Jim and Rebecca Morgan

An aneurysm – the dilation of a blood vessel caused by a weakening in the vessel wall – can strike anyone at any time. To date, no methods exist for predicting who will develop an aneurysm nor can they be prevented. Similarly, aneurysms may rupture – a potentially life-threatening event – but no one can predict which ones will or when.

An estimated 1 in 50 people in the United States has an unruptured aneurysm in their brain, the most common location. Rebecca Morgan sought treatment from Michael Lawton, MD, a specialist at UCSF, after it was discovered that she had developed two.

Lawton and his team are collaborating with a UCSF radiology group to try to better understand how these changes in blood vessel walls affect blood flow in the hope of discovering more effective ways to predict and treat aneurysms before they rupture.

Working with Lawton inspired Morgan and her husband to make two consecutive $50,000 gifts to his research through their Morgan Charitable Foundation. Extremely pleased with the care she received at UCSF, Morgan wanted to aid Lawton in his pursuit of solving the mystery behind these potentially lethal afflictions.

She stresses, "A lot of people think that if they're going to fund medical research, they're going to have to give millions. I think it's important for them to know – especially in light of today's economic issues and the financial difficulties at UC in general – that very important research is being bolstered for much less than that."

"Their kind gifts have enabled me to transition from an NIH-funded study to my current focus on the relationship between changes in aneurysm wall tissues, blood flow and rupture," says Lawton. "Without their support, my lab could not have continued to move forward to this exciting area of research."

To learn more about the neurological surgery department at UCSF, contact Jeff Hauk at 415/502-6198 or JHauk@support.ucsf.edu.