Karen Pritzker and Husband Michael Vlock Invest $1.5M to Recognize Critical Contributions to Parkinsons Drug Development
NEW YORK, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (MJFF) today announced that Anders Bjorklund, MD, PhD, of Lund University, Sweden, is the recipient of the first Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinsons Research. The prize honors both current cutting-edge research as well as an individuals entire body of work. Dr. Bjorklund was selected for his profound contributions to Parkinsons disease therapeutic development and his exceptional commitment to mentoring the next generation of Parkinsons researchers. He will receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant to advance his current research.
Were grateful to Karen Pritzker and Michael Vlock for giving us a new way to recognize the scientists working tirelessly to speed Parkinsons breakthroughs, says MJFF founder Michael J. Fox. Its fitting that the award is named for Robert Pritzker, a businessman known for his commitment to innovation and creativity. Anders, a longtime collaborator with our Foundation, embodies similar qualities in the lab hes a true giant of PD research.
A member of MJFFs Scientific Advisory Board since 2005, Bjorklund has dedicated his career to developing improved treatments for Parkinsons patients. Since the early 1970s, he has forged innovative solutions for shepherding promising findings out of academic research settings, through the pre-clinical drug development maze, and into clinical investigation.
Bjorklund is an international leader in studies of reparative and neuroprotective mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS) and has pioneered the development of therapies for cell replacement and repair in the mammalian CNS. He also has studied the role of neurotrophic factors (specialized proteins that protect and repair the neurons that die in Parkinsons disease) in slowing or stopping the progression of PD. Additionally, he has led groundbreaking efforts to develop treatments for levodopa-induced dyskinesia, the debilitating side effect of long-term dopamine replacement therapy.
The prize is named in honor of Robert A. Pritzker, a renowned industrialist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Pritzker is founder of The Marmon Group and president of Colson Associates, Inc., holding companies for a variety of manufacturing and medical businesses. He attributes much of his success to his unique approach to management. As a business leader, Pritzker has always sought to establish a creative and productive work environment by encouraging his employees to work independently. Additionally, he was an early promoter of the field of medical engineering at his alma mater, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, where he also played a key role in expanding the biomedical research community through his support of The Pritzker Institute for Biomedical Science and Engineering at IIT. Launched in 1980, this center has opened new areas of cutting-edge biomedical study and expanded the universitys presence in the greater research community.
The Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinsons Research is made possible by Karen Pritzker, daughter of Robert A. Pritzker, and her husband, investor Michael Vlock. Their gift of $1.5M over three years will provide a $100,000 grant to the Pritzker Prize recipient each year, as well as $400,000 to support allied MJFF research programs.
My father has Parkinsons, so I have seen firsthand the ravaging effects of this disease, says Karen Pritzker. This prize recognizes the too-often unsung contributions of scientists who actively seek to convert new discoveries in PD research into practical, patient-relevant treatments. My greatest hope is that this award will help bring the Parkinsons community one step closer to a cure.
The Executive Scientific Advisory Board of The Michael J. Fox Foundation served as the jury panel. Selection criteria included: the nominees complete body of work in the PD field with an emphasis on its impact on accelerating drug development; field-wide impact of the nominees work; dedication to patient-relevant science; and influence on and encouragement of the next generation of Parkinsons disease investigators.
The award will be presented to Dr. Bjorklund at a luncheon in November 2011 in New York City.
About Robert A. Pritzker
Robert A. Pritzker is a member of a prominent family in American business and philanthropy. In 1954 he became president of the Colson Company, manufacturer of industrial and institutional casters and wheeled equipment. His leadership led to the acquisition of other companies, which in 1964 were merged under the name The Marmon Group. Over the years, he also has served on the board of directors of several institutions. A Chicago native, Pritzker entered California Institute of Technology as an engineering student before transferring to the Illinois Institute of Technology to complete his undergraduate studies. Pritzker later completed graduate-level business and industrial administration courses at the University of Illinois. His commitment to education led him to teach at IIT, the University of Chicago and as a visiting professor at Oxford University in England. Pritzker was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 1998.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
As the worlds largest private funder of Parkinsons research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinsons disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinsons patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding over $240 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinsons research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases Parkinsons awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.
For more information, visit: www.michaeljfox.org; www.facebook.com/michaeljfoxfoundation.
SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation
