An Important Message From CEO & President Dr. Magali Haas
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This quarter, I am reminded of the power of connectivity. Not in our lifetimes has the simple act of connecting in person been so daunting.
Now that most of the country has opened, we are beginning to fill this void and return to a sense of normalcy. But we have gained a new appreciation of the power of connectivity. Our CVB team and Board were fortunate to have recently convened in person in our New York City headquarters. Invigorating it was!
Connectivity also reminds us of synergy and what we could achieve when we mobilize our teams and connect as one to make progress and move the brain health field forward. We must continue to partner with like players and influencers across the space for more efficient and effective research allocation and to eliminate overlap and the gaps.
Collectively, we were already dedicated to mental health before the pandemic. We will continue to drive these efforts as mental health support and research are now ever-increasing as a need post-pandemic.
Our upcoming Brain Health Nexus Summit slated for October is one way, together, we will galvanize and rally the field to action. The event reflects CVB’s mission to break down the silos in the research community and promote the sharing of data, innovation, capabilities, capital, and other resources essential to making progress.
Achieving connectivity is also an outcome and byproduct of our interactions with the Veteran community. We were elated to connect this quarter in person in Idaho with a few of our VAC partners at 22 Jumps where Marine Veteran Tristan Wimmer and other Veteran advocates base jumped from the Perrine Memorial Bridge. The event was held in honor of the 22 Veterans who lose their battle to suicide each day, raising more than $38,000.
It was a joyous reunion but a painful reminder of the enormity of our mission and what’s at stake. For our Veterans, there's been too much talk over the years and not enough action to effect real change.
There has been a lack of connectedness and not enough support at home for our heroes. The so-called “invisible wounds of war” are not so invisible: they are right in front of us. The high rates of suicide, substance abuse, homelessness, and other maladies gripping our nation’s military families are the byproducts of our failure to diagnose and treat TBI and PTSD effectively.
We must continue to invest in novel translational research to combat the invisible wounds of war and advance the field by treating these risk factors for suicide ideation.
As we wrap up June/PTSD Awareness Month, we reflect on the last 16 months, which further strengthens our mission and resolve to move the field forward and take action.
We know what’s possible when the science community, industry, and policymakers come together against a common enemy. In the case of Covid-19, this was getting to the vaccines in record time. We should be able to replicate this success to advance brain health, and we will.
We hope you find this issue of the newsletter enlightening. Thank you for your support of CVB and for continuing to make a difference for the millions of people worldwide living with brain disorders and their families.
Magali Haas, MD, PhD
CEO & President
Cohen Veterans Bioscience
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