Bleser Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and Hyperbaric Medicine Director of Hyperbaric Medicine Division of Pediatric Neurology
Specialty: Pediatric Neurology
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Dr. Whelan is Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Hyperbaric Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has over ten years of experience conducting research on the use of new light technologies in the treatment of cancer and wounds. He is also Principal Investigator on the only FDA approved treatment protocol for Photodynamic Therapy of childhood cancer. His use of NASA space-based LED technology to activate cancer killing drugs has now extended further into direct effects of near infrared LED light on human growth stimulation. Potential benefits to space station astronauts and special operations forces include preventing muscle atrophy and healing wounds, including visual and neurologic wounds.
Dr. Whelan is also a Naval Reserve Diving Medical Officer, holding the rank of Captain, with clinical and research experience in Hyperbaric Medicine, wound care and combat casualty care. He has over 80 publications, including cancer, laser, LED and diving/hyperbaric studies. He is also principal investigator for the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) "Persistence in Combat" program at MCW, and serves in an endowed professorship funded by the Bleser Foundation.
NIH Whelan (PI) 2006-2008 Grant #: 1R21AT003002-01A1 Title: NIR-LED Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
NASA Project NASA/Quantum Devices $244,500 2002-2004 Title: NASA Light-Emitting Diodes as countermeasure for pituitary/neuroendocrine effects of space flight This study focuses on LED photobiomodulation of mitochondrial processes as a countermeasure for the harmful effects of long-term exposure to microgravity during space flight
DARPA Project #N66001-01-1-8969 #N66001-03-1-8906 2001-2006 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) $383,900=Budget for first year(w/renewals) $600,000=Budget for second year(w/renewals) Title: LED Treatment,Healing, Post Retinal Laser Injury This study focuses on elucidating basic molecular mechanisms of near-IR LED treatment for mitochondrial photobiomodulation
DARPA $367,524 2002-2004 Title: LED Treatment, Healing, Post Corneal Laser Injury This study focuses on field testing of LED equipment for Combat Casualty Care $874,997 2004-2006 Photobiomodulation for Traetment of Acute Traumatic Neurological Injury with LED
Chad Baumann Research Fund – Research Endowment $1,000,000 as eternal endowed trust for Dr. Whelan to provide ~$100,000/yr (indexed for inflation)
Bleser Foundation – Endowed Professorship $1,000,000 as eternal endowed trust for Dr. Whelan to provide ~$100,000/yr (indexed for inflation)