Harrington Discovery Institute Announces Gund-Harrington Scholars

CLEVELAND, June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness have announced their 2017 Gund-Harrington Scholars.

Harrington Discovery Institute partnerships are based on a shared mission to advance discoveries of new medicines that will improve human health, as well as, enhance each organization's ability to play a significant role in setting the scientific and innovation agenda in leading-edge research. These awards offer selected winners funding and drug development expertise to ensure the most promising treatments enter clinical trials where their safety and efficacy can be established.

Gund-Harrington Scholars are selected for their outstanding research programs to slow, prevent or cure blindness.  The 2017 award winners are:

• Shannon Boye, PhD, University of Florida, for work in retinal degeneration and development of a novel therapy for Usher Syndrome 1B.
• Thomas Reh, PhD, University of Washington, for developing an orally bioavailable drug for the treatment of Retinitis Pigmentosa.
• Shigemi Matsuyama, PhD, Case Western Reserve University, for inhibitors of retinal cell death that treat a wide range of retinal degenerative diseases.
• Richard Kramer, PhD, University of California Berkeley, for studies of retinal degeneration and a photoswitch drug to treat Retinitis Pigmentosa.

"The Cleveland-based Harrington Discovery Institute currently supports promising discoveries in North America and the U.K.," said Jonathan S. Stamler, MD, President, Harrington Discovery Institute. "Our collaborations with disease foundations and like-minded research institutions allow us to better address underserved areas of medicine and to bring forth new medicines where treatments remain elusive."    

"The Foundation Fighting Blindness continues to applaud Ron Harrington's support for accelerating promising research from the bench to clinical studies," said Gordon Gund, chairman emeritus and co-founder of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. "What's unique and significant about the Gund-Harrington Scholar awards is the way in which our organizations combine funding with pragmatic support and translational expertise from a highly experienced cadre of pharmaceutical R&D executives. Together, the Harrington Discovery Institute and the Foundation Fighting Blindness are dedicated to continuing our collaboration to help advance the research that will defeat diseases that limit the ability of millions of people worldwide to experience the gift of sight."

In addition to funding, award recipients receive committed drug development support and strategic advice through the Harrington Discovery Institute's Innovation Support Center and the Foundation Fighting Blindness Clinical Research Institute for the duration of the term of the award. This includes consulting and management services from experienced pharmaceutical development professionals, as well as regulatory, intellectual property and business development assistance. 

Harrington Scholars have facilitated access to BioMotiv – part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development – a for-profit commercialization company that is aligned with the Harrington Discovery Institute in mission and structure. BioMotiv was created to further advance discoveries by academic researchers in areas of unmet need. 

SOURCE Harrington Discovery Institute