BRAINUP - Key Persons

Bakhtiar Yamini, MD, specializes in neuro-oncology, and he is an expert in minimally invasive neurosurgery for children and adults. This includes using sophisticated stereotactic techniques that allow for three-dimensional surgical planning. Dr. Yamini coordinates comprehensive surgical care for patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors, including the use of minimally invasive procedures such as stereotactic biopsy, laser ablation, and the latest image-guided techniques for maximal resection of deep-seated tumors. He also has a strong interest in vascular neurosurgery and spine surgery. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Yamini conducts medical research. His National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research focuses on examination of the mechanisms by which brain tumors resist treatment and the development of novel approaches to improve their management, including the use of biodegradable nanoparticle vectors. His current investigations explore cellular DNA damage response and the treatment of malignant brain tumors in children and adults. Additionally, Dr. Yamini has interests in intracranial and skull-base endoscopy research. As an active scholar, he has published articles and book chapters on current research topics, including brain/spinal tumors and craniosynostosis - a congenital defect, which causes abnormalities in skull and brain development. Dr. Yamini's research has also received research funding from the American Cancer Society and the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Betty Kim is a practicing neurosurgeon specializing in brain tumor surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Kim's laboratory takes a multidisciplinary approach to the research of solid tumors with a specific focus on malignant primary and metastatic brain tumors. Her work has been published in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Biomedical Engineering, Nature Reviews Immunology and Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. Dr. Kim's lab is interested in understanding the molecular cross-talk that occurs between tumor and stromal cells within the tumor immune-microenvironment, while also developing multiple patented therapeutic strategies to inhibit tumorigenesis. Her current research primarily focuses on finding new ways to promote immune recognition of glioma cells to boost the efficacies of cancer immunotherapies.

Originally from Frankfort, Illinois, Dana grew up with her best friend Olivia Kresach. Since Olivia passed away from a glioblastoma at the age of 22, Dana has been passionate about fundraising to find a cure. Currently, Dana lives in Boulder, Colorado, where she works as the Assistant Sports Dietitian for the University of Colorado Boulder Athletics Department. She completed her Bachelors degree in Nutrition & Dietetics at the University of Vermont, and continued her education completing her Dietetic Internship at Central Washington University and her Masters in Dietetics & Nutrition through the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Joining Northwell Health in 2017, Deborah B. Gruber, MD brings with her over 15 years of experience in the field of neuro-oncology. Dr. Gruber

I am Dr. Ray Probasco, a United Methodist pastor for the past 45 years. I have served congregations in Indiana during that time, studied for and received my doctorate in Church Growth and pioneered and developed several mission projects around the world. However the opportunities I have had to work with doctors, patients and families who are suffering from the ravages of serious and/or terminal illnesses are the ministries that speak to the need I feel to work with families suffering from catastrophic illness. Ryan White, a young boy who died of AIDS, in 1990, was my friend and parishioner and together we worked to help educate the world about the humanity of AIDS. This disease is now survivable. Olivia Kresach was a member of our family. Her spirit and contribution will continue through the work BRAIN UP and we do to eradicate this disease. We intend to be successful. I am honored to be a part of the Board of Directors for BRAIN UP.

Job Titles:

• Division Director for Neuro - Oncology

Dr. Ryan Merrell joined the Vanderbilt faculty as division director for Neuro-Oncology in 2021. He earned is BS in chemistry from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He completed his medical degree from the University of Alabama in 2005. Dr. Merrell completed his residency in neurology from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in 2009 followed by fellowship in neuro-oncology at the Massachusetts Cancer Center/Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 2010. He served at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago for eleven years. During that time, he was director of Neuro-Oncology for nine years. While there, he ran numerous clinical trials for patients with brain tumors.

Job Titles:

• Owner of the Jeffrey LaMorte Salon

Jeffrey LaMorte is the owner of the Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Day Spa's since 1994. Jeffrey owns salons in Frankfort, Orland Park and Lemont Illinois; recently Jeffrey's work has been featured in leading industry magazines and trade forums. Jeffrey has also been recognized by industry professionals as a business advisor and salon market leader. Jeffrey believes in giving back and has been involved in charity work for over 25 years including hosting Cut-a-thons, fashion shows, awareness program and even traveling to Haiti to support and participate in relief work in this country. Jeffrey also has hosted 2 cut-a-thons to support brain cancer awareness with the Kresach's and through these efforts and has raised and donated over $10,000.00.

Dr. John de Groot is a neuro-oncologist who specializes in diagnosing and managing the care of patients with primary brain and spine tumors (those at the site where disease began, as compared with tumors that result from the disease spreading). De Groot has brought new therapies from the laboratory into the clinic to treat patients with brain cancer. In particular, he has contributed to the development of glioblastoma treatments. He has a special interest in using blood analyses, imaging studies and other indirect biomarkers (measurable elements that may indicate disease) to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapies. In one study, he is looking at ways to overcome physiological limitations in drug delivery to brain tumors, such as through focused ultrasound. He regularly advises and collaborates with other researchers on promising therapies under development. De Groot earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed a residency in neurology at Johns Hopkins University and a fellowship in neuro-oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director for the Kenilworth Park District

John Kiwala is an Executive Director for the Kenilworth Park District. He hails from the great Southern Illinois University where he received his Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration. John's most significant accomplishment professionally was working on a successful tax referendum for the purpose of taking over a nationally historic community center. During his tenure, his Park District has increased offerings by 777% over three years. John and Ashlyn Kiwala were married on August 3, 2012. In December of 2014 and after being married for a little over a year, Ashlyn was diagnosed with brain cancer. Ashlyn was the first recipient of the BrainUp Bravery award for strongly progressing through 5 surgeries, countless Chemo and Radiation treatments, and fighting through countless whole-body seizures always with determination and a kind smile. During Ashlyn's fight, John vowed to explore every possibility and resource. They traveled all over the United States to all of the best hospitals with the best doctors. However, it was the work of Dr. Julian Bailes and Dr. Ryan Merrell at Northshore University Medical in Evanston that gave Ashlyn time to spend with her family. Since Ashlyns Passing on March 18, 2018, John has been blessed to have a family at BrainUp and loves volunteering his time to help others who are going through a similar journey. He is dedicated to finding a cure for this terrible disease.

Job Titles:

• Associate Professor University of Illinois at ChicagoDepartment of Neurology and Rehabilitation
• Service Director of Neuro - Oncology

Dr. Nicholas currently serves as the Service Director of Neuro-oncology in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation at UIC. He is board certified in both neurology and neuro-oncology. He works as a member of a multidisciplinary team to provide expert care to people living with brain tumors and to those experiencing neurological side effects of cancer treatment. He also oversees a number of clinical trials in an effort to improve the lives of those he serves.

Laurie Ann McAndrews has been a member of, and participated in spirit with, the UIC Brainstormers Team, at the annual Brain Up 5K run/walk. For years, Laurie has worked to help fund a cure for cancer, but since her own diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme, she had been searching for hope that a cure for brain cancer was on the horizon From February of 2015 until February of 2018, Laurie bravely fought to live a life that was not defined by GBM. With treatment from her dedicated medical teams, and support from her devoted family, friends, love-of-her-life, and faithful dogs, Laurie faced each new day and challenge with the attitude of "what's next?" Laurie's treatment included surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and Optune, and extended from Rush to UIC. Therefore, Laurie especially appreciated the collaboration inherent in the research mission of Brain Up.

Lorenzo F. Muñoz, MD, an experienced board-certified neurosurgeon based at Rush University Medical Center, has a strong practice emphasis on intracranial microsurgery and radiosurgery. He has particular interests on adult and pediatric complex brain tumors (brain metastases, gliomas, pituitary, skull base, etc.) as well as cerebrovascular disease (aneurysms, cavernous malformation and arteriovenous malformations). He is also very active in the treatment of other conditions like Chiari I malformation, trigeminal neuralgia, and hemifacial spasms.

Michael Reilly is a former swimmer with a BS in Finance from UIC and currently working as a Pricing Analyst for Newly Weds Foods. BrainUp is an organization close to Michael's heart as he knew both Olivia from high school and his Aunt Kathy passed away in June 2017 from a Brain Tumor. Seeing the affects of the disease all around him, Michael knew that the one thing he wanted to see happen in his lifetime was finding a cure to beat brain cancer so no one else would ever have to go through what his Aunt Kathy, Olivia, and countless others have had to endure. Being a part of the Young Professionals Board is an honor as it combines Michael's passion for finding a cure with his interest in numbers. He can not wait to see all the things that this organization will accomplish in the upcoming years.

Paul has been actively involved with BrainUp and has been key in expanding the organization's digital fundraising efforts. As part of this growth, Paul created the BrainUp Young Professionals Board and served as President to the under 30 board until 2022 when he joined BrainUp's Board of Directors. Currently, Paul is a Security Consultant for Accenture and has worked in the cyber security field for the last 10 years.