NDRI will honor individuals and institutions who have advanced disease research through partnership with NDRI and the use of donated tissues for research studies at “An Evening to Celebrate Research” tonight at the Rittenhouse Hotel. The dinner, sponsored by the NDRI Society, will bring together those interested in the future of biomedical research as it honors researchers and highlights key initiatives.
Honorees include Jose Oberholzer, M.D, Program Director for Cell Transplantation at the University of Illinois, Chicago; Ali Naji, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Islet Cell Transplant Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Stephen Groft, Pharm.D., Director of the Office of Rare Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH); Peter Dudley, Ph.D., Director of Retinal Diseases, of The National Eye Institute, NIH; and John McPherson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Cell and Protein Research and Development, Genzyme Corporation.
“It is a pleasure to honor the researchers -- the often unsung heroes -- who are working day in and day out to make strides against the most pressing diseases of our time,” said Lee Ducat, Founder and President of NDRI. Ms. Ducat, also the founder of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, served as emcee for the event. “From islet cell transplants for diabetes to rare disease research to breakthroughs in treating blindness, we are moving closer to finding cures that afflict millions of people. With the dedicated and talented researchers such as we are honoring, organ and tissue donors can feel confident that their contributions are making a difference in advancing therapies for today’s most pressing diseases.”
Jose Oberholzer, M.D., Program Director for Cell Transplantation at the University of Illinois, Chicago receives an the award for Excellance in Research Award presented by Marjorie Lees, Fundraising Consultant, NDRI.
Ali Naji, M.D.,Ph.D., Director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Islet Cell Transplant Program at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia receives award the award for "Outstanding Science 2006" presented by Hilary Lemonick.
Stephen Groft, Pharm.D., Director of the Office of Rare Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH) receives the award for "Outstanding Science 2006" presented by Jessica Moyer, President, South Jersey Chapter Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Peter Dudley, Ph.D., Director of Retinal Diseases, of The National Eye Institute, NIH received the award for "Outstanding Science 2006" presented by Marlene Dubin, Member of the NDRI Society.
John McPherson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Cell and Protein Research and Development, Genzyme Corporation, received the award for "Supporting Future Rare Disease Research" presented by Lee Ducat, President and Founder, NDRI.