Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Rapid Response Innovation Awards Hit Mid-2009 With More Than $1 Million Funded in High-risk/High-reward Approaches to Parkinson’s Disease

June 25, 2009 — As of mid-2009, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has already funded over $1 million in high-risk, high-reward approaches to Parkinson’s therapeutic development through its groundbreaking Rapid Response Innovation Awards. Projects include investigations of the safety and efficacy of an FDA-approved drug for kidney disease to treat Parkinson’s; characterization of a tenuous link between PD and certain strains of influenza virus; and a proof-of-principle approach to refine deep brain stimulation (DBS) into a potentially more effective symptomatic therapy.

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Weill Cornell Medical College Receives $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations Grant for Innovative Global Health Research by Dr. Kyu Rhee

NEW YORK, June 2, 2009 — Weill Cornell Medical College announced today that it has received a US$100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support an innovative global health research project conducted by Dr. Kyu Rhee, assistant attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, titled “Metabolosomes: The Organizing Principle of Latency in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.”

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MJFF Announces $2-Million Funding Commitment to Drive Development of Parkinson’s Disease Biomarker Pipeline

May 7, 2009 — The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research announced a funding commitment of $2 million for Biomarkers 2009. This fourth round of biomarker funding by MJFF aims to continue stimulating discovery of new disease and drug biomarkers. At the same time, recognizing the critical need for an orchestrated, fieldwide strategy to drive tangible progress, MJFF is putting building blocks in place to launch a comprehensive biomarker discovery and verification effort in coming months.

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Joan and Sanford I. Weill Agree to Boost Capital Campaign at Weill Cornell Medical College With $170 Million Cash Payment of Pledge

NEW YORK, April 7, 2009 — Cornell University announced today that Joan and Sanford I. Weill agreed to the University’s request to accelerate the fulfillment of their pledge toward its $4 billion capital campaign, including Weill Cornell Medical College’s $1.3 billion “Discoveries That Make a Difference” fundraising drive. By fulfilling their pledge with a $170 million cash payment, the Weills are responding with a decisive boost to the Medical College’s capital campaign at a time when the University’s endowment has been significantly diminished by the current economic challenges. Mr. and Mrs. Weill’s 2007 pledge is believed to be the single largest gift given to a medical college.

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Ronald P. Stanton Gives $50 Million Toward Cancer Care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital

New York-Presbyterian Hospital announced today that it has received a $50 million commitment from noted business leader, longtime supporter and Hospital Trustee Ronald P. Stanton. The gift will establish the Ronald P. Stanton Clinical Cancer Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, strengthening and expanding the Hospital’s ability to provide patients with the very best cancer care.

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