[3] Under the directorship of Dr. Michael T. Lawton,[4] the institution's unique capabilities and achievements are recognized internationally.

Barrow was established by physicians John Green and Betty Clements as a regional center for patients with neurosurgical issues.

It was named after a donation from Charles Barrow, whose family owned Joy Manufacturing and other companies.

In 2024, Doximity ranked the Neurosurgical Residency Program at Barrow Neurological Institute as the #1 training program in the U.S.[1] Additionally, in 2014 Khan et al. performed a comprehensive analysis of the academic productivity of 1225 Neurosurgeons in the United States.

The nonprofit translational research program is singularly focused on discovering new therapies for patients with glioblastoma and other aggressive brain tumors through a broad portfolio of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic-driven clinical trials, combining industry-partnered drug development with the largest operative brain tumor volume in the United States.