Progress

20 Years of Progress and HOPE

Twenty years is a long time – times of sorrow, uncertainty, longing for what might have been. But also times of joy and most importantly HOPE. For nearly 20 years the Tommy Fuss Team and the Fuss Family have been raising awareness and removing the stigmas associated with mental illness and suicide. The foundation established in Tommy's memory has focused on the science – a precision medicine approach to mental health, emphasizing early identification through genetic and biological markers in hopes of early diagnoses and novel treatments.

Over the past 20 years there have been significant advances in the science of understanding and treating mental illness. The first three mosaic images below are a metaphor for the evolution of the scientific advances to date. The final mosaic represents our HOPE for the future.

20 years ago, diagnosing and treating Tommy was more of an art than a science. Trial and error if you will. We were attempting to manage symptoms. We lacked tools to provide a clear picture.

Over a decade ago, advances in technology, including accessibility to fMRIs, and a greater understanding of genetics and the human genome began to significantly advance our knowledge. A clearer picture was emerging.

Today, with accelerating advances in technology, AI and the integration of large scale data, we continue to broaden our understanding of the biology and structure of the brain, genetics, and for identifying biomarkers. All of which brings us closer to understanding the diseases of the brain, with the possibility of earlier diagnoses and targeted treatments. The picture is becoming clearer.

But we cannot, we must not stop here. We need personalized, targeted therapies translating into clinical applications. The goal is to accurately diagnose, treat these diseases and ultimately find cures. This will take research dollars and a continued flow of individuals dedicating their life’s work to the scientific process, working in collaboration with one another. We pray this is within our reach, perhaps not in my lifetime, but in that of my grandchildren.