The Sontag Foundation Awards $1 million for Brain Cancer Medical Research
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (October 31, 2005) - The Sontag Foundation announces the presentation of its third annual Distinguished Scientist Awards. Each of this year's recipients will receive $500,000 over a three-year period to support their medical research. Through the Distinguished Scientist Award, The Sontag Foundation recognizes and supports the work of outstanding early career scientists whose research has the potential to generate new knowledge relating to the causes, cures or treatment of brain tumors.
The 2005 Distinguished Scientist Awards were presented to the following scientists: Laurie Jackson-Grusby, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at Children's Hospital Boston and Mollie Meffert, M.D., Ph.D., an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Thirty-five early career scientists from throughout the United States competed for the awards. The selection process focused on each scientist's professional credentials, recommendations from senior researchers in their respective fields, the applicant's personal and career goals, and scientific evaluation of the proposed research projects by a review committee appointed by the foundation. The final stage of the selection process incorporated a site visit at each finalist's academic institution to enable representatives of The Sontag Foundation to interview each finalist, meet with members of their lab staff, and meet with other scientists and staff who interact regularly with the candidate.
One of the primary motives Rick and Susan Sontag had for establishing The Sontag Foundation was their strong desire to improve the lives of people suffering from brain cancer. Both the disease and side effects from available treatment often cause devastating long-range effects. The Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award was created to help meet a critical need for funding medical research with a goal of improving the prognosis and quality of life of brain tumor patients. It is estimated that 41,000 new cases of primary brain tumors of all types will be diagnosed in the United States in 2005; approximately 18,400 of those will be malignant. Although brain tumors account for less than 2% of all cancers diagnosed in a given year, the outcomes are routinely more dismal than for other cancers. Through funding medical research, The Sontag Foundation hopes to improve the outcomes for those stricken by this disease. For more information about The Sontag Foundation, log on www.sontagfoundation.org
Contact:
Kay W. Verble
Executive Director
The Sontag Foundation
904-273-8755
904-273-8745
info[at]sontagfoundation.org
