PHOENIX, Ariz. – August 17, 2026 – Barrow Neurological Foundation concluded its 2026 fiscal year (July 2025–June 2026), raising $28.7 million in gifts from more than 3,000 generous donors. This includes $11.4 million raised through the efforts of the Women’s Board of Barrow Neurological Foundation for the 61st Barrow Grand Ball. Following a 20-year tradition, the group was proud to select the Ivy Brain Tumor Center as the 2026 Women’s Board Project. Led by Nader Sanai, MD, the Ivy Center was founded with a singular goal: to discover new treatments for glioblastoma and other incurable brain tumors. An impressive $5.1 million was raised specifically through the 2026 Ball to help advance this critical work.
Also included in this total was a generous $1 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support the recruitment of research and data science experts for the Barrow Mindgenuity Labs℠. This pioneering initiative will push scientific boundaries to understand how the brain functions as the mind, with the potential to lead to new treatments and devices that can transform neurological care.
The Foundation’s 2026 fiscal year was marked by incredible support from our philanthropic community partners. This includes the Arizona Cardinals Foundation and the Cardinals Climb supporting a transitional care platform for intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers and Hensley Beverage Company supporting Brain Tumor Awareness Month, and the Arizona Diamondbacks hosting a special Brain Tumor Awareness Day game. Third-party events benefiting the Foundation, such as the Annual Bryan Lester Charity Golf Tournament and the “Because of B” Walk, highlighted the powerful impact of grateful patients and families.
“As we reflect on a remarkable 2026 fiscal year, I am deeply moved by the extraordinary generosity of our donors. Whether it’s the Women’s Board’s steadfast commitment to advancing innovative neuroscience research, the vital support from thousands of individuals who have been touched by Barrow, or the thoughtful donors who created a lasting legacy through estate gifts, it takes a passionate community to achieve breakthroughs in neuroscience. Together, we are providing hope to patients and families when it matters,” said Michele S. Gregory, MS, President of Barrow Neurological Foundation.
During fiscal year 2026, the Foundation transferred $19.1 million to Barrow Neurological Institute to support community outreach, education, endowments, and research, including 23 new projects selected through a competitive review process. Highlights from these projects include:
- Barrow Aneurysm & AVM Research Center: Studying the impact of increased levels of microplastics in the brain on stroke outcomes.
- Epilepsy Center: Mapping brain network dynamics in epilepsy patients to define pathways involved in seizure onset and to inform surgical interventions.
- Neuro Analytics Center: Using U.S. Medicare and environmental data (temperature and air pollution) to identify associations between climate factors and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Neurocritical Care: Investigating how a certain pathway in the brain correlates with the extent of injury experienced in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Neuroscience Nursing: Developing a virtual reality platform for nurses to learn and practice conducting comprehensive neurological assessments.
- Sonntag Spine Center: Creating novel models to define changes in spinal balance and to predict potential risks associated with spine surgery.
“At Barrow Neurological Institute, our success is defined not only by the complexity of our cases, but also by our relentless pursuit of discoveries that will change the future of medicine. Support from Barrow Neurological Foundation and our community of donors enables us to tackle the most urgent challenges in neuroscience while pursuing our lofty vision of understanding the inner workings of the mind,” said Michael T. Lawton, MD, President and CEO of Barrow Neurological Institute.
Following a successful 2026 fiscal year, the Foundation remains focused on supporting novel ideas and research, inspiring and educating future generations of neuroscience leaders, and ensuring Barrow Neurological Institute can continue to provide hope to patients and their families.
