March 24 2014
Mary Horowitz, M.D., M.S., the Robert A. Uihlein, Jr. Chair in Hematologic Research, professor of medicine and chief of hematology and oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), was presented with the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) at the organization's annual meeting. The award recognizes her involvement and support of the blood and marrow transplant community, and her past, present and current stewardship of both CIBMTR® (the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research®) and the Clinical Trials Network. She was also commended for her commitment to mentoring the next generation of clinical scientists.
Dr. Horowitz, who is the chief scientific director of CIBMTR, studies the effectiveness of transplantation as a treatment for life-threatening diseases such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other cancers. MCW collaborates with the National Marrow Donor Program®/Be The Match® on blood and marrow transplant research through CIBMTR. Through the leadership of Dr. Horowitz, CIBMTR's outcomes-oriented and translational research programs have been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 20 years and have been driving forces in the field.
In addition to leadership positions at MCW, Dr. Horowitz serves as Research Director for the Stem Cell Therapeutic Outcomes Database of the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and Principal Investigator of the Data and Coordinating Center of the national Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. Dr. Horowitz and colleagues received a $45 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to fund the Clinical Trials Network, the largest federal grant ever awarded to MCW. She also serves as a member of numerous editorial boards and grant review panels.
A 1980 MCW alumna, Dr. Horowitz completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology and a residency in internal medicine, including a year as chief resident, in the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals Program. She also completed a Master of Science degree in biostatistics and clinical epidemiology at MCW's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
About the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is the global leader in providing a cure to patients with life-threatening blood and marrow cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, as well as other diseases. The nonprofit organization manages the world's largest registry of potential marrow donors and cord blood units, connects patients to their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant and educates health care professionals. Through its research program, CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research), the organization conducts research so more lives can be saved.
The NMDP also operates Be The Match, which provides patient support and enlists the community to join the Be The Match Registry®, contribute financially and volunteer.
About the Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin is the state's only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. Founded in 1893, it is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in the Medical College's medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee. New regional medical education campuses are opening in Green Bay in 2015, and in Central Wisconsin in 2016, with each recruiting initial classes of 15-20 students. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In FY 2012-13, faculty received approximately $160 million in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes, of which approximately $144 million is for research. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, College faculty direct or collaborate on more than 2,000 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,350 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 425,000 patients annually.
About the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research
The Medical College of Wisconsin is home to the Milwaukee campus of the CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research). The CIBMTR is a research collaboration between the Medical College of Wisconsin and the National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match. The CIBMTR collaborates with the global scientific community to advance hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy research worldwide. The CIBMTR facilitates critical, cutting-edge research that has led to increased survival and an enriched quality of life for thousands of patients. The prospective and observational research is accomplished through scientific and statistical expertise, a large network of transplant centers and clinical database of more than 380,000 transplant recipients.
Contact:
Kirsten Lesak-Greenberg
On Behalf of the NMDP/Be The Match
612-455-1749
klg@padillacrt.com