SAN DIEGO, Aug. 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This year's Stem Cell Action Award honorees, announced today, have funded millions of dollars in stem cell research; raised the standard in medical research journalism; and worked to educate patients, researchers and the entire stem cell community. The 2013 Stem Cell Action Award honorees:
Since 2005, Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) has honored the stem cell community's top innovators, leaders, and champions at the Stem Cell Action Awards Dinner at the annual World Stem Cell Summit. The awards will be presented at the 9th Annual Stem Cell Action Awards dinner, Tuesday, December 5, during the 2013 World Stem Cell Summit (WSCS13) at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, in San Diego, California.
"The work done by this year's honorees has directly advanced stem cell research through research, funding and advocacy. They are passionate about making change and we are proud to honor their achievements," said Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of GPI. "These five honorees are sharing knowledge, building infrastructure and supporting the research needed to find cures and alleviate human suffering." Previous Stem Cell Action awardees have included Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Research!America, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Michael J. Fox, Robert Klein, Sherry Lansing, Susan Solomon of The New York Stem Cell Foundation, A. Alfred Taubman and the National Association of Biology Teachers. For a full list of previous awardees, please visit worldstemcellsummit.com/awards-dinner.
The Stem Cell Action Awards Dinner is open to the public. For information about sponsoring or attending the Stem Cell Action Awards, or to register for the World Stem Cell Summit, visit http://www.worldstemcellsummit.com.
Meet the 2013 Stem Cell Action honorees:
Denny Sanford (Leadership Award) - Denny Sanford has focused his philanthropic endeavors on health care and medical research. His total giving now totals more than $850 million. In 1986, Mr. Sanford purchased United National Corporation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (now First Premier Bank) and expanded it, along with a new credit card company, Premier Bankcard. Today, he supports research programs across the U.S. including Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls; T. Denny Sanford Mayo Clinic Pediatric Center in Rochester, MN; and the T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center at Florida Hospital for Children. He also donated funds to the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. In California, he supports Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, the Salk Institute and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
Malin Burnham (Leadership Award) - A dedicated philanthropist, Malin Burnham has chaired major non-profits, co-founded organizations and serves as Board Member of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and Chair of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, among many other appointments. Chairman of John Burnham & Company Insurance and Burnham Real Estate since 1949, Mr. Burnham is a native San Diegan who graduated from Stanford University in 1949 with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Burnham Real Estate was acquired by Cushman & Wakefield in 2008. He has been active as a board member of several major corporations and 16 firms. Mr. Burnham also served as Trustee of Stanford University for 10 years.
Dr. Paul Knoepfler (National Advocacy Award) - Dr. Paul Knoepfler is an Associate Professor in Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the UC Davis School of Medicine. He leads the Cancer Stem Cell Initiative at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is a member of the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures. Dr. Knoepfler is also an Associate Investigator of the Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine at Shriners Hospital of Northern California. As a cancer survivor, he advocates for cancer patients and those interested in stem cell treatments. His stem cell blog, ipscell.com, is a public education and patient advocacy tool read by a diverse cross-section of the stem cell community. His outreach efforts include offering a stem cell whitepaper in 28 languages. His book, Stem Cells: An Insider's Guide will be published this year. Dr. Knoepfler received a B.A. in English Literature from Reed College and his Ph.D. from UCSD School of Medicine in Molecular Pathology.
Mary Ann Liebert (Education Award) - Mary Ann Liebert is the president and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., a media empire known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in promising areas of science and biomedical research. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), debuted in 1980, was the first in its field, and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. Stem Cells and Development is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal dedicated to developments in the biology, characteristics, and therapeutic utility of stem cells. Many journals she publishes intersect the field of regenerative medicine, contributing to the scholarship and advancing stem cell science. Ms. Liebert is also the founder and executive vice president of the Rosalind Franklin Society, which recognizes and advances important contributions made by women in the life sciences.
Roman Reed (Inspiration Award) - Roman Reed has been the inspirational guiding force for raising over $100 Million dollars for stem cell and neurological research. President of the Roman Reed Foundation, Roman was paralyzed playing college football in 1994. He has been fighting to advance awareness and research ever since. Mr. Reed, along with his father, Don Reed, created the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act, which established California state funding for research for a spinal cord injury paralysis cure. "Roman's Law" funded early human embryonic stem cell (hESC) clinical trials and raised $14 million in its first 10 years, creating several scientific breakthroughs. California's "Roman's Law" was so successful, it has now become a model for other states. Mr. Reed was instrumental in creating and passing the TJ Atchison Spinal Cord Injury Research Act in Alabama, which generates funding for research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mr. Reed is involved with many public/private partnerships, including the Roman Reed Core Laboratory at UC Reeve-Irvine Research Center and The Stanford Partnership for Spinal Cord Injury and Repair. Mr. Reed has a BA in American Studies with an emphasis on Politics and Leadership from the University of California, Berkeley.
Originally posted here:
GPI "Stem Cell Action Award" Honorees Advancing Stem Cell Research, Funding and Advocacy
- Stem Cells In Human Trials - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- NZ Stemcell Trials - Part One - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- CIRM Major Facilities Speed Stem Cell Science and Create Jobs - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Geron's Embryonic Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Spinal Cord Injury - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Hans Keirstead - Stem Cell Research Human Clinical Trials - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Stem-Cell Human Trials - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Geron: FDA Clearance for Human Clinical Stem Cell Trials - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Eric Legrand Rutgers University shout out, Listen up! - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- How to Mend a Broken Heart - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- Human Embryonic Stem Cell History! - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- Robert Lanza - ACT - Stem cells and organ cloning interview - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- Toonari Post Health News: Europe's first clinical trial using human embryonic stem cells - September 23rd, 2011 [September 23rd, 2011]
- Diabetes: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Ed Baetge - September 23rd, 2011 [September 23rd, 2011]
- Talking Apes being created by Science | Planet of the Apes, here we come! - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Health news: Internet use, sleep, human stem cell research - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Geron - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - A Father's Story - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- The Frankenstein Syndrome Trailer - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Leukemia: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Patient Stories - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Geron Corp. Initiates First Human Study Of Embryonic Stem-Cell Therapy - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Cardiovascular Therapies: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Yung-Wei Chi - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Stemcells come alive: Fix Mouse with severed spine ABCnews - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- StemCells Gains 5% on Neural Stem Cell Trial in Spinal Cord Injury - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Stem-Cell Research on Animals - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- First hESC Therapy Clinical Trial - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Testing on Human Subjects [Officially] Begins • NBC Nightly News • October 11th, 2010 - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Leukemia: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Catriona Jamieson - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- First stem cell trial begins - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Arnold Kriegstein - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Becoming a Blood Stem Cell Donor - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Stem cells might be able to reverse the effects of a heart attack. - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Horse Stem Cell Video.mp4 - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Stem cell trials to begin - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Hans Keirstead - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Quiz - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- NZ Stemcell Trials - Part Two - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Drug Trials in a Dish - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Rise and Walk - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Catriona Jamieson: Therapies Based on Cancer Stem Cells - September 27th, 2011 [September 27th, 2011]
- Vatican lending hand in adult stem cell research - September 28th, 2011 [September 28th, 2011]
- Why STEM-Enhance? - September 28th, 2011 [September 28th, 2011]
- Genetic Underpinnings of Alopecia Areata - September 29th, 2011 [September 29th, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Ann Tsukamoto - September 29th, 2011 [September 29th, 2011]
- stem cell trial for leading causes of blindness - October 9th, 2011 [October 9th, 2011]
- Forbes Discusses Stem Cell Research - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Bruce Conklin: Drug screening with stem cells - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Human Trials of Embryonic Stem Cell Treatment Beginning - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Rise and Walk - Video - October 13th, 2011 [October 13th, 2011]
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Trials - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Progress and Promise in Stem Cell Research - Video - October 14th, 2011 [October 14th, 2011]
- Better Drugs Through Stem Cells - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cells Used To Rebuild Heart Tissue / Video - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- GARY RABIN- ADVANCED CELL TECHNOLOGIES 2011 - Video - October 21st, 2011 [October 21st, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment on horse a success, vet says - Video - October 21st, 2011 [October 21st, 2011]
- MAJOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL BREAKTHROUGHS - Video - October 22nd, 2011 [October 22nd, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Stephen Huhn - Video - November 13th, 2011 [November 13th, 2011]
- Human Cloning has Begun | Playing God? - Video - November 15th, 2011 [November 15th, 2011]
- Diabetes: Advancing Stem Cell Therapies - 2011 CIRM Grantee Meeting - Video - November 15th, 2011 [November 15th, 2011]
- Brain Tumors: Advancing Stem Cell Therapies - 2011 CIRM Grantee Meeting - Video - November 15th, 2011 [November 15th, 2011]
- Double Blind Trial of Stem Cells for Heart Failure - Video - December 4th, 2011 [December 4th, 2011]
- Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trial - Video - December 4th, 2011 [December 4th, 2011]
- Glasgow Hospital Conducts First Stem Cell Trials on Stroke Patients - Video - December 4th, 2011 [December 4th, 2011]
- Dr Dietrich discusses the Geron stem cell trial to treat acute spinal cord injury - Video - December 4th, 2011 [December 4th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Today: Larry Goldstein - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Heart Failure: Eduardo Marban - CIRM Spotlight on Disease - Video - December 22nd, 2011 [December 22nd, 2011]
- Clinical trials and stem cells: what patients should consider - Video - January 2nd, 2012 [January 2nd, 2012]
- Spare Parts for Humans: Tissue Engineers Aim for Lab-Grown Limbs, Lungs and More - Video - January 4th, 2012 [January 4th, 2012]
- CIRM Grant Writing: RFA's - Where does your Project Fit? - Video - January 5th, 2012 [January 5th, 2012]
- Prometheus and I: building new body parts from stem cells (15 Nov 2011) - Video - January 5th, 2012 [January 5th, 2012]
- News Bulletin 18 November 2011 -- The Christian Institute - Video - January 5th, 2012 [January 5th, 2012]
- The Brain on Trial: How Neuroscience Challenges the Law as We Know It - Video - January 5th, 2012 [January 5th, 2012]
- The Human Genome and Individualized Medicine - David Valle, MD - Video - January 5th, 2012 [January 5th, 2012]
- 2010 Professional of Distinction - Discovery Awards - Video - January 23rd, 2012 [January 23rd, 2012]
- Research at The Nebraska Medical Center Biologics Production Facility - Video - January 24th, 2012 [January 24th, 2012]
- ACT Announces Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland as Additional Site for Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial Using hESC-Derived ... - January 30th, 2012 [January 30th, 2012]
- StemCells, Inc. Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Demonstrating Its Human Neural Stem Cells Preserve Vision - January 31st, 2012 [January 31st, 2012]
- $30 million donation from Boris family will help McMaster turn stem cell research into therapy - February 6th, 2012 [February 6th, 2012]
- Stem Cell Treatment For Blindness Shows Promise In Trials - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- ACT Announces Third Patient with Stargardt’s Disease Treated in U.S. Clinical Trial with RPE Cells Derived from ... - February 13th, 2012 [February 13th, 2012]