Baptist Health is first in U.S. to take part in groundbreaking REMIND Alzheimer’s study

Baptist Health is taking part in a groundbreaking clinical study to treat Alzheimer’s disease. The health system’s participation in the first-of-its-kind surgical trial reflects its commitment to research and innovation. Baptist Health is the first health system in the U.S. to take part in the study.

“For patients and their loved ones facing Alzheimer’s, innovative treatments cannot come soon enough,” said Matthew A. Zuino, MSIS, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “Through clinical trials, we are expanding regional access to novel therapies, advancing research and leading the way for community health systems in academic medicine.”

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.1 As increasing age is the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s and Americans are living longer, the disease’s impact is expected to grow.

Recent research suggests that blockages in the brain’s lymphatic system may play a role in Alzheimer’s.2 When the brain cannot effectively clear waste proteins, they can build up, cause inflammation and contribute to increased memory loss and cognitive decline.

New robotic microsurgical approach

The REMIND (Robotic-Enabled Microsurgical Intervention for Neurodegenerative Disease) early feasibility study considers a new robotic surgical approach to clear these waste proteins and improve lymphatic drainage. This study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using the Symani® Surgical System, a robotic microsurgical platform with special wristed instruments to replicate the natural movements of the human hand at a micro scale, enhancing surgical precision and control. It helps surgeons connect deep cervical lymph nodes or lymphatic vessels, so fine they are no thicker than two sheets of paper, to nearby veins to help the brain drain waste and harmful proteins more effectively.

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.”

“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.

Baptist Health is a regional leader in neurology and neurosurgery, regularly recognized by U.S. News & World Report and others. World-class specialists at Baptist Neurology and Lyerly Neurosurgery collaborate to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions of the spine, brain and nervous system. These include stroke, multiple sclerosis, vascular disorders, seizures and head and neck pain as well as nerve and muscle conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Recognized for minimally invasive, innovative treatments and groundbreaking research, Baptist Health brings enhanced neurological care to patients throughout Northeast Florida.

1 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures

2 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/boosting-brains-waste-removal-system-could-improve-alzheimers-outcomes