Transformational Investment from Sammons Enterprises Revolutionizes Brain Health Research

The Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas recently received the largest single corporate gift in the center’s 22-year history from Sammons Enterprises Inc. The multiyear gift will advance work to identify neural indicators of brain health by enhancing the center’s ability to pioneer, test and deliver novel metrics that assess gains in brain health and performance. 

In recognition of Sammons’ investment, the Center for BrainHealth’s state-of-the-art imaging center has been named the Sammons BrainHealth Imaging Center. This facility houses two 3-tesla MRI scanners, which are considered the gold standard for brain research. Sammons’ gift provides critical resources needed to fund the center’s intellectual capital while promoting the discovery and dissemination of innovative imaging techniques, big data analytics and data visualization. These advancements will help drive new directions of inquiry and develop protocols that advance breakthroughs across the field. 

“The men and women of Sammons Enterprises are pleased to support the leading-edge, science-backed work of the Center for BrainHealth, whose team is showing the world how to shift focus from problem identification to opportunity capitalization that will lead to healthier outcomes, better quality of life and strong societal benefits,” said Heather Kreager, CEO of Sammons Enterprises. 

Headquartered in Dallas, Sammons Enterprises is a diverse holding corporation that owns and operates companies in the financial services, industrial equipment and services, real estate and infrastructure sectors. 

The company’s gift will fuel three key areas of work at the Center for BrainHealth: brain physiology, neuroinformatics and data visualization. These areas will open a window to view and assess working brain systems, judge the efficacy and effects of therapeutics and cognitive therapies, leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence to personalize brain health care and create a visual interface to allow individuals to see the increased brain performance over time. 

Information from these three areas will be utilized to develop predictive modeling for prevention and early detection, and to trigger proactive capacity-building interventions. 

“The pandemic has brought brain-related challenges into stark reality, creating a global brain health crisis as never before witnessed,” said Sandra Bond Chapman PhD’86, chief director of the Center for BrainHealth and the Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair in BrainHealth. “We must act boldly and urgently, not only to create awareness, but also to provide ready access to proven, proactive steps to benefit people from all walks of life. This timely investment will help us achieve bold milestones in record time so that every woman, man and child can begin to realize their fuller brain potential.”