Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy Recipient
WASHINGTON—March 18, 2008—Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy has been selected as the recipient of Research!America's 2008 Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy. The award is in recognition of Kennedy's long-standing support of the National Institutes of Health and for strong action by Congress to increase funds for scientific research. His commitment to affordable health care for all Americans is a battle he has wagered ever since he first came to the Senate. He is currently Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, a position he has held since 1971.The award will be presented to Kennedy at Research!America's 2008 Advocacy Awards Gala on Tuesday, March 18 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. Other 2008 award recipients are amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research); William H. Foege, a renowned public health advocate and researcher; Richard A. Lerner, president of The Scripps Research Institute; Pat Furlong, founding president and chief executive officer of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy; and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Recipients of Research!America's Advocacy Awards are leading advocates for medical, health and scientific research. Those previously recognized with Research!America's Whitehead Award are Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah), Representatives Michael Castle (Del.) and Diana DeGette (Col.), and former Representatives Paul G. Rogers (Fla.), Bob Michel (Ill.), and Connie Mack (Fla).
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance dedicated to making health a higher national priority. Its advocacy awards were established in 1996 to honor outstanding advocates for such research. For more information, visit www.researchamerica.org/advocacy_awards.
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