing innovative, differentiated patient care of the highest quality."

Mayo Clinic in Florida ranked nationally among the top 50 hospitals in these 10 specialties; an asterisk indicates the ones in which it is top-ranked in Florida:

• Cancer
• Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery
• Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Ear, Nose and Throat
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery*
• Geriatrics*
• Neurology and Neurosurgery*
• Orthopedics*
• Pulmonology and Lung Surgery*
• Urology*

Mayo Clinic in Florida provides diagnosis, medical treatment, surgery and care for more than 175,000 patients each year in 50 specialty areas.

In 1986, Mayo Clinic brought its team approach to caring from Rochester, Minnesota, to the Southeast when it opened a clinic in Jacksonville. Today, the 602-acre campus offers a medical destination for patients who travel from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. Its Florida operation has more than 10,000 staff members.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.   

Media contact:

• Tia Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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For many cancer patients, treatment can be an isolating and overwhelming journey — marked by fear, fatigue and the constant burden of travel. But what if chemotherapy could be delivered at home? In this episode, we explore the movement to bring cancer care into the comfort of patients' homes. Could this shift not only ease the experience but also improve outcomes?

This week's episode of Tomorrow’s Cure features insights from Dr. Roxana Dronca, hematologist, oncologist and director of Mayo Clinic in Florida Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society. 

According to the American Cancer Society, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with cancer every 15 seconds. That staggering statistic drives the urgent push for more patient-centered, accessible care models. But what does that look like in practice?

For Dr. Dronca, this mission is personal — her daughter's cancer diagnosis revealed just how taxing traditional care can be. Out of that experience came a passionate commitment to transform how and where cancer care is delivered.

"I think cancer care, part of the scariness of it is how unknown it is, how unfamiliar it is in its approach," said Dr. Kamal. "But what if we could soften it by making components of it actually feel as normal as we can?"

Mayo Clinic's response: Cancer CARE (Connected Access and Remote Expertise) Beyond Walls, a new model offering expert care outside of hospital walls. The initiative minimizes travel and maximizes access by combining in-home services with a Mayo Clinic-based command center staffed by advanced practice providers, nurses and hospitalists. This team remotely coordinates care, ensuring seamless integration with each patient's medical history.

"I see that there is no choice every time I speak about Cancer CARE Beyond Walls," stated Dr. Dronca. 

In today's world, "Patients live longer, they need more treatments and we have more cancer diagnoses. We're really being outpaced in our ability to offer treatment to everyone in our physical spaces. So, we either think creatively and design a system where we can get care to more patients and also make the care more patient-friendly, or we build more chemotherapy units."

At-home cancer care isn't just a vision — it's happening now. Join us as we explore this transformative approach to care and what it means for the future of oncology. Listen to the latest episode of Tomorrow's Cure to learn more. 

Related Articles:

• Is home-based treatment the future of cancer care?
• Transforming cancer care with treatments at home 

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For most athletes, the road to the Olympics is paved with years of training and sacrifice. As professional tennis player Gaby Dabrowski was preparing for her 2024 season and a chance to play in the Summer Olympics, her journey took an unexpected detour. A diagnosis of breast cancer threatened her dream and her life.

What followed was a carefully coordinated plan at Mayo Clinic, designed not only to treat the cancer but also to preserve her ability to compete on the world stage.

Watch: Gaby Dabrowski's story

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"I started playing tennis when I was 7 years old," Gaby says. "Growing up, the Olympics were always on TV for two weeks in the summer, so it was always my dream to compete at the Olympics."

Heading into the 2024 season, Gaby was ready to realize her childhood dream. But when she found a lump on her breast, Gaby's focus went immediately to her health.

Dr. Jennifer Maynard, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician specializing in sports medicine, helped coordinate Gaby's care.

"We recommended a pretty urgent evaluation, as she was over 30, we wanted to get the mammogram and the ultrasound," says Dr. Maynard.

Those results were abnormal. A breast MRI followed, then a biopsy confirmed the lump was cancer.

"When I was diagnosed, I didn't know if I would be able to play tennis again," Gaby says.

"She knew her ultimate goal was to be an Olympian at the Paris Olympics, so we had to be innovative and think outside the box," says Dr. Maynard.

Gaby's care team had to consider how to treat her cancer in a way that avoided the muscles used in playing tennis.

In the spring of 2024, she underwent surgery, then targeted radiation. Treatment was successful, and Gaby was cancer-free.

"Even though I wasn't playing on court and playing the game that I love, it was like swapping in the care team as my partners," Gaby says.

As soon as her care team cleared her, Gaby resumed training. Her dedication paid off in Paris. Gaby and her doubles partner earned an Olympic bronze medal, living out a dream.

"When I was on the podium holding the medal, I really just felt full elation," Gaby says. "I didn't feel like it was just a win for me. I felt like it was a win for everyone: my best friends, my parents, my coaching team, my care team."

Gaby has continued to find success on the court in tournaments and off, as an advocate for personal health.

"I certainly have a newfound appreciation for playing a sport as my job, but at the same time, if you took it away from me right now, I'd be OK because I have my health, and that's the most important thing," Gaby says.

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Cancer, stroke, bone loss among diseases and conditions studied in microgravity

JACKSONVILLE, Florida — Mayo Clinic physician and researcher Dr. Abba Zubair’s work combines two passions — medicine and space — for the benefit of astronauts and people on Earth. His research in space is yielding discoveries in cancer, stroke, bone loss and more. In this expert alert, Dr. Zubair answers five questions about his studies in microgravity.

What are you hoping to accomplish through your research?

"The goal is to harness the uniqueness of the space environment for the betterment of humanity, be it on Earth or in space," Dr. Zubair says."We wanted to take advantage of the environment at the International Space Station to study how it affects human physiology."

The absence of gravity and the impacts of radiation and vacuum are three fundamental aspects of the uniqueness of space, adds Dr. Zubair, who has sent three research projects to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2017, with more to come.

As a regenerative biotherapeutics specialist, Dr. Zubair's work focuses in part on adult stem cells — known as mesenchymal stem cells —and their use in future treatments for stroke. He noted that he uses stem cells in regenerative medicine and in supporting Mayo's bone marrow transplant program.

"I also know how challenging it is to grow them in the lab. One of the first fundamentals is to see how the absence of gravity influences how stem cells divide and the growth rate," Dr. Zubair explains. "We wanted to see whether cells grown in space are any better or grow faster than cells grown in the lab. When we did our first space flight, we had a really interesting finding, because we realized that the absence of gravity affects stem cells, but it depends on the type of stem cells."  

That led Dr. Zubair to another project on the ISS: studying how mesenchymal stem cells, the precursor for bone-forming cells, play a role in bone formation or osteoporosis, bone loss. He notes that astronauts tend to lose bone density despite rigorous exercise. 

How might your research benefit people with cancer?

Dr. Zubair is also studying how leukemia stem cells, the cells that form the seed of this blood cancer, respond to the space environment.

"We are also working to understand the impact of space radiation, from the angle of how we can mitigate the effect of radiation and prevent cancer," Dr. Zubair says. "In the long run, we really want to protect astronauts, especially during long-term space travel, such as to Mars, where they would be deep in space and away from any magnetic field protection that we get from Earth."

The research also may benefit people on Earth by revealing how to protect stem cells or cells in general when there is radiation exposure, such as nuclear accidents, he adds.

In addition, Dr. Zubair's space research could have implications for CAR-T treatment, bone marrow transplants or other therapies for cancer patients.

"If we can understand how stem cells in space, especially hematopoietic stem cells (cells that live in the bone marrow and produce cells that function in the blood), expand and differentiate to make immune cells like T cells, microphages, we will learn how to make them more efficiently," Dr. Zubair says.

You've remarked that you can envision a time when people might go into space to receive certain medical treatments. How would that work, and might it be possible to simulate microgravity for those treatments on Earth?

If cells proliferate more in space, for example if cancer cells go into what is called cell cycle and multiply abnormally when they proliferate, then chemotherapy will be more effective, Dr. Zubair says.

"If that is the case, that absence of gravity can induce leukemia cells or other cancer cells to go into cell cycle, that makes them susceptible to chemotherapy," he explains. "So instead of giving the chemo on Earth, you might go into space where the absence of gravity makes the cancer cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy. That would be one more reason to go to space. That is definitely something that I would love to explore."

It would be difficult to create a comparable microgravity environment on Earth, but technically, it could be done, Dr. Zubair adds.

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"Microgravity on Earth is basically like going into a swimming pool, a state of buoyancy where you are kind of in suspension; the gravity is canceled out by the effect of the water," he says. "Now, obviously it wouldn't be pleasant to be in water for quite some time. In the lab, we use a microgravity simulator where cells are suspended. It would be interesting if you could do the same for a human being."

What attracted you to space research?

Dr. Zubair grew up in Kano, Nigeria, and remembers gazing at the night sky as a child.

"As far back as I can remember, I was always fascinated by what is out there in space. Looking at the moon and all the stars, and really that ignites my passion for space and space exploration," Dr. Zubair says.

Dr. Zubair's first dream was to become an astronaut, but an adviser in high school counseled him to find a more practical career, and he pursued medicine.

What's next?

One of Dr. Zubair's next two payloads to the International Space Station, not yet scheduled for launch, will examine whether umbilical cord blood cells, rich in stem cells and potential therapeutic value, can be expanded. Another study will explore different cell types that participate in bone formation and whether the problem of bone loss in space can be alleviated through use of a special compound. 

"If it works, then definitely we will see how we can treat patients with osteoporosis, particularly women, cancer patients, or people who are bedridden for a long time and are not weight-bearing, which affects their bone," Dr. Zubair says.

Dr. Zubair notes that all of his space experiments are done in parallel on Earth with identical cells to compare the two results and validate the findings from space.

 "I really think there is a lot out there that is just waiting for us to explore and use," he says. "And that's why I do what I do."

Dr. Zubair has been honored by NASA with the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for demonstrating that human-derived mesenchymal stem cells grown aboard the International Space Station could be used for potential clinical applications.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic announced today a landmark $50 million philanthropic gift from Gilchrist and Amy Berg of Ponte Vedra, Florida. This transformative contribution will accelerate global healthcare innovation through Mayo Clinic's Innovation Exchange, which will be renamed the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange in their honor.

Rooted in the Mayo Clinic Model of Care, the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange drives change by serving as a dynamic marketplace that connects global innovators with essential expertise, resources and opportunities at Mayo Clinic — streamlining solutions development and eliminating critical barriers to success.

"The Bergs have been champions of Mayo Clinic's Innovation Exchange since its earliest days through their gifts of time, thought leadership and financial support," says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "We are truly grateful for their remarkable generosity and commitment to bringing more innovations to patients."

Active participants since the exchange's inception in 2019, the Bergs have played a vital role in its development. Their commitment extends beyond financial support; they engage with leadership and contribute to shaping the exchange's strategic direction.

"To us, this is about more than financial support — it's about helping shape the future of healthcare innovation with an organization whose culture values excellence, compassion and discovery," says Gilchrist Berg. "When you work alongside Mayo Clinic's visionary leaders, you cannot help but feel energized about Mayo's abilities to lead on a global stage."

"We like to get involved with people who have the right values and character," says Amy Berg. "With Mayo Clinic, we know we're supporting an organization that places the patient at the heart of what it does."

The Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange fosters collaboration among a curated network of experts in artificial intelligence (AI), digital health, regulatory science, investment, product design and entrepreneurship. The program's innovators are currently working on advancements in diagnostics, digital tools, devices, research and therapeutics.

This generous gift will:

• Fuel research: Advance research leveraging emerging technologies to address critical patient needs.
• Foster knowledge: Provide mentorship, peer networking and educational opportunities.
• Accelerate collaboration: Enhance collaboration, identify synergies and expedite the development of innovative solutions.

"The Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange advances science by facilitating and enabling connections that otherwise would not be possible, a key component of Mayo Clinic's bold vision to transform healthcare," says Kent Thielen, M.D., CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida and vice president of Mayo Clinic. "Gilchrist and Amy Berg are strengthening the program's capacity to form partnerships that deliver faster, stronger solutions to complex medical challenges. We are incredibly grateful for the active partnership and support provided by the Bergs and excited about the impact the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange will have on the future of healthcare."

"Gilchrist and Amy recognize that innovation requires the right support to thrive," says Charles Bruce, M.B., Ch.B., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange and chief innovation officer of Mayo Clinic in Florida. "They have provided energy and vision. This gift is a remarkable legacy, ensuring the exchange's continued success."

Gilchrist Berg is the founder of Water Street Capital, a private investment firm. Amy Berg currently serves as chair of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville and president of the Berg Family Foundation.

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact: 

• Tia R. Ford, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Transformational $50 million gift to Mayo Clinic fuels global healthcare innovation appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Sue Baker started having issues with her heart in 2015. By 2019, she began experiencing heart failure. Living in Southeast Georgia, her condition landed her in the hospital seven times before the last visit led to her being transferred to Mayo Clinic in Florida, nearly 90 minutes away, critically ill.

"She was really sick — in cardiogenic shock, intubated, connected to a breathing machine — she was not going to make it," says Dr. Parag Patel, a Mayo Clinic transplant cardiologist. "She only had three to six months to live, and we needed to act fast."

Watch: Sue Baker's story

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Sue's situation had become dire. She was presented with two options: enter hospice care or have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implanted to serve as a bridge to a heart transplant. While she chose the LVAD to buy more time, by 2023 she was experiencing dangerous heart rhythms and other challenges.

Complicating matters, her body was producing more antibodies, making it increasingly difficult to find a suitable transplant donor.

"It was devastating to know that I'm actually going to die," says Sue. Still, she did not lose hope. "You just grab hold of God and keep praying," she says.

Sue's care team also remained determined to help her hold on. They explored an innovative approach — called Heart After Liver Transplant with a Domino Liver to another patient (HALT-D) — that had shown success in patients with similar antibody counts.

HALT-D, however, had never been attempted on someone with a heart pump like hers. This procedure would be a first for Mayo Clinic, at any of its transplant sites.

Although Sue's liver was healthy, she would need to get not just a heart transplant but also a donor liver to help remove the antibodies from her body and reduce the risk of her new heart being rejected. This meant a rare and complex domino transplant, involving both a liver and a heart, where Sue's liver would also become part of the donor chain.

"We take the liver of the patient who's receiving the heart after liver, and we take that liver and we put it into another recipient so that we do not waste an organ," says Patel.

Preparing for this complex procedure involved extensive multidisciplinary collaboration between a variety of Mayo Clinic departments. Sue spent months in the hospital, waiting for a match. During her wait, fellow patients and staff began calling her "mama" for the care and support she provided everyone else, despite her own challenges.

"We get to know each other and kind of help each other out," says Sue. "That was a lot of healing and helpfulness there."

"Sue not only helped people on the floor, but she's helped other patients who didn't have an opportunity" for transplant, says Patel.

Finally, in September 2024, the domino transplant was performed successfully.

Today, Sue is on the path to recovery, growing stronger each day. Her motivation to live is fueled by the desire to honor her donor, whose gift has given her a second chance at life.

"I would love to thank and meet the family," says Sue. "I'm not going to sit back and do nothing. That person will always be special."

Her story is a testament to the power of medical innovation, the dedication of healthcare professionals, and the resilience of the human spirit.

"I love her, and I appreciate the doctors and all the nurses that have been so loving and caring for Sue,” says Charlene Taylor, Sue's caretaker.

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