WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- George and Trish Vradenburg, co-founders of UsAgainstAlzheimer's, will receive the prestigious Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award from Research!America in recognition of their work to advance solutions to the Alzheimer's crisis. The annual Research!America Advocacy Awards honor outstanding advocates for research whose achievements in their fields have brought hope to patients worldwide.
"Research!America is honored to recognize George and Trish Vradenburg for their tireless advocacy for increased federal support for Alzheimer's research and for their signature leadership in organizing effective collaboration among stakeholders worldwide," said Mary Woolley, president and CEO Research!America. "We salute their steadfast, unwavering commitment to ending Alzheimer's."
"Thanks to Research!America for this recognition," said George Vradenburg. "Alzheimer's is a family disease touching our loved ones in every hometown across America. Recent scientific advances, coupled with increases in NIH investment and global political momentum, give us hope that the world is awakening to what is the greatest health challenge of the 21st century. Until there is a means of prevention and treatment, however, we won't let up our fierce pursuit of solutions on behalf of those with or at risk of this damned disease. We're so fortunate to have Research!America's powerful advocacy of biomedical research to help us get there."
"It's beyond gratifying to be recognized for the work we are doing on behalf of persons with or at risk for Alzheimer's," said Trish Vradenburg. "My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's nearly 30 years ago and little has changed. If only that had happened now when there is real hope on the horizon. We have to bring this disease out of the shadows and into the spotlight and that's why I couldn't be more honored to receive this award."
The Vradenburg's are the first to receive the Gordon and Llura Gund Leadership Award for Alzheimer's advocacy. Past winners include the Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Michael Milken and Susan Axelrod.
In addition to the Vradenburg's, the 2016 Research!America Advocacy Awards winners include: Dr. John Noseworthy, president and CEO of the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Robert Langer, Institute Professor at MIT; The ALS Association; and Lisa Paulsen and Entertainment Industry Foundation. Dr. Harold Varmus, Nobel Laureate and Professor of Medicine, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, will receive the Legacy Award.
The 20th annual Research!America Advocacy Awards will be presented in person to all the recipients at the 2016 Advocacy Awards Dinner on March 16, 2016 in Washington, DC. A list of past Advocacy Award Winners is available here.
About George and Trish Vradenburg
George and Trish Vradenburg are the co-founders of UsAgainstAlzheimer's (UsA2), a disruptive, entrepreneurial organization advancing solutions to the Alzheimer's challenge. UsAgainstAlzheimer's speaks for persons with or at risk for Alzheimer's in pressing for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community – accomplishing this through relentless leadership, fierce advocacy, strategic investments and a focus on engaging women, African Americans and Latinos.
George Vradenburg, the Chairman of UsAgainstAlzheimer's, also convenes the Global CEO Initiative (CEOi) on Alzheimer's Disease, the only industry coalition dedicated to stopping Alzheimer's, and co-convenes Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer's Disease (LEAD), a network of 77 major Alzheimer's-serving organizations from the not-for-profit, foundation, academic, corporate and government sectors. George was appointed to the World Dementia Council by the UK Secretary of State for Health in March, 2014, and was a founding member of the U.S. Health and Human Services' Advisory Council on Research, Care and Services. He previously served in senior executive positions at AOL/Time Warner, Fox and CBS.
Trish Vradenburg is the Vice-Chair of UsA2 and a founder of WomenAgainstAlzheimer's. She is also a playwright, author, comedy writer, journalist and Advocate. She has written for television shows including "Designing Women," "Family Ties" and "Kate and Allie." Her play, "Surviving Grace," a comedic/dramatic homage to her mother who succumbed to Alzheimer's was produced throughout the U.S., including off-Broadway. Trish's novel, Liberated Lady, was chosen as Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selections and has been translated into three foreign languages.
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