Charles River Research Models in Drug Discovery Award Presented to Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel of the Prion Alliance
September 12 2017 - 08:00AM
Business Wire
Together, Sonia and Eric are fighting to
discover a cure for genetic prion diseases
On Tuesday, September 26, 2017, James Foster, Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories
International, Inc. will present the first Charles River Research
Models in Drug Discovery Award to Sonia Vallabh and Eric Minikel of
the Prion Alliance.
The award will be presented during the opening session of the
Inaugural Charles River World Congress on Animal Models in Drug
Discovery & Development, being held on September 26-27, 2017 in
Boston, Massachusetts.
From Patient to Scientist
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative diseases that
have an incidence of about 1 in 1 million people, according to the
World Health Organization. Genetic prion diseases are universally
fatal and currently untreatable. In 2011, after watching her mother
lose her battle with this rare disease, Vallabh learned that she
had inherited the same genetic mutation.
In 2012, Vallabh and Minikel founded the Prion Alliance with the
mission of facilitating the development of a treatment or cure for
prion diseases by raising funds for research, advocating, and
connecting patients and researchers. In 2014, Vallabh, a law school
graduate, and Minikel, an urban planner, both started a PhD program
at Harvard Medical School.
Today, Vallabh and Minikel work side-by-side, based at the
Stuart Schreiber laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT and
Harvard where, together with a team of researchers and advisors,
they have launched Prions@Broad, an initiative to discover a
treatment for prion disease.
Charles River Research Models in Drug Discovery Award
In 2017, Charles River created the Charles River Research Models
in Drug Discovery Award. The $50,000 award will be given annually
at the World Congress on Animal Models to recognize a researcher,
laboratory, or organization dedicated to supporting the development
of novel therapies.
The World Congress on Animal Models is a two-day scientific
program presented by Charles River, in partnership with BioPharm
America™. Attendees also receive full access to BioPharm America™
and all Biotech Week Boston events. To learn more and register,
visit breakthroughs.criver.com and follow #CRLworldcon on social
media.
Approved Quotes
- “Sonia and Eric’s passion and work
ethic are truly extraordinary. Driven by a uniquely personal
connection to this rare disease, their work toward finding a cure
for genetic prion diseases will have a profound impact on an
underserved patient population.” –James C. Foster, Chairman,
President and CEO at Charles River
- “We are profoundly grateful to Charles
River. Drug discovery is costly, and this award will move us
tangibly toward our goal of finding a cure for genetic prion
diseases.” –Sonia Vallabh, Prion Scientist at the Broad
Institute
About Charles RiverCharles River provides essential
products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions
around the globe accelerate their research and drug development
efforts. Our dedicated employees are focused on providing clients
with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery,
early-stage development and safe manufacture of new therapies for
the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique
portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.
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Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.Amy Cianciaruso,
781-222-6168Corporate Vice President, Public
Relationsamy.cianciaruso@crl.com
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