Finding a Cure for Huntington's Disease
Title
Finding a Cure for Huntington's Disease
Description
For her groundbreaking work in the scientific and public arenas towards finding a cure for Huntington's disease and for increasing awareness of all genetic disease.
Dr. Wexler has played a pivotal role in recent progress toward a cure for Huntington's disease. Learning that her family was affected by the disease, she did not bemoan her situation, but rose to the challenge and used her adversity to set her life goal to conquering this late-onset, invariably fatal genetic disorder. Through her work with the Hereditary Disease Foundation, she has mobilized the American public to the importance of genetic diseases.
Working in Venezuela, Dr. Wexler and her colleagues constructed an enormous pedigree of over 13,000 individuals, collecting blood samples from more than 3000 people with Huntington's disease in their families. These samples led to the discovery of the Huntington's disease gene at the tip of human chromosome 4 and the recent identification of the gene itself.
Localization of the gene marked the first time that recombinant DNA markers were used successfully to identify a gene whose chromosomal assignment was unknown. The availability of markers tightly linked to the gene led to the development of a presymptomatic test for Huntington's disease. Dr. Wexler directed one of the world's first research programs on genetic counseling and delivery of this test.
Not only has she brought her formidable scientific talents to bear, but her personal charisma has marshaled an army of scientists, citizens and clinicians to work together to attack this genetic disease, and in so doing has provided an example to people working on analogous disorders in other fields.
Dr. Wexler serves as President of the Hereditary Disease Foundation, where she guides its unique workshop program designed to educate scientists and catalyze research on the key biological questions posed by Huntington's disease and other hereditary disorders. The Hereditary Disease Foundation, founded by Dr. Milton Wexler, has been a major vehicle for stimulating interest in Huntington's disease and allied disorders in the scientific community and bringing them to the attention of the public.
To Dr. Nancy Wexler, for her extraordinary research that led to the localization and later identification of the Huntington's disease gene and for mobilizing research, policy development and scientific advocacy in the worldwide effort to find a cure, this 1993 Albert Lasker Public Service Award is given.
Dr. Wexler has played a pivotal role in recent progress toward a cure for Huntington's disease. Learning that her family was affected by the disease, she did not bemoan her situation, but rose to the challenge and used her adversity to set her life goal to conquering this late-onset, invariably fatal genetic disorder. Through her work with the Hereditary Disease Foundation, she has mobilized the American public to the importance of genetic diseases.
Working in Venezuela, Dr. Wexler and her colleagues constructed an enormous pedigree of over 13,000 individuals, collecting blood samples from more than 3000 people with Huntington's disease in their families. These samples led to the discovery of the Huntington's disease gene at the tip of human chromosome 4 and the recent identification of the gene itself.
Localization of the gene marked the first time that recombinant DNA markers were used successfully to identify a gene whose chromosomal assignment was unknown. The availability of markers tightly linked to the gene led to the development of a presymptomatic test for Huntington's disease. Dr. Wexler directed one of the world's first research programs on genetic counseling and delivery of this test.
Not only has she brought her formidable scientific talents to bear, but her personal charisma has marshaled an army of scientists, citizens and clinicians to work together to attack this genetic disease, and in so doing has provided an example to people working on analogous disorders in other fields.
Dr. Wexler serves as President of the Hereditary Disease Foundation, where she guides its unique workshop program designed to educate scientists and catalyze research on the key biological questions posed by Huntington's disease and other hereditary disorders. The Hereditary Disease Foundation, founded by Dr. Milton Wexler, has been a major vehicle for stimulating interest in Huntington's disease and allied disorders in the scientific community and bringing them to the attention of the public.
To Dr. Nancy Wexler, for her extraordinary research that led to the localization and later identification of the Huntington's disease gene and for mobilizing research, policy development and scientific advocacy in the worldwide effort to find a cure, this 1993 Albert Lasker Public Service Award is given.
Creator
Columbia University
Date
None
Source
https://250.ps.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/timeline_media/Nancy%20Wexler_0.jpg?timestamp=1478920248
Relation
Rights
Source: The Lasker Foundation. (n.d.). Albert Lasker public service award. In The lasker foundation. Reterieved October 12, 2012, from http://bit.ly/RjAYp2
Publisher
Columbia University
Contributor
Columbia University
Format
Medium: Photograph
Language
English
Type
Figures
Identifier
Huntington's Disease, Diseases, Nancy Wexler, Genetics, Science
Coverage
Historic
Files
Collection
Reference
Columbia University, Finding a Cure for Huntington's Disease, Columbia University, None
Cite As
Columbia University, “Finding a Cure for Huntington's Disease,” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed April 19, 2024, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/264.