In 2006, Dr. Hope Northrup founded the University of Texas (UT) Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Center of Excellence, one of just 20 clinics in the country devoted to the treatment of TSC and research to improve care of affected individuals. Dr. Northrup co-directs the center with Dr. Mary Kay Koenig who joined Dr. Northrup in the summer of 2007. Dr. Northrup is a Medical Geneticist and Dr. Koeni
g is a Neurologist, each providing complementary skills essential to the Center's success. In August 2007, Dr. Northrup received funding from the TSC Alliance to begin participating in the TSC Natural History Database Project. This database serves as a resource of information to researchers from all over the world who are seeking information regarding how TSC affects a person at different times in their life. A total of 1455 individuals have been enrolled nationally with 75 of those patients enrolled through the UT TSC Center. The availability of healthcare professionals with expertise and dedicated knowledge regarding the current guidelines for surveillance and management of TSC is critical to the care of an individual with this disease. As the largest state in the continental United States and the 2nd most populous, Texas has roughly 5000 residents living with TSC. The UT Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Center of Excellence is the only TSC clinic in Texas offering comprehensive care to both pediatric and adult patients. Our center has a dedicated team of 19 physicians, each with the expertise to recognize and treat these complicated patients. Our multidisciplinary team includes specialists in both pediatric and adult medicine including: genetics, neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, epilepsy, dermatology, nephrology, cardiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, pulmonology, and interventional radiology. We also have a full-time nursing coordinator. The Center is a collaborative effort between Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Memorial Hermann Hospital, and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Our partnership with Memorial Hermann offers our patients state of the art testing facilities and world-renowned inpatient care. This collaboration, along with our dedicated team of physicians and staff, is the driving force making our center a success. The UT TSC Center of Excellence clinic is located in the UT Professional Building and is held twice a month. All physicians are housed in this clinic and, for the convenience of patients and their families, every effort is make to coordinate appointments among physicians in the center.
