Thornton Receives Prestigious National Science Award
Dr. Charles Thornton, neurologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center and MDF Scientific Advisory Committee member, has been awarded a Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further his research on muscular dystrophy. Congress established the Senator Jacob Javits Awards in the Neurosciences in honor of the late Senator Javits (R-NY), who was himself afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award
The Javits Award (R37) is a conditional, seven-year research grant given to scientists for their superior competence and outstanding productivity. Javits Awards provide long-term support to investigators with a history of exceptional talent, imagination and preeminent scientific achievement. The award is initially for a period of four years, after which, based on an administrative review, an additional project period of three years may be awarded.
Investigators may not apply for a Javits Award. Nominations for this award are made by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) staff and by members of the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council. These nominations are then reviewed by the Director, NINDS and the NANDS Council.
Particularly Deserving Investigator
MDF reached out to Charles' longtime collaborator, Dr. Richard Moxley, for his thoughts on Charles and the Javits Award. Dr. Moxley noted that his comments about Charles could go on at length. In brief he noted:
"Charles exemplifies the best in superb clinical research. He is a caring physician, a brilliant scientist with innovative insights, a meticulous, thoughtful investigator, and an excellent team builder -- a critically important component of productive translational research."
He also shared the email that he received from Dr. Glen Nuckolls, Program Director of Extramural Research Program at NINDS. Dr. Nuckoll's comments underscore those provided by Dr. Moxley about Charles:
"This is a much deserved award! The NINDS Advisory Council members were universally enthusiastic about [Charles'] scientific accomplishments, service to the research and patient communities and remarkable track record of peer reviewed applications."
MDF's board and staff join many others in extending our very enthusiastic congratulations to Dr. Thornton for this outstanding recognition, and thank him for his transformative work on myotonic dystrophy research.
Read the University of Rochester Medical Center announcement here.