Yale Chemistry Professor David Austin has received a $100,000 research award from the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance to study tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disorder that leads to tumor growth in multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes and lungs.
The severity of tuberous sclerosis can range from mild skin abnormalities to seizures, mental retardation or renal failure. An estimated 50,000 Americans and more than one million people worldwide are afflicted with the disorder.
The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance Rothberg Award for Courage in Research will support Austin’s work, which applies combinatorial and computational chemistry to test chemical compounds against new therapeutic targets in TSC to improve the quality of life for individuals with the disorder. The research also will emphasize life saving interventions to treat terminal conditions that may develop, such as renal and pulmonary complications.
The award was announced recently by the TS Alliance and the Rothberg Institute for Childhood Diseases. The TS Alliance works closely with the Rothberg Institute to seek out innovative researchers at all levels, from post-doctoral fellows to accomplished scientists. A primary objective of this joint effort is the creation of a consortium of some of the most capable scientists in the fields of cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry and bioinformatics conducting research on TSC.
For more than 30 years, the TS Alliance has been the leading source of information and resources to help individuals and families optimize care for those affected by tuberous sclerosis. The organization’s clinical development and medical awareness efforts provide consensus recommendations regarding diagnosis and follow-up procedures on all aspects of treatment and care for those born with the disorder. The TS Alliance research consortium, Center Without Walls, is a leading sponsor of medical research related to tuberous sclerosis.
For more information, view the TS Alliance Web site at www.tsalliance.org, or contact Marybeth Leongini, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, 301-562-9890. The toll free number for the TS Alliance is 800-225-6872.
