Owings Mills, MD - March 24, 2010 - At the recent 2010 Day of Science conference in Los Angeles, four Foundation-funded investigators were honored with the Foundation’s Board of Directors Award for their outstanding success in the development of stem cell treatments. Honorees were: Dr. David Gamm of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Ray Lund of Oregon Health & Science University, Dr. Thomas Reh of the University of Washington, and Dr. Michael Young of Harvard Medical School. The Board of Directors Award is given annually to scientists for their extraordinary efforts in the advancement of treatments and cures. Though stem cells are still a relatively new approach to treating retinal degenerative diseases and a host of other conditions – embryonic stem cells weren’t even discovered until 1998 – the progress in this scientific field has been stunning in the last five years. Embryonic stem cells, and more recently skin cells, have both been used to develop photoreceptors and other retinal cell types. Related treatments have been shown to be effective in saving and restoring vision in animals, and clinical trials of stem-cell-based retinal therapies are close at hand. “These four investigators have done an incredible job moving stem cell treatments toward the clinic,” says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., chief research officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “They have demonstrated the great potential for stem cells to save and restore vision, and as a result, they are drawing strong commercial interest.” Award recipients: Drs. Gamm, Lund, and Young. Not pictured: Dr. Reh. |
