Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) announced today the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors, drawing talent from research and non-profit community leaders dedicated to advancing scientific research.
"This is an exciting time for Benaroya Research Institute," says Gerald Nepom, M.D., Ph.D., Director of BRI. "I am confident that these talented new board members will help us meet our goal of conducting cutting-edge scientific research that translates into advances in medicine. We are impressed already with the strong commitment they have shown in supporting research at BRI."
The new BRI board members include Judith Rising, Dorothy H. Mann, Ph.D., M.P.H., Kristi Pangrazio and George M.Martin, M.D. All will begin their new appointments on Jan. 1, 2005.
Judith Rising
Judith Rising is founder of Pat’s Fund, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for autoimmune diseases. Formerly a business owner and marketing specialist, Rising founded Pat's Fund as a living memorial for her youngest son Pat who was diagnosed with IdiopathicThrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys blood platelets.
Dorothy H. Mann, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Mann has served as a director on the board of The Hope Heart Institute since 2000. She is a consultant in health policy analysis, governance structures, gender equity issues, health as social development and other topics. Since 1993, Dr. Mann has served as Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Health Services at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
Kristi Pangrazio
Ms. Pangrazio has served on The Hope Heart Institute board since 1999 and has served as chair since 2001. She has served in a number of civic positions including as school board member in Burlingame, CA and has developed three locally based businesses.
George M. Martin, M.D.
George M. Martin, M.D., is emeritus professor at the University of Washington. He has served as acting chair of the Department of Pathology, Founding Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program and director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. He has received many honors and awards, including the IPSEN Foundation Longevity Prize, the Lifetime Achievement Award and a number of Distinguished Scientist awards. He has also served the American Federation for Aging Research, the World Alzheimer Congress and the Gerontological Society of America.
"I have long been impressed by the quality of the research being carried out at the Benaroya Research Institute - not without some degree of personal pride, as I was the Founding Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program here at the University of Washington and Jerry Nepom was one of our earliest MD/PhD trainees! I look forward to joining discussions of emerging priorities for research,"said George M. Martin about this new appointment.
Two of the four new BRI board members (Pangrazio and Mann are also board members of The Hope Heart Institute) bring existing ties to The Hope Heart Program at BRI, a research program begun in January 2004, designed to advance treatment options for individuals with cardiovascular disease. This scientific team will explore the strong link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as related autoimmune diseases.
