S&R Foundation Launches Sachiko Kuno Award for Applied Science, Dr. Sheila Walker Honored as Inaugural Recipient

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- S&R Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports talented individuals with high aspirations in the arts, sciences, and social entrepreneurship, is thrilled to announce the 2015 winner of the newly-launched Sachiko Kuno Award for Applied Science, awarded to Dr. Sheila Ohlsson Walker.

Dr. Walker's research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Arizona State University has focused on the manner in which information from the fields of neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, and endocrinology can be applied to enhance educational outcomes, promote healthy behavior, reduce rates of chronic disease, and optimize health and learning throughout life.

"The goal of S&R's Kuno Award is to recognize and support visionaries with deep domain expertise in fields relating to specific 21^st century challenges," said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, CEO and President of S&R Foundation. "This award is designed to support the translation of scientific research to a practical and real-world solution. It supports those aiming to achieve measurable social impact, which is certainly the case with Dr. Walker's work."

S&R Foundation's Kuno Award for Applied Science for the social good is an annual award of financial support and other resources designed to support social innovators using scientific research and principles to address a 21^st Century problem. The award supports those aiming to achieve measurable social impact, by supporting the translation of scientific research into solutions that can be applied to improve lives.

The Kuno awardee is provided with $100,000 in funding, and complimentary office space at S&R Foundation's historic Halcyon House in Washington, DC.

Dr. Walker's project views the fundamental disconnect between the biological sciences, educational practice, policy, and maternal/child health as an unprecedented opportunity. Her venture aims to create a branded web-based information platform, broader and more comprehensive than anything currently in existence, complemented by a variety of targeted training modules. The platform will be grounded in trustworthy, replicated, data driven, cutting-edge research, supported by highly visible strategic partners in academia, government, and business, and designed for all those invested in supporting the development of healthy and happy children.

"We applaud Dr. Walker's vision and commitment, and are proud to support her field-building initiative," said S&R Foundation COO Kate Goodall. "Her passion and ambition, combined with brilliant research, dedicated leadership and the potential for tremendous impact for the social good all underscore her project's selection for the inaugural Kuno Award."

Dr. Walker's field-building initiative has four major objectives: translation, dissemination, awareness building and outcomes measurement, with an over-arching goal of optimizing education and health for our children and their families.

Overview

S&R Foundation's Sachiko Kuno Award for Applied Science for the social good is an annual award, launched in 2015, of financial support and other resources designed to support social innovators using scientific research and principles to address a 21^st Century problem. The award is designed to support the translation of scientific research to a practical and real-world solution. The award supports those aiming to achieve measurable social impact.

Through the Kuno Award, S&R Foundation will help social ventures secure the additional finance they need to grow, through intervention and support early in their formation. This may be through social investment, government contracts, or grant funding.

S&R will focus resources on providing support that includes a positive, nurturing environment where talented individuals are free to think, work and grow. S&R will also offer early stage financial support, while advanced funding or revenue is sought.

In order to be eligible for S&R Foundation's Kuno Award, applicants must be at early or mid-career, and possess a PhD in a relevant field. The project must be the original idea of the applicant, or the applicant's team.

Eligible projects must be in the start-up phase. To be considered start-up, the project may not have been organized, or may have been in operation for up to, but no longer than, to two years. S&R Foundation will look for leveraged solutions that create lasting positive change, and game-changing ideas that create better opportunities and outcomes for the future.

About S&R Foundation
S&R Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2000 to support talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the arts, sciences and social entrepreneurship, especially those who are furthering international cultural collaboration. Contributions to S&R Foundation go directly to funding its mission. Overhead and general operational costs are covered by founders' contributions and use of existing assets. For more information, visit www.SandRFoundation.org.

SOURCE S&R Foundation

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