Bethesda, MD (June 23, 2015) -- The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is pleased to announce that the AGA Research Foundation has raised more than $10.5 million to support digestive disease and hepatology research through the Looking Forward: Giving Back endowment campaign.
"Research is the key to improving health today and giving physicians the tools we need to care for the patients of tomorrow," said Martin Brotman, MD, AGAF, chair of the AGA Research Foundation. "Thanks to our generous donors, we can ensure that research into gastrointestinal and liver diseases will be stimulated and supported by AGA for years to come."
AGA launched the Looking Forward: Giving Back endowment campaign in October of 2011, with the original goal of securing $7.5 million. The foundation's long-term objective is to ensure $2 million is generated annually by our endowment, which will provide annual research funding opportunities to talented investigators. The campaign called on our industry partners, AGA members, national and family foundations, grateful patients, and the entire GI community to help fill the funding gap created by a decrease in federal funding for medical research.
"With the wide-spread research funding cuts and the ever-growing needs of the expanding patient population, we must step up to fill this gap or risk the stagnation of progress," added Dr. Brotman, who also chaired the Looking Forward: Giving Back campaign.
The success of the Looking Forward: Giving Back campaign would not be possible without the commitment of our volunteers. AGA would like to thank the campaign executive committee for their leadership and participation in the endowment campaign:
Vice Chairs: J. Sumner Bell III, MD, AGAF, and Anil K. Rustgi, MD, AGAF
Divisions Chairs: C. Richard Boland, MD, AGAF, Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF, Kiron M. Das, MD, PhD, AGAF, Ralph A. Giannella, MD, AGAF*, Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF*, Lawrence S. Kim, MD, AGAF, Loren Laine, MD, AGAF,
Nicholas F. LaRusso, MD, AGAF, David A. Peura, MD, AGAF*
Distinguished Chairs*: John I. Allen, MD, AGAF, James W. Freston, MD, PhD, AGAF, Barry J. Marshall, MD, AGAF, Daniel K. Podolsky, MD, AGAF, Marvin H. Sleisenger, MD, AGAF, Tadataka Yamada, MD, AGAF
In addition, AGA would like to recognize the Looking Forward: Giving Back campaign's most generous donors. Their gifts will make an immediate difference in the careers of young scientists and in the lives of countless patients who will benefit from their work.
John I. Allen, MD, MBA, AGAF & Carolyn Allen
Anonymous
Sumner and Susan Bell
Athena Blackburn
Boston Scientific
Braintree Laboratories, Inc.
Farron and Martin Brotman, MD
Covidien-Medtronic
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Gastric Cancer Foundation
Gilead Sciences
Colin and Jackie Howden
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Alan and Louise MacKenzie
Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now Valeant)
Bernard Lee Schwartz Foundation
Shire Pharmaceuticals
Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
More information on research funding opportunities: http://www.gastro.org/research-funding.
Make a donation to the AGA Research Foundation: http://www.gastro.org/donateonline.
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About the American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to more than 16,000 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. http://www.gastro.org.
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About the AGA Research Foundation
The AGA Research Foundation, formerly known as the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, is the cornerstone of AGA's effort to expand digestive disease research funding. Since 1984, the AGA, through its foundations, has provided more than $45 million in research grants to more than 830 scientists. The AGA Research Foundation serves as a bridge to the future of research in gastroenterology and hepatology by providing critical funding to advance the careers of young researchers between the end of training and the establishment of credentials that earn National Institutes of Health grants. Learn more about the AGA Research Foundation or make a contribution at http://www.gastro.org/foundation