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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMedia Contact:
Ariella Levine
646-943-7430
alevine@ccfa.org
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Presents National Science Awards to Clinical and Scientific Thought-Leaders in Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesNew York, NY -- December 5, 2008 -- Three clinical and scientific thought-leaders in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) were today awarded the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's prestigious Annual National Science Awards at its 2008 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Clinical & Research Conference in Hollywood, Florida. Hailing from cutting-edge medical institutions around the country, the recipients, nominated by the Foundation's National Scientific Advisory Committee (NSAC), all proved a pivotal dedication to the Foundation's mission of a future free from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, painful and at times, debilitating digestive diseases that affect over 1.4 million Americans.
The Henry D. Janowitz, MD Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Joseph B. Kirsner, MD, PhD, the Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago and the third NSAC Chairman, for his career-long dedication to the discovery and understanding of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis. At 99-years-old, Dr. Kirsner has devoted his life to medicine, teaching, and patient care and greatly contributed to the knowledge that has furthered the vision and mission of the Foundation. His research in gastroenterology demonstrated the influence of genetics and the increased risk of colon cancer in patients with Crohn's and colitis. He helped found The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the Gastroenterology Research Group (American Gastroenterological Association), and the National Foundation for Research in Ulcerative Colitis, among others. A great academic physician, Dr. Kirsner trained a huge number of clinicians over several generations and his internationally acclaimed textbook, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, whose 6th editions were distributed around the world, became synonymous with cutting-edge IBD education. His influence over a lifetime has become unparalleled, paving the way for current patient care.
The Scientific Achievement Award for Clinical Science was presented to Daniel H. Present, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at The Mount Sinai Medical Center for his courage, innovation, and vision that moved Crohn's and colitis patient care in a direction that ultimately improved the quality of life for patients and their families. Dr. Present has had a remarkable influence on expanding multiple facets of IBD treatment, through a practical approach. Performing almost all of his studies out of his large private practice by asking practical questions that directly addressed daily management issues of IBD patients, Dr. Present profoundly altered the way that IBD patients are treated and single handily brought new treatments into the mainstream of IBD therapy. Based on his clinical work, Dr. Present tirelessly educated several generations of clinicians and published more than 150 scientific articles and abstracts on IBD and its treatment. Dr. Present continues to extend over 30 years of clinical expertise in his practice, as a reviewer for articles on IBD in leading medical journals, and as a founder of the Foundation for Clinical Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease with an Endowed Clinical Research Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
The Scientific Achievement Award for Basic Science was presented to Warren Strober, MD, Deputy Director of the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. His role as a major contributor in many areas of basic mucosal immunity and disease of the gastrointestinal tract significantly moved Crohn's and colitis research in the direction that improved countless lives. While his models helped form our basic understanding of IBD, his extensive work on topics such as basic mucosal immunity and genetic research lead to new avenues of therapy for IBD patients. Dr. Strober's contributions extend far beyond his work in the lab and include important leadership and mentoring activities. He is among the small number of consistently recognized contributors and leaders in the field of mucosal immunology, and his laboratory has been a fertile training ground for many trainees throughout the world. While the fundamental causes of and cures for IBD have not been identified yet, Dr. Strober's work has played an important role in the accelerating pace of discovery in these diseases.
About Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative ColitisCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. Some 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.
About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of AmericaThe Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward a cure, with more than 81 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs. The Foundation consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance and the American Institute of Philanthropy. For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-932-2423 or visit the CCFA web site.
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