Bethesda, MD (Sept. 21, 2009) – The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN) announced that the family of the late businessman and photographer, Bernard Lee Schwartz, has honored his memory by establishing a new three-year Research Scholar Award for pancreatic cancer research. The $225,000 gift from the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation will provide a young investigator with funding and protected time for three years to focus on basic science related to pancreatic cancer. Mr. Schwartz suffered from the disease and died in 1978 at the age of 64.
"The research support provided by the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation is helping to answer important questions in the study of pancreatic cancer," said Sidney Cohen, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Foundation. "The research funded by the Bernard L. Schwartz Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer will continue to contribute to the advancement of our knowledge of the early detection and treatment of this devastating disease. The AGA Foundation is most grateful for the Schwartz family's continued confidence in the research scholars of the AGA Foundation."
This is the second Research Scholar Award in pancreatic cancer funded by the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation. The first recipient, Kenneth H. Yu, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, has focused his research on identifying screening protein markers associated with pancreatic tumors, which will yield a test to detect the disease at an early stage.
"We think that bringing young, capable and innovative investigators to work on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer is a worthy endeavor and one which will yield results," said the Schwartz family. "AGA recognizes the critical need for new research talent which is focused on this area and we are delighted to be their partner in creating this research award. We believe that progress toward a cure for pancreatic cancer will come from the concentrated efforts of smart investigators who have the resources they need and enough dedicated time to do their work."
Mr. Schwartz lost his father during the depression and at the age of 18 dropped out of college in order to find work. After a difficult start, he embarked on a successful career as an entrepreneur and industrialist. A lifelong interest in photography led him at the age of 60 to a second career as an internationally renowned portrait photographer. His work has been exhibited in Europe and the United States and was most recently on display at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Researchers interested in applying for the Bernard L. Schwartz Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer should visit www.fdhn.org. Application deadline is Jan. 29, 2010.
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths, with more than 35,000 estimated deaths expected to occur in 2009. More than 42,000 cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed in 2009. Currently, there are no methods for the early detection of pancreatic cancer; only 7 percent of cases are diagnosed in the early stages. The one-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 24 percent and the five year survival rate is 5 percent; when the disease is identified in the early stages, the five-year survival is only 20 percent.
About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org.
About FDHN
The Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition (FDHN) is the Foundation of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). The Foundation's ultimate mission mirrors that of the AGA: to improve the human condition through understanding, preventing, diagnosing and curing digestive diseases. The Foundation raises funds for research and public education. Donors to the Foundation include AGA physicians, patients and family members of those who suffer from digestive diseases, national foundations and the pharmaceutical industry. For more information on the awards program or to make a donation, visit www.fdhn.org.
About the Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation
The Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation supports medical research (primarily on pancreatic cancer), education reform and the appreciation of portrait photography. Examples of Mr. Schwartz's portraits can be found at www.bernschwartz.org.