This is a layout I made last February to document how our family was at that time.? I wanted to play on the Valentine theme and use some fun supplies without making a Valentine layout.? It's a really fun thing to just ask everyone what their favorites are, and it's even more fun to look back on!
The background paper, the sizzlit doily die and the heart shapes are all Stampin' Up! if you are interested in finding them.? Enjoy!
Posted by The Mermaid Diaries on January 30, 2013 ? Leave a Comment?
Published in Home & Design Magazine, January 2012.
By Alisa Bowen Photography by Giovanni Photography
It is only natural that a couple who has lived in major international cities, including Paris and New York, would want to keep an elegant pied-?-terre in paradise together. Inspired to re-create a Pre-War style apartment, the owners wished to pay homage to fond memories of her grandmother?s apartment in New York?s Upper East Side, while expressing a love for the style and design aesthetic of Paris. Their further inspiration for this sophisticated vacation home included a beautiful collection of fine art and family antiques, but came with the challenge of downsizing. After three rounds of interviews with top interior design firms, they enlisted Kevin Steffanni, principal of Kevin Steffanni Design Group based in Naples, Florida and Rocky River, Ohio to help them create this dream-come-true apartment.
The enchanting space has been judiciously planned, and a neutral palette of grays and whites keeps the residents? collection of art and antique furnishings front and center. An eclectic mix of objects collected from their travels around the globe, and from family heirlooms and a vast European art collection, all present rich back stories steeped in the couple?s cherished history. As you enter the home, it is quickly apparent this is Old New York meets ?50s Paris. Classic wooden floors, rich area rugs, an elegant sparkling chandelier, and a gold-gilded mirror from the Parisian flea markets compliment a staircase foyer. The entrance is anchored by a sleek, lacquered chest from Joseph Anfuso.
Design fusion takes center stage in the main living room, where Steffanni listened carefully to the owner?s desire for a further infusion of Hollywood Regency Style. Two white vintage Barcelona chairs and matching ottomans all by Mies van der Rohe are matched effortlessly with a bubblegum-pink sofa designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller Design circa 1950. This seating arrangement sits atop an Art Nouveau, pink and coral, swirled rug which was sourced for the owners locally in Naples. More than anything, however, these homeowners are drawn to what?s ?cool,? yet offbeat. An old-English antique secretary, which was a wedding gift from him to her, is artfully paired with a mid-century modern Philippe Starck Ghost Chair. Seamlessly added to this is his personal collection of accolades from sports and business.
This intimate home opens out to a sunny enclosed sitting room which was converted with Steffanni?s expertise from a classic, Floridian outdoor lanai. Just when you thought you were back in old New York, the expansive views of the golf course remind you of your tropical whereabouts. Framing the entrance to this alcove is a pair of antique, farmhouse corner brackets perched like quotation marks in the upper corners. A rustic writing desk, circa 1880 from Ireland, provides a tucked-in space for quiet correspondence, while the orange armchairs by Ralph Lauren Home at Webster & Company add a vibrant burst of color.? An iron, Barbara Barry end table topped with stone, provides a charming accent. Illustrating the home?s eclectic style perfectly, the wooden antique farm bench ? a coveted family piece ? completes the space.
Steffanni truly excels at space planning. He helped his clients achieve their goal of downsizing, while still maintaining the look and livability of a much larger space. A glass and steel Knoll dining table designed by Warren Platner is crowned with a breathtaking Baccarat crystal chandelier. This charming breakfast nook provides a stylish space for a quiet meal or a more intimate dinner with guests. A classic, Pre-War, New?York-style kitchen was constructed with expert direction from Steffanni, complete with glass cabinetry, white Carrara marble, silver finishes, and antique culinary and cocktail trinkets. It is a 21st century design, including state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, punctuated with whimsical antique accessories.
Steffanni cleverly reinvented a nook off the main living room into an ad hoc library complete with an old English smoker?s table from London. This created the perfect vignette in which to showcase the owner?s cherished antique English writing desk from the 1860s. The cozy space is complete with a rich cigar chair by Hans Wagner, a magnificent leather club chair, and a steamer trunk recommended by home lifestyle specialist Mark Fanta of Ralph Lauren Home at Webster & Company. ?The distressed leather on the Ralph Lauren club chair has hints of gold and is magnificent when the light shines on it,? shares Fanta. It offers a comfortable spot for quiet contemplation beneath the beautiful, blue and white, still life paintings displayed on the wall.
A guest bedroom suite outfitted with beds from Switzerland provides visiting grandchildren and friends a tranquil, yet elegant retreat. Every detail in this room shows a diversity of origin. Throw pillows were purchased from a trip to the Far East. The mirror is from the Paris Flea Market that Steffanni picked up on his visit to France this past fall, and the rug was procured by the husband during his travels. The art pieces were purchased at a local gallery on 5th Avenue in Naples, and the mirrored chest is from F. Schumacher & Company. The chairs, from the Charles Faudre private collection acquired during a buying trip to the south of France, hit just the right note.
Clearly there is a compelling backstory and sentiment attached to each piece thoughtfully selected and displayed in this home. Steffanni modeled the master bedroom suite after the couple?s favorite hotel in Paris where they both once lived. Armed with inspiration, Steffanni worked with Fanta to select a bed from the Le Grand Hotel collection to compliment the owner?s existing Barbara Barry pieces. This Louis XV-inspired bed in an Indian Cove Lodge gilt finish allows Steffanni to carry the mix of metal finishes that are found throughout the residence. The silver-leaf, gilded, Adrianna crystal chandelier from Ralph Lauren Lighting glimmers beautifully. The silver-embroidered beading on the Ralph Lauren pillows and the brushed-gold nail heads on the Noble Estate bench dramatically reflect the light. Steffanni grouped the Cannes Ralph Lauren chaise lounge with the Noble Estate crystal lamp and three-tiered, Daniella table lamp to create an area for restful repose and that certain je ne sais quoi.
Hues of coral are imbued in the Schumacher upholstered slipper chair, in the rich Tibetan carpet that Steffanni sourced in Naples, and in the romantic arrangements of fresh tangerine roses on the night table. Steffanni placed artful and meaningful touches throughout the room, such as a framed, vintage, Hanae Mori butterfly scarf. The two, 24-karat gold, gilded twig mirrors, which remind the couple of their Carolina Mountain top estate, are from Webster & Company Antiques and Accessories. A sophisticated Barbara Barry dresser sits under a dramatic starburst mirror from Baker. Steffanni continues the juxtaposition by using the owners existing, dark wood Barbara Barry pieces (favorites of the homeowners), complemented by the light, silk and linen fabrics found on the bed, chaise, and bench. This bedroom is reminiscent of the chic, urban hotels the couple have enjoyed while traveling the globe.
Inspired by the grandeur of Parisian bedroom suites, Steffanni installed French doors with crystal doorknobs that open into the master bath. Dramatic elegance is obtained upon entry, with an antique English china cabinet, the starting point around which the entire room was planned. The cabinet is flanked by two, ?Madame et Monsieur? Waterworks pedestal sinks. The wooden English china cabinet is crowned with an antique, German mantle clock, a piece which was lovingly handed down within the family. European sophistication with a timeless sense of chic is reiterated with a pair of stunning Baccarat crystal candelabras found in Brighton, England circa 1820. These fixtures flank the One Fifth, silver-leaf mirror, also by Ralph Lauren, which hangs over a European slipper tub.
The design fusion works well here in Steffanni?s capable hands. The finished project not only transports the owners back to their memories of Paris and old New York, but delights guests as they completely forget that they are vacationing in a tropical paradise. This lovely pied-a-terre is a veritable jewel box of personal history, the perfect culmination of a chic and stylish lifetime of shared memories.
Researcher uncovers potential cause, biomarker for autism and proposes study to investigate theoryPublic release date: 31-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Gary Steinman gary.steinman@touro.edu 646-981-4604 Touro College Of Osteopathic Medicine
NEW YORK, NY A New York-based physician-researcher from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, best known for his research into fertility and twinning, has uncovered a potential connection between autism and a specific growth protein that could eventually be used as a way to predict an infant's propensity to later develop the disease. The protein, called insulin-like growth factor (IGF), is especially involved in the normal growth and development of babies' brain cells. Based on findings of prior published studies, Touro researcher Gary Steinman, MD, PhD, proposes that depressed levels of this protein in the blood of newborns could potentially serve as a biomarker for the later development of autism. However, this connection, described below in greater detail, has never been directly studied. Steinman presents his exciting theory in the journal Medical Hypotheses (article in press), available online today, January 31.
IGF stimulates special cells in the brain to provide an essential insulating material, called myelin, around the developing nerves that is needed to efficiently transmit important messages about everything the brain controls from physical functions such as movement to mental functions such as sensory perception, thinking and emotions. In the developing fetal and pediatric brain, myelin is also important for nerve fibers in one area of the brain to form proper pathways to other regions, allowing the body to hone functions over time. Insufficient IGF results in insufficient insulating material, as has been seen in brain biopsies of autistic individuals, and may impede proper pathway development. Steinman is proposing that this potential relationship between neonatal IGF levels and autism be directly studied.
In the United States, autism is currently reported in 1 in 88 live births about 125 new cases every day and it is four times more common in boys than in girls. Women who have given birth to an autistic child have approximately a one-in-five chance of having another. The impact that this life-long disease has on children, families, and finances is enormous. An affected child could add as much as $3 million in lifetime medical expenses over an unaffected child.
"Autism is on the rise, especially in the last two decades either because of environmental factors, expanded diagnostic criteria, or both. Yet almost nothing is currently known about the predisposing molecular and histological changes that differentiate a newborn destined to be neurologically normal from an autistic one," said Steinman.
Because no effective treatment or prevention for autism exists, research examining Steinman's idea is critical, as it may hold the key to understanding the cause of this often devastating illness. In his article, Steinman proposes a study to investigate this hypothesis, and if this study supports his theory that identification of reduced IGF at birth is later followed by the appearance of autistic characteristics, then the subsequent development of a simple biomarker blood test is equally critical.
In the proposed study, a sample of umbilical cord blood would be collected immediately after birth to measure IGF. Alternatively, a routine heel-stick blood sample might be used, as these are already collected from newborns within a day or two after birth to test for inborn errors of metabolism in most U.S. hospitals. Then the data collected at birth would be compared with the neurologic evaluation of the baby at 18 to 36 months of age.
If successful, the next phase of proposed research would entail detecting depressed IGF levels in amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy. This might be followed by supplementation of the growth factor before symptoms of autism develop.
"Further investigation into whether pharmaceutical treatment in the early postnatal period of newborns with a suspicion of a tendency of developing autism could reverse the effects of having had pathologically low levels of IGF while in utero and reduced IGF in their umbilical cord blood at birth would be a next step," said Steinman. Potential IGF-raising therapeutic agents that may be considered, which would all require caution, include Prozac, Copaxone, Increlex, and recombinant human IGF. Steinman also said that as a natural source of IGF, breast milk may also be an important consideration; an increased duration of breastfeeding is associated with a decreased incidence of autism.
The research into this theory could present an opportunity for public-private collaboration between academia and industry. In fact, if corroborated, Steinman's theory could also point to potential risks to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age of drugs able to lower IGF levels, of which there are several Somavert, Sandostatin, Parlodel, and several experimental IGF receptor antagonists.
Additionally, if Steinman's theory is confirmed by the proposed, or any related, studies, a search of gene variations could then be conducted in autistic children. This kind of information might allow genetic risk determinations in the preconception period, similar to other forms of genetic testing and counseling during the family planning stages. Genetic testing and counseling for autism may be especially helpful to couples who start families later in life. Newborn levels of IGF are inversely proportional to parental age, and older mothers and fathers have a higher risk of conceiving children who will later develop symptoms of autism.
In developing his hypothesis and proposed investigation, Steinman examined IGF research to date in the areas of genetics, intrauterine environments, postpartum factors, and nervous system development, as well as a few other related factors. "We believe there's a good chance this theory will be validated, but much work remains. My collaborators and I are excited to have identified this potential connection and hope it leads not only to the discovery of the cause of autism but also a way to detect it early, treat it, and ultimately prevent it," said Steinman.
###
This study was funded by the Touro College Office of Sponsored Programs and the Israel Psychobiologic Fund.
Steinman G, Mankuta D. Insulin-like growth factor and the etiology of autism. Med Hypotheses. 2013 (in press). Epub 2013 January 31.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Researcher uncovers potential cause, biomarker for autism and proposes study to investigate theoryPublic release date: 31-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Gary Steinman gary.steinman@touro.edu 646-981-4604 Touro College Of Osteopathic Medicine
NEW YORK, NY A New York-based physician-researcher from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, best known for his research into fertility and twinning, has uncovered a potential connection between autism and a specific growth protein that could eventually be used as a way to predict an infant's propensity to later develop the disease. The protein, called insulin-like growth factor (IGF), is especially involved in the normal growth and development of babies' brain cells. Based on findings of prior published studies, Touro researcher Gary Steinman, MD, PhD, proposes that depressed levels of this protein in the blood of newborns could potentially serve as a biomarker for the later development of autism. However, this connection, described below in greater detail, has never been directly studied. Steinman presents his exciting theory in the journal Medical Hypotheses (article in press), available online today, January 31.
IGF stimulates special cells in the brain to provide an essential insulating material, called myelin, around the developing nerves that is needed to efficiently transmit important messages about everything the brain controls from physical functions such as movement to mental functions such as sensory perception, thinking and emotions. In the developing fetal and pediatric brain, myelin is also important for nerve fibers in one area of the brain to form proper pathways to other regions, allowing the body to hone functions over time. Insufficient IGF results in insufficient insulating material, as has been seen in brain biopsies of autistic individuals, and may impede proper pathway development. Steinman is proposing that this potential relationship between neonatal IGF levels and autism be directly studied.
In the United States, autism is currently reported in 1 in 88 live births about 125 new cases every day and it is four times more common in boys than in girls. Women who have given birth to an autistic child have approximately a one-in-five chance of having another. The impact that this life-long disease has on children, families, and finances is enormous. An affected child could add as much as $3 million in lifetime medical expenses over an unaffected child.
"Autism is on the rise, especially in the last two decades either because of environmental factors, expanded diagnostic criteria, or both. Yet almost nothing is currently known about the predisposing molecular and histological changes that differentiate a newborn destined to be neurologically normal from an autistic one," said Steinman.
Because no effective treatment or prevention for autism exists, research examining Steinman's idea is critical, as it may hold the key to understanding the cause of this often devastating illness. In his article, Steinman proposes a study to investigate this hypothesis, and if this study supports his theory that identification of reduced IGF at birth is later followed by the appearance of autistic characteristics, then the subsequent development of a simple biomarker blood test is equally critical.
In the proposed study, a sample of umbilical cord blood would be collected immediately after birth to measure IGF. Alternatively, a routine heel-stick blood sample might be used, as these are already collected from newborns within a day or two after birth to test for inborn errors of metabolism in most U.S. hospitals. Then the data collected at birth would be compared with the neurologic evaluation of the baby at 18 to 36 months of age.
If successful, the next phase of proposed research would entail detecting depressed IGF levels in amniotic fluid during the second trimester of pregnancy. This might be followed by supplementation of the growth factor before symptoms of autism develop.
"Further investigation into whether pharmaceutical treatment in the early postnatal period of newborns with a suspicion of a tendency of developing autism could reverse the effects of having had pathologically low levels of IGF while in utero and reduced IGF in their umbilical cord blood at birth would be a next step," said Steinman. Potential IGF-raising therapeutic agents that may be considered, which would all require caution, include Prozac, Copaxone, Increlex, and recombinant human IGF. Steinman also said that as a natural source of IGF, breast milk may also be an important consideration; an increased duration of breastfeeding is associated with a decreased incidence of autism.
The research into this theory could present an opportunity for public-private collaboration between academia and industry. In fact, if corroborated, Steinman's theory could also point to potential risks to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age of drugs able to lower IGF levels, of which there are several Somavert, Sandostatin, Parlodel, and several experimental IGF receptor antagonists.
Additionally, if Steinman's theory is confirmed by the proposed, or any related, studies, a search of gene variations could then be conducted in autistic children. This kind of information might allow genetic risk determinations in the preconception period, similar to other forms of genetic testing and counseling during the family planning stages. Genetic testing and counseling for autism may be especially helpful to couples who start families later in life. Newborn levels of IGF are inversely proportional to parental age, and older mothers and fathers have a higher risk of conceiving children who will later develop symptoms of autism.
In developing his hypothesis and proposed investigation, Steinman examined IGF research to date in the areas of genetics, intrauterine environments, postpartum factors, and nervous system development, as well as a few other related factors. "We believe there's a good chance this theory will be validated, but much work remains. My collaborators and I are excited to have identified this potential connection and hope it leads not only to the discovery of the cause of autism but also a way to detect it early, treat it, and ultimately prevent it," said Steinman.
###
This study was funded by the Touro College Office of Sponsored Programs and the Israel Psychobiologic Fund.
Steinman G, Mankuta D. Insulin-like growth factor and the etiology of autism. Med Hypotheses. 2013 (in press). Epub 2013 January 31.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc is considering selling its New Yorkheadquarters and has asked real estate brokers to evaluate the building's value, in a move that could see it relinquish one of the last vestiges of its disastrous merger with America Online, two sources said.
One source said on Wednesday that the company could still hang on to its portion of the Time Warner Center, a complex that Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes once called an "indulgence."
The industry sources did not want to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.
The company's headquarters is part of the larger Time Warner Center, which the company now known as AREA Property Partners and Related Cos finished in 2004.
Time Warner's 1.1 million square-foot (102,193 square-meter) headquarters could command a price tag of more than $1 billion.
"If they decide to sell that vacant block you get pricing approaching or surpassing $1,000 a square foot," said Dan Fasulo, managing director of Real Capital Analytics, a real estate research firm.
The developers began building the complex in Manhattan's Columbus Circle neighborhood soon after the media company announced its plan to combine with America Online in 2000. The development was originally to be known as the AOL Time Warner Center, but "AOL" was dropped by the time it opened in 2004.
The company's headquarters are in the south tower, which is topped with residential condominiums. The other tower houses condominiums and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. They are connected by an upscale shopping mall.
RANGE OF OPTIONS
All totaled, Time Warner owns or occupies space in 15 buildings in the New York metropolitan area, including 10 in Manhattan. The $47 billion media giant owns the Warner Brothers movie studio, cable news channel CNN, premium TV service HBO, Turner Broadcasting and Time Inc.
Many media companies in New York have been on the move or plan to do so within the next couple of years. The most notable is Conde Nast, which plans to consolidate its operations and move to One World Trade Center in 2014.
Other companies have sold the real estate they own to raise cash. On January 17, Japan's Sony Corp, which has a major U.S. film and TV studio, said it would sell its U.S. headquarters building in New York City for $1.1 billion, the highest price paid for a single U.S. office building in two years.
Time Warner has been evaluating its real estate needs for at least a year and hopes to finalize a plan by the end of 2013, a source said.
The company is considering a wide range of options, including hanging on to the headquarters, selling the space and leasing it back, moving more employees into the headquarters and closing other New York offices, or moving out entirely, the source said.
The amount the headquarters would fetch would depend on what Time Warner decides to do, Real Capital's Fasulo said.
"There's a difference in value in sale-leaseback or whether they just vacate the property," he said.
If Time Warner intends to lease it back, then the value would be linked to rent and the length of lease that Time Warner is willing to commit to, Fasulo said.
The conglomerate has been making changes to some of its most high profile divisions in recent weeks.
It is currently overhauling ratings-starved news channel CNN under new leadership. On Wednesday, Time Inc, the magazine unit of Time Warner, said it was cutting about 500 jobs, about 6 percent of its total staff.
(Reporting by Ilaina Jonas and Liana Baker in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Steve Orlofsky and Phil Berlowitz)
A school bus driver was fatally shot in Midland County, Ala., by a man who boarded the bus with children on board and then abducted a six-year-old student. He is holding the child hostage in an underground bunker. WSFA's Samuel King reports.
By Erin McClam and Matthew DeLuca, NBC News
An Alabama man was holding a child hostage in an underground bunker early Wednesday after he boarded a school bus, shot and killed the driver, and took the boy, authorities and witnesses said.
Witnesses told WSFA, a local NBC station, that the man was talking to authorities through a PVC pipe. The station reported that the child, age 5 or 6, was not hurt but that authorities were calling the situation delicate.
The Dale County school system said 21 students made it off the bus safely. The abduction took place after school Tuesday in Midland City, a town of about 2,300 near the Alabama-Florida state line.
The Dothan Eagle newspaper quoted a neighbor, Michael Creel, as saying that the shooter was 67 years old. Creel described the bunker as a ?homemade bomb shelter,? roughly 4 feet wide, 6 feet long and 8 feet deep and covered by several feet of sand.
A second neighbor, James Edward Davis Jr., told the newspaper that the man would be ?outside in his yard digging dirt at 2:30 in the morning.? Another neighbor, Danny Dean, told NBC News that the man had dug up his own driveway.
?He?s always got a shovel,? Dean said. ?You would be amazed at the dirt he?s moved with a shovel by hand.?
A minister said that the man boarded the bus and told most of the students to get off. The man grabbed the boy, shot the bus driver several times and ran off with the boy, the minister said, quoting children he had talked to.
The bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, had worked as a driver for the county since 2009. Linda Williams, a county tax clerk whose cousin was married to Poland, described him to NBC News as ?a good Christian man? who was active in church.
WSFA reported that the driver had tried to stop the man before being shot. The boy reportedly fainted before he was taken.
The minister, Michael Senn, told WSFA that the other children ran for safety and hid behind Destiny Church.
?All the kids are at a safe place,? he said, though he added that they all appeared to be in shock.
Dean said that the man had lived in the neighborhood a year and a half to two years. He said the man had been friendly to him but was not known in the neighborhood to socialize or go to church.
Claudia Davis, who lives on the road where the standoff was taking place, told The Associated Press: ?Before this happened, I would see him at several places, and he would just stare a hole through me.?
Creel told the newspaper that the man was ?the type that thinks the government?s out to get them.?
In addition to the county sheriff?s department, local police, the FBI and a SWAT team were on the scene. Authorities ordered people living nearby to leave during the standoff.
The office of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said the governor was closely watching the situation.
?Prayers for law enforcement, this child?s family and the community are lifted up,? the governor?s press secretary, Jennifer Ardis, said on Twitter.
Rep. Martha Roby, who represents the area, also asked for prayers and added on Twitter: ?Let?s be patient as law enforcement officers do their best to get to the bottom of this and bring the person responsible to justice.?
Schools in Dale County and the nearby city of Ozark were closed for the rest of the week. Dale County schools said counselors would be available to help students, including those who were on the bus.
The Dothan Eagle via AP
A man boarded this stopped school bus in the town of Midland City on Tuesday afternoon and shot the driver when he refused to let a child off the bus. The bus driver died.
Leading researchers warn of 'brain drain' as scientists struggle to find fundingPublic release date: 31-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Alec Saslow asaslow@fenton.com 202-789-7751 AHAF-American Health Assistance Foundation
New survey outlines funding deficiency in brain and eye disease research
Clarksburg, Md. BrightFocus Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds research worldwide to save sight and mind, today released the results of a survey of more than 170 leading biomedical scientists that explores the most significant barriers to progress in ending brain and eye diseases. The survey indicates that a lack of dependable funding is threatening to create a deficit of highly skilled scientists at a time when the nation could soon face a health care crisis brought on by devastating disorders like Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
"Cures for these brain and eye diseases can be found if we give researchers the resources and tools they require," said Stacy Haller, president and chief executive officer of BrightFocus Foundation, formerly named American Health Assistance Foundation. "Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. are affected by Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. That number is climbing with an aging population, threatening our families, our health care, and our economy. Eradicating these diseases should be a much higher national priority."
The new survey taps into the attitudes and opinions of more than 170 top brain and eye disease scientists from around the world who have received foundation research grants in recent years. Respondents expressed near-consensus on the impact that funding sources play in their field:
94 percent agreed that a lack of federal funding for brain and eye disease research is impeding scientific discoveries.
91 percent agreed that a lack of research funding is driving scientists from the field.
96 percent identified limited funding as a top barrier to entry for new scientists in the fields of brain and eye disease research.
"By now, it should be clear that the cost of adequately supporting efforts to prevent and treat cognitive and vision diseases is minuscule compared to the cost of failing to do so," said Guy Eakin, Ph.D., vice president of Scientific Affairs for BrightFocus Foundation. "The total U.S. health care cost for Alzheimer's alone is $200 billion annually and is expected to soar to $1.1 trillion per year by 2050 if we don't have the scientific discoveries made possible by research funding. Yet budget cuts for research continue, and we're losing the talents of a generation of scientists."
###
For more in-depth analysis of survey results and recommendations, visit www.brightfocus.org/ResearcherSurvey2013.
About BrightFocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation is the new name, as of February 1, 2013, for the nonprofit American Health Assistance Foundation, celebrating 40 years of support for health research and public education. The new BrightFocus name reflects our redoubled commitment to advancing knowledge that saves mind and sight. Our three programs Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research focus on the toughest challenges facing brain and eye health. For more information, visit www.BrightFocus.org.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Leading researchers warn of 'brain drain' as scientists struggle to find fundingPublic release date: 31-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Alec Saslow asaslow@fenton.com 202-789-7751 AHAF-American Health Assistance Foundation
New survey outlines funding deficiency in brain and eye disease research
Clarksburg, Md. BrightFocus Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds research worldwide to save sight and mind, today released the results of a survey of more than 170 leading biomedical scientists that explores the most significant barriers to progress in ending brain and eye diseases. The survey indicates that a lack of dependable funding is threatening to create a deficit of highly skilled scientists at a time when the nation could soon face a health care crisis brought on by devastating disorders like Alzheimer's, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
"Cures for these brain and eye diseases can be found if we give researchers the resources and tools they require," said Stacy Haller, president and chief executive officer of BrightFocus Foundation, formerly named American Health Assistance Foundation. "Nearly 20 million people in the U.S. are affected by Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. That number is climbing with an aging population, threatening our families, our health care, and our economy. Eradicating these diseases should be a much higher national priority."
The new survey taps into the attitudes and opinions of more than 170 top brain and eye disease scientists from around the world who have received foundation research grants in recent years. Respondents expressed near-consensus on the impact that funding sources play in their field:
94 percent agreed that a lack of federal funding for brain and eye disease research is impeding scientific discoveries.
91 percent agreed that a lack of research funding is driving scientists from the field.
96 percent identified limited funding as a top barrier to entry for new scientists in the fields of brain and eye disease research.
"By now, it should be clear that the cost of adequately supporting efforts to prevent and treat cognitive and vision diseases is minuscule compared to the cost of failing to do so," said Guy Eakin, Ph.D., vice president of Scientific Affairs for BrightFocus Foundation. "The total U.S. health care cost for Alzheimer's alone is $200 billion annually and is expected to soar to $1.1 trillion per year by 2050 if we don't have the scientific discoveries made possible by research funding. Yet budget cuts for research continue, and we're losing the talents of a generation of scientists."
###
For more in-depth analysis of survey results and recommendations, visit www.brightfocus.org/ResearcherSurvey2013.
About BrightFocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation is the new name, as of February 1, 2013, for the nonprofit American Health Assistance Foundation, celebrating 40 years of support for health research and public education. The new BrightFocus name reflects our redoubled commitment to advancing knowledge that saves mind and sight. Our three programs Alzheimer's Disease Research, Macular Degeneration Research, and National Glaucoma Research focus on the toughest challenges facing brain and eye health. For more information, visit www.BrightFocus.org.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Published in Home & Design Magazine, January 2012.
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Public release date: 31-Jan-2013
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