Medical Rediscovery Research Community Gathers for Cures Within Reach 2nd Annual Bioscience Awards

CHICAGO - June 20, 2014 - PRLog -- In addition to generating over $50,000 to help fund Cures Within Reach medical Rediscovery Research™ to deliver new therapies for underserved patient populations, the event recognized industry leaders for their life’s work dedicated to improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Norbert Riedel (http://www.cureswithinreach.org/2014-bam) was honored with the Patient Impact Legacy Award 2014 for his lifetime contributions within science, academia and the pharmaceutical industry. “Individuals don’t accomplish much. But teams do,” said Dr. Riedel, chief executive officer of Naurex, Inc. and former corporate vice president and chief science and innovation officer at Baxter International. “When we put our egos aside and collaborate on behalf of patients in need, we make a difference. Working together we have the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to caring for patients while growing the bioscience industry in the Midwest.”

Prior to the award presentations, Honorary Event Chair and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn addressed the important work that’s being done in the bioscience community as the industry’s regional footprint expands.

Judith Goldman was presented with The Golan & Christie Patient Impact Philanthropy Award 2014 in recognition of the philanthropic commitment and entrepreneurial vision that she shared with her late husband, George. Together they helped to improve the lives of patients in need, especially children. A gift of $5 million from Goldman Philanthropic Partners (GPP) in 1998 was the impetus for founding the nonprofit organization that has become Cures Within Reach.

The Janet Davison Rowley Patient Impact Research Award 2014 recognized D. James Surmeier, PhD and Tanya Simuni, MD for their collaborative efforts bridging the laboratory and the clinic at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Results from Dr. Surmeier’s lab have led to the NIH funding a multicenter Phase III clinical trial directed by Dr. Simuni to determine if isradipine can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease, a neurologic disorder that affects more than one million Americans who are battling the disease, which currently has no cure.

“We are very grateful to everyone in the Midwest bioscience community who has supported this event and our work in medical rediscovery research,” said Cures Within Reach President and Chief Science Officer Dr. Bruce Bloom. “A team approach to a shared goal is critical to maximizing the opportunities before us to deliver effective treatments to help address more of the unmet needs in underserved patient populations.”

Chairs for BAM 2014 were Nancy Searle, civic leader and advocate for the growth of the bioscience industry in Chicago; Nancy Joseph-Ridge, head of global development and general manager for the Pharmaceutical Development Division at Takeda Pharmaceuticals; and Michael Rosen, nominating event chair and recipient of the BAM 2013 Patient Impact Legacy Award and senior vice president of the Forest City Science + Technology Group.

About Cures Within Reach

Cures Within Reach (http://www.cureswithinreach.org/) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working to improve patient quality of life and length of life through Rediscovery Research^TM.  Pilot clinical trials test repurposed treatments designed to be immediately incorporated into clinical practice. By creating and managing stakeholder collaboration around this powerful path to patient impact, it has been instrumental in the development of 10 treatments in clinical use and is currently stewarding 18 medical research projects through its partner institutions across the country and around the world.

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Amy Conn

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P: 847.745.1246  |  E: amy@cureswithinreach.org