TIRR Foundation

TIRR Foundation Founded as a polio treatment center, TIRR evolved into an exemplary rehabilitation hospital following the discovery of the polio vaccine.

TIRR Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for people who have sustained neurological damage by supporting pioneering research programs and advancements in rehabilitative medicine, and educational programs. The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Foundation (TIRR Foundation) was created in 1987 to support one of Houston's first premier hospitals, The Institute for Rehabilitation an

d Research (TIRR). The hospitals extensive knowledge in the treatment for polio patients was the foundation for their transition to rehabilitative medicine, and specialty care for patients who had sustained catastrophic injuries involving neurological damage. TIRR Foundation's fundraising efforts ensured the hospital had the highly specialized programs and equipment, and the financial resources needed to support the complex medical needs unique to this special population of patients. TIRR Foundation's history is embedded with success in improving the medical care of neurologically injured patients, enhancing the quality of their lives and leading the scientific search for improved treatments and cures. In 2006, the relationship of the foundation and the hospital assumed a new and exciting course. The patient care operations of TIRR and Memorial Health Care Systems merged uniting their extensive experience and resources to further enhance patient care. As an independent foundation, TIRR Foundation continued its impressive course towards improving the lives of those with physical disabilities and expediting the search for improved treatments and cures for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and stroke. Today, TIRR Foundation impacts the lives of those with physical disabilities through a number of initiatives and projects. TIRR Foundation founded, directs and funds Mission Connect, a collaborative research project focused on the discovery of treatments and cures for central nervous system damage caused by brain injuries and stroke, and paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. The foundation continues to support summer camps and sports teams for wheel chair dependant children. The foundation's early dedication to improving patient care continues as does the goal to ensure neurologically injured patients receive the highest level of care and greatest opportunity for recovery.

Mark your calendar for the TEE IT UP with TIRR Golf Tournament on September 21,2026, at BraeBurn Country Club! This year...
04/28/2026

Mark your calendar for the TEE IT UP with TIRR Golf Tournament on September 21,2026, at BraeBurn Country Club! This year, we are proud to honor Vince Ford. Link in the comments!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!Moran Camp Xtreme kicked off its 2026 camp season this past weekend with a Mardi Gras-them...
04/21/2026

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Moran Camp Xtreme kicked off its 2026 camp season this past weekend with a Mardi Gras-themed Spring Break Camp, and what a weekend it was!

Campers enjoyed wheelchair lacrosse, wheelchair basketball, high ropes, horseback riding, archery, and even cooking activities — all while building confidence, friendships, and lasting memories.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this amazing start to the season. We already can’t wait for Summer Camp, June 13–19, at Camp for All!

We’re proud to celebrate the next generation of neurotrauma researchers!TIRR Foundation is pleased to announce the first...
04/15/2026

We’re proud to celebrate the next generation of neurotrauma researchers!

TIRR Foundation is pleased to announce the first round of 2026 Travel Award recipients—each
receiving a $1,000 award through Mission Connect’s Dr. Raymond J. Grill Excellence Through
Mentoring Program.

These awards support early-career scientists as they present their research, expand their
professional networks, and advance discoveries in brain and spinal cord injury.

Congratulations to our awardees:

Anjali Agrawal (TAMU, Dr. Jennifer Dulin)
International Symposium on Neural Regeneration (July 19–23, 2026)
Exploring how neural progenitor cell graft composition can improve recovery after spinal cord
injury.

Akram Esfandani (TAMU, Dr. Jennifer Dulin)
National Neurotrauma Society Symposium (June 14–17, 2026)
Investigating neuroimmune mechanisms of male infertility following spinal cord injury.

Kathy Guerra (UTHealth, Dr. Alexis Bavencoffe)
U.S. Association for the Study of Pain (March 23–26, 2026)
Studying a promising target for chronic pain after spinal cord injury.

Goknur Kara (HMRI, Dr. Sonia Villapol)
National Neurotrauma Society Symposium (June 14–17, 2026)
Reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid pathology after traumatic brain injury.

Elias Muguerza (UTSA, Dr. Chia Hsu)
UT System Trauma Research Symposium (Feb 17–18, 2026)
Examining immune pathways that drive sepsis severity across age and s*x.

Claire Shackleton (UTHealth, Dr. Argy Stampas)
American Spinal Injury Association (April 24–26, 2026)
Addressing barriers to gynecological care for women with spinal cord injury.

These talented researchers represent the future of neurotrauma science—and we are proud
to support their journey.

Exciting News from TIRR Foundation!TIRR Foundation is proud to announce that we are once again partnering with Texas A&M...
03/15/2026

Exciting News from TIRR Foundation!

TIRR Foundation is proud to announce that we are once again partnering with Texas A&M University to advance spinal cord injury (SCI) research within the Texas A&M Institute for Neurology (TAMIN).

Through Mission Connect, TIRR Foundation is investing $2,040,000 to expand the SCI research core originally established in 2016 with a $1.5 million grant from TIRR Foundation. Just as they did in 2016, Texas A&M University has matched this investment, demonstrating a powerful shared commitment to advancing discoveries in neurotrauma science.

This investment will support:

Recruitment of new faculty researchers • Laboratory development and equipment acquisition • Training for graduate students and research personnel • Interdisciplinary collaboration across departments • Technology transfer and research promotion to help move discoveries from the lab to patient care

Together, we are working to accelerate scientific discovery and improve outcomes for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.

We are grateful for Texas A&M’s partnership and look forward to the innovations and breakthroughs that will emerge from this growing center of excellence in neurotrauma research.

Every successful scientist has a story and valuable lessons learned along the way.TIRR Foundation extends its sincere th...
03/13/2026

Every successful scientist has a story and valuable lessons learned along the way.

TIRR Foundation extends its sincere thanks to Sandra Garraway, PhD, for her engaging presentation on February 27, 2026, at Texas A&M University through Mission Connect’s Dr. Raymond J. Grill Excellence Through Mentoring Program.

Her presentation, “I Wish I Knew This Then,” drew on more than 30 years of experience as a scientist, offering candid insights into her journey to becoming a principal investigator and the professional challenges she encountered along the way. Her reflections provided valuable guidance and encouragement to early-career researchers navigating their own paths in science.

Dr. Garraway is an Associate Professor of Cell Biology at the Emory University School of Medicine and a proud Texas A&M alumna, having completed her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Jim Grau.

We are grateful for Dr. Garraway’s time, wisdom, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Caleb J. Bashor, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering...
03/13/2026

We would like to extend a big thank you to Caleb J. Bashor, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering and the Department of Biosciences at Rice University, for his presentation on “Using Synthetic Biology Approaches to Enhance the Safety and Efficacy of Cell-Based Therapy” at our March Mission Connect meeting.

We appreciate Dr. Bashor for sharing his knowledge and research with our members and for being a part of Mission Connect.

Mission Connect welcomes Matthew Lin, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School and a...
03/12/2026

Mission Connect welcomes Matthew Lin, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School and attending physician at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

Dr. Lin earned his MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed a brain injury medicine fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. Board-certified in PM&R and brain injury medicine, his clinical interests include traumatic brain injury, stroke, and anoxic brain injury.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Lin!

Mission Connect is excited to welcome our new member, Matthew P. DeBerge, PhD, who is an Assistant Professor in the Depa...
03/11/2026

Mission Connect is excited to welcome our new member, Matthew P. DeBerge, PhD, who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine at UTHealth Houston, McGovern Medical School. Dr. DeBerge's primary research interest focuses on the physiology of inflammatory responses and how their regulation, or dysregulation, contributes to homeostasis or disease.

As an immunologist, Dr. DeBerge has studied a range of topics, including the role of T cells in lung injury during respiratory viral infections and the role of macrophages in tissue repair following cardiac injury. His current research aims to understand how cardiovascular disease can trigger innate and adaptive immune responses, ultimately leading to neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction.

We are thrilled to have Dr. DeBerge join our team!

🧠 March is Brain Injury Awareness MonthA brain injury can affect anyone, at any time and its impact can last a lifetime....
03/05/2026

🧠 March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

A brain injury can affect anyone, at any time and its impact can last a lifetime. This month, we’re raising awareness about brain injuries and honoring the strength of survivors, caregivers, and medical professionals who work tirelessly to support recovery.

At TIRR Foundation, our mission is to advance rehabilitation, provide resources to patients and families, and support groundbreaking research that improves outcomes for people living with brain injuries.

You can help make a difference by:
• Learning more about brain injury prevention and recovery
• Sharing educational resources with your community
• Supporting organizations dedicated to rehabilitation and research

Together, we can increase awareness, expand support, and improve lives.

Mission Connect extends its sincere thanks to Seoung Hoon Park, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance...
02/20/2026

Mission Connect extends its sincere thanks to Seoung Hoon Park, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston, for his presentation, "Restoring Post-Stroke Locomotion: From Biomechanical Modulation to Neural Stimulation and Towards Their Synergy."

We are grateful to Dr. Park for sharing his expertise and innovative research and for contributing to an informative and thought-provoking discussion with our Mission Connect members.

On Tuesday, February 10, the TIRR Family Executive Committee held its first meeting of 2026. Dr. Alexis Bavencoffe, Assi...
02/18/2026

On Tuesday, February 10, the TIRR Family Executive Committee held its first meeting of 2026. Dr. Alexis Bavencoffe, Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology at UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School, served as the guest speaker. He presented his research, “Targeting the MIF Signaling to Alleviate Chronic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury.” The committee was highly engaged and intrigued by his presentation and expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to learn about his important work.

We thank Dr. Bavencoffe for sharing his research and look forward to hearing more as his work continues to advance.

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3355 West Alabama, Ste 950
Houston, TX
77098

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