Feinstein Institute Researchers and Cohen Children’s Medical Center to be Honored at Annual Rare Disease Heroes Gala
Researchers to be recognized for their work in hematology
MANHASSET, NY– Three Feinstein Institute for Medical Research scientists and Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center will be honored for advancing the treatment of Diamond Blackfan anemia, a disorder of the bone marrow, at the First Annual Rare Disease Heroes™ Recognition Gala, to be held Monday, October 17 in Arlington, VA. Adrianna Vlachos, MD, Jeffrey Lipton, MD, PhD, and Evangelia Atsidaftos will receive the honor.
Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is an inherited condition that leads to anemia, possible birth defects and cancer. The work of the researchers being honored at the gala has provided a greater understanding of the genetics, cellular and molecular biology that underlie DBA, which is predisposed toward malignancy and birth defects. Cohen Children's Medical Center opened in 1983 as the New York metropolitan area's first hospital designed exclusively for children and now is the largest provider of pediatric health services in New York State, serving 1.8 million children in Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“Congratulations to Adrianna, Jeffrey and Evangelia,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute. “They are making significant advances in anemia research that will directly improve patients’ lives. In doing so, they exemplify the mission of research at Northwell Health: to quickly move discoveries from the laboratory work bench to the patient’s bedside.”
The Rare Disease Heroes™ award was established to recognize teaching and research hospitals and their teams for outstanding contributions in the rare disease community related to endocrinology, genetics, hematology, lysosomal storage disorders and neurology. The 2016 Rare Disease Heroes™ are dedicated to changing the way rare conditions are managed, advancing understanding of a rare disease, helping patients better manage their conditions, and finding more efficient ways to identify and diagnose rare diseases.
The 2016 Rare Disease Heroes™ include four additional institutions and affiliated researchers: Cook Children’s and Paul S. Thornton, MD, for endocrinology, Duke University Medical Center and Dwight Koeberl, MD, PhD, for genetics, Duke University and Priya Kishnani, MD, PhD, for Lysosomal Storage disorders, and New York University School of Medicine and Horacio Kaufmann, MD, for neurology. Heroes were selected by a panel of leaders in the field of orphan drug development and research who serve on the Rare Disease Report® editorial advisory board. Judges reviewed nominations from 100 members of the rare-disease community, including patients, advocates, caregivers and clinicians.
Honorees, along with patients and caregivers who nominated them, will share remarks during the gala held from 6 to 8 p.m. on October 17 in Arlington, VA. Tickets are free but registration is required at http://www.raredr.com/heroes_2016.
About The Feinstein Institute
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is the research arm of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York. Home to 50 research laboratories and to clinical research throughout dozens of hospitals and outpatient facilities, the 2,000 researchers and staff of the Feinstein are making breakthroughs in molecular medicine, genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity, and bioelectronic medicine – a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more information about how we empower imagination and pioneer discovery, visit FeinsteinInstitute.org.
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Emily Ng
516-562-2670
eng3@northwell.edu
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