ALEXANDRIA, VA—February 22, 2005—The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is the winner of the 2005 Research!America Organization that has Distinguished Itself by Its Advocacy Award.
The JDRF will be recognized at Research!America's ninth annual Advocacy Awards Dinner at the Willard InterContinental in Washington (DC) on March 15. JDRF International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore and President and CEO Peter Van Etten will accept the award. PARADE magazine is the host benefactor of the event and Sam Donaldson of ABC News will serve as master of ceremonies.
The JDRF-an international grass roots organization working to find a cure for type 1 diabetes-is being recognized for its national advocacy leadership including efforts to advance stem cell research. The organization has provided more than $800 million in direct funding to diabetes research as well as $20 million in funds for stem cell research in the United States and internationally.
Through efforts such as the "Promise to Remember Me Campaign" and testimonials before Congress, the JDRF has been increasingly successful at bringing embryonic stem cell research into the national spotlight. Its advocacy efforts have resulted in signed letters of support from 58 senators, public support from former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the passage of Proposition 71-the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative-and the availability of 17 new human embryonic stem cell lines to JDRF-supported researchers at Harvard. In addition, the JDRF was a part of the successful campaign to double the National Institutes of Health budget over five years (FY99-FY03).
The other 2005 Research!America Advocacy Award winners are The Honorable Nancy G. Brinker, founder of The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation; Angiogenesis Research Pioneer and Advocate Judah Folkman, MD; The Honorable Paul G. Rogers, former chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment and Research!America chair; and Marlo Thomas, actor and national outreach director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
"The winners of this year's awards are advocacy standouts. Their hard work and dedication represent the apex of advocacy for research," said Mary Woolley, Research!America president. "Because of the actions of these leaders, as well as the many others who follow their examples, the promise of better health through advances in research will be achieved sooner, rather than later, to the benefit of every American."
Honorary Chairs of the dinner include William G. Anlyan, MD; The Honorable and Mrs. William McC. Blair, Jr.; Barry R. Bloom, PhD; Roger Bulger, MD; Joseph Califano, Jr.; The Honorable Frank C. Carlucci; Vice Adm. Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS; David R. Challoner, MD; Carolyn Clancy, MD; The Honorable John Cornyn; Nils Daulaire, MD, MPH; Michael E. DeBakey, MD; Peter Dolan; Sam Donaldson; Robert Essner; Anthony S. Fauci, MD; Harvey Fineberg, PhD, MD; James W. Fordyce; James Foster; Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH; The Honorable Newt Gingrich; Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison; Robert A. Ingram; Karen Katen; Paul W. Kincade, PhD; Stephanie Lederman; LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., MD; Alan I. Leshner, PhD; Donald A.B. Lindberg, MD; Margaret E. Mahoney; Afaf I. Meleis, PhD, DrPS (Hon), FAAN; The Honorable Dan Mica; The Honorable Bob Michel; Mary Tyler Moore; John P. Moses; Steven R. Patierno, PhD; William A. Peck, MD; Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi; The Honorable Robert Ray; Gov. and Mrs. Mitt Romney; William L. Roper, MD, MPH; David Satcher, MD, PhD; John R. Seffrin, PhD; Martin Soeters; Allen M. Spiegel, MD; C. Charles Stokes, Jr.; The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, MD; Sidney Taurel; The Honorable Billy Tauzin; Samuel O. Thier, MD; Andrew von Eshenbach, MD; M. Cass Wheeler; John Whitehead; Peter Whitehead; Susan Whitehead; and Elias A. Zerhouni, MD.
Research!America is a not-for-profit, membership-supported public education and advocacy alliance founded in 1989. Its nearly 500 member institutions, organizations and corporations represent the voices of more than 100 million Americans who want medical and health research-including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health-to be a much higher national priority. Research!America's public opinion surveys and advocacy-based programs and publications are designed to reach the public and decision makers with messages that support a strong and vibrant research enterprise.
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