Dr. Olivera Nesic-Taylor, an assistant professor in biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas, Galveston, was presented with the Erica Nader Award for 'breakthrough research in spinal cord regeneration.'
"Dr. Nesic-Taylor's work in isolating proteins, such as aquaporin, that act to prevent tissue regeneration following spinal cord injury represents a major leap forward in our understanding of a problem that has long plagued orthopedic and neurological specialists," said Marc R. Viscogliosi, a principal of Viscogliosi Bros. LLC., a New York investment firm that conceived and has been funding the award since 2004.
Mr. Viscogliosi was addressing the 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) today in Tampa, FL. The $10,000 research grant award is the largest of several awards administered by ASIA. It is named after Ms. Nader who sustained a critical spinal injury in a 2001 auto accident and has since become a major figure in advocating and supporting the type of research cited in the award criteria.
Dr. Marcalee Sipski Alexander, President & Director of ASIA, said: "Dr. Nesic-Taylor is an outstanding young scientist in the field of nerve regeneration research. Her discoveries could lead to development of treatments capable of neutralizing or inhibiting the affect of proteins that allow onset of edema and syringomelia, and other conditions that cause paraplegia."
The inaugural winner of the Erica Nader Award was Ping Wu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience, also from the University of Texas at Galveston. Dr. Wu's work led to breakthrough stem cell research in spinal cord nerve cells.