NEW YORK, NY
– $3.6 million was raised for Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory (CSHL) at its third annual Double
Helix Medals Dinner. The event honored Sherry
Lansing for Humanitarianism, Marilyn and
James Simons for Corporate Leadership and
James D. Watson and J. Craig Venter for
Scientific Research. The black-tie gala hosted by
veteran television personality Phil Donahue
was held on November 6 at New York City’s Mandarin
Oriental Hotel.
“Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory has long been recognized for its
excellence in biological and biomedical science
research,” said Dr. Bruce Stillman, Laboratory
President. “The Double Helix Medals recognize
individuals who have dedicated their lives to
raising the awareness of the importance of genetics
research for improving the health of people
everywhere.” The Double
Helix Medal, inaugurated in 2006, refers to
the unique structure of DNA molecule, which carries
all of life's information. It is central to
biological research, and is at the heart of work at
CSHL.
Sherry Lansing, one of
the most powerful executives in Hollywood for almost
25 years, was the first woman to run a major film
studio. Honored by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for
her humanitarian efforts, she is a noted fundraiser
for the American Cancer Society, the American Red
Cross and her own Sherry Lansing Foundation. She
most recently helped spear head “Stand Up to Cancer”
the nationally televised benefit that aired in
September 2008.
Drs.Watson and Venter received Double Helix Medals
for their work in promoting public knowledge about
personal genomes and making each of their individual
genome sequences available for scientific use on the
Internet. Dr. Watson is the Chancellor Emeritus of
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and won a Nobel Prize
in 1962 for describing the structure of DNA. He is
credited for building the modern vision for Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Venter, who now runs
the J. Craig Venter Institute, in 2007 published the
first full DNA sequence from
maternally and paternally inherited sets of
chromosomes of a single person – himself.
He has advocated the public release of individual
genomes with the view that a growing database in
which scientists can compare DNA profiles with
health histories and traits will help them
understand in greater detail the impact of genetics
upon human health. Venter’s team has also published
the sequences of more than 50 genomes, including
those of the fruit fly, mouse and rat.
Dr. Marilyn Simons and
her husband, Dr. James Simons who runs the private
investment firm Renaissance Technologies LLC, are
the co-founders of the Simons Foundation, a
charitable organization that was founded in 1994 to
fund basic research and educational programs in
mathematics, physical and life sciences. They were
honored this year by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
for Corporate Leadership. With $38 million
committed so far, the Simons Foundation expects to
provide $100 million in grants in 2009 to autism
researchers at more than 30 institutions, including
CSHL.
The funds raised at
the gala will fortify and expand Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory’s groundbreaking research and education
programs, laboratories and facilities, and further
facilitate the development of innovative
technologies to study genetics.
Cold Spring Harbor
Laboratory is a private, non-profit research and
education institution at the forefront of research
in cancer and molecular biology, neuroscience, plant
genetics, and bioinformatics and genomics. Under the
leadership of Bruce Stillman, Ph.D., President, more
than 400 scientists conduct groundbreaking research
to advance the understanding and ability to diagnose
and treat cancers, autism,
schizophrenia,
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and
other causes of human suffering.
For more information
about Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, visit
www.cshl.edu
and for more information about the Double Helix
Medals Dinner, visit
doublehelixmedals.cshl.edu