05/08/2026
We are to be the first health system in the country to take part in the groundbreaking REMIND Alzheimer's study!
The health system’s participation in the first-of-its-kind surgical trial reflects its commitment to research and innovation.
This is the first study to use a robotic-enabled microsurgical system to treat Alzheimer’s. The surgical platform received approval for soft tissue manipulation to perform microsurgery from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024. The study received FDA approval under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) in late 2025.
“This robotic surgical procedure may reshape the way we approach neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s,” said neurosurgeon Ricardo Hanel, MD, PhD, the co-medical director of the Baptist Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center and principal investigator of the study at Baptist Health. “It’s exciting to be part of this landmark study and potentially offer hope to patients and families living with this condition.”
An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older, or around 1 in 9, have Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common form of dementia, affecting memory, thinking and behavior. Florida has one of the highest rates in the country, with 12.5% of its residents in the 65 and older age bracket living with the neurological condition.
“We’ve seen the impact this innovative technology can have in breast reconstructive and lymphatic surgery, and I’m proud to be involved in pioneering its use in a whole new area, which could open the door to more possibilities for patients with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Michael DeFazio, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Florida Plastic Surgery Group who performed the procedure with Dr. Hanel at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville.
Read more about this groundbreaking study in the comments below. 🧠
