Cures Within Reach honors the memory of Dr. Janet Davison Rowley

CHICAGO - June 13, 2014 - PRLog -- .  The Janet Davison Rowley Patient Impact Researcher Award will be given to one or more researchers who have created positive patient impact through Rediscovery Research™, repurposing an existing, approved drug or device for a new patient population.  The BAM event will take place on June 17^th, 2014 at the Standard Club in Chicago.

Dr. Janet Rowley is legendary for her discoveries in cancer genetics. In her biography in the National Library of Medicine, Dr. Janet Davison Rowley said, “In research, I had the extraordinary good fortune to make a series of discoveries about genetic changes in human leukemia and lymphoma.  Today, the 9;22 translocation in chronic myelogenous leukemia is treated with a specific drug, Gleevec©, that induces remissions in the vast majority of patients. To have contributed to this marvelous success story is truly a rewarding experience.”

Since its initial approval, Gleevec has been approved for repurposed uses in patients with different types of gastrointestinal tumors.  Scientists continue to study the drug's effectiveness in other cancers, and in endocrine diseases, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and rare genetic diseases.  Dr. Rowley’s genetics discoveries, when combined with the work of others, have created a blueprint for the development of new drugs and the ability to find new indications for already approved drugs.

Dr. Rowley spent most of her distinguished career at the University of Chicago, one of Cures Within Reach’s academic research partner institutions.  2014 recipients of this award will be Dr. D. James Surmeier and Dr. Tanya Simuni of Northwestern University, honored for their work repurposing an existing, approved drug as a therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.

BAM 2014 will also recognize Dr. Norbert Riedel (http://www.cureswithinreach.org/2014-bam) by presenting him with the Patient Impact Legacy Award and Ms. Judy Goldman with the Patient Impact Philanthropy Award. Prominent Midwest bioscience industry leaders and philanthropists will be in attendance to lead the fundraising initiative to support the work of Cures Within Reach (http://www.cureswithinreach.org/).

Sponsors for BAM include Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Baxter International Inc. and Forest City Sceince+Technology Group.  Chairs for 2014 are Nancy Searle, civic leader and advocate for the growth of the bioscience industry in Chicago, and Nancy Joseph-Ridge, head of global development and general manager for the Pharmaceutical Development Division at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is honorary event chair, and nominating event chair is Michael Rosen, recipient of the BAM 2013 Patient Impact Legacy Award and senior vice president of the Forest City Science + Technology Group.  For details and ticket information, visit: http://www.cureswithinreach.org/BAM

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.

Media Contact:

Amy Conn

Director of Advancement

Cures Within Reach

amy@cureswithinreach.org

(847)745-1246