Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation

Last updated
Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation
Founded1995;28 years ago (1995)
Founder
Type Non-profit organization
Location
  • FDR Station, PO Box 220, New York, NY 10150
Fields Alzheimer's research
Affiliations
Website www.alzinfo.org

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation is an American nonprofit organization that supports research into the causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The organization's mission is to "understand the causes of Alzheimer's disease, improve the care of people living with it, and find a cure." [1] The Foundation is funded through donations from the public. [2]

Contents

Zachary Fisher, a New York City businessman and philanthropist, founded the organization in 1995 after his wife, Elizabeth Fisher, developed Alzheimer's disease. He teamed up with philanthropist David Rockefeller to establish the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Center for Research on Alzheimer's Disease at The Rockefeller University. Since its founding, the Fisher Center Foundation has primarily supported the research conducted at the Fisher Center Laboratory, which until 2019 was under the direction of Nobel Laureate Paul Greengard. [3]

The Foundation also publishes educational material for the public. Since 2007, the Foundation has published Preserving Your Memory magazine, a subscription-based publication for consumers. [4] The magazine has interviewed the caregivers of high-profile individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, as well as written features about high-profile caregivers themselves. It also publishes educational features, such as on the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

When his wife, Elizabeth Fisher, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, her husband, New York City real estate developer and philanthropist Zachary Fisher, partnered with their friend David Rockefeller to start the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Center for Research on Alzheimer's Disease at The Rockefeller University (the Fisher Center Lab) in New York City.

Paul Greengard led the Fisher Center Lab as its director from its founding until his death in 2019. Since then, the lab has been led by interim Laboratory Head Marc Flajolet and advised by a Neuroscience Advisory Committee featuring multiple Nobel Laureates and faculty from The Rockefeller University. [5]

The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded by Zachary Fisher and David Rockefeller in 1995. [6] The Foundation raises funds via contributions from the public, with most of those funds going to support the Fisher Center Lab, although the foundation also funds other Alzheimer's research around the globe. [7] The Fisher Center Foundation has been designated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator every year since 2010, [8] and received a Gold Seal of Transparency from Guidestar every year since 2018. [9]

The longtime President and CEO of the Foundation was Kent Karosen, a New York City-based businessman and philanthropist. Karosen was also the co-author, along with Chana Stiefel, of Why Can't Grandma Remember My Name?, a children's book about Alzheimer's disease published by the Foundation in 2016. [10] [11] Karosen died in 2018. [12] The Foundation is currently led by the chairman of the board Barry R. Sloane [13] and Executive Director Lucretia Holden. [14]

Partnership with Rockefeller University

Since its founding in 1995, the Fisher Center Foundation has financially supported the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Center for Research on Alzheimer's Disease at The Rockefeller University.

In addition to their regular financial support, in 2017 the Foundation established the Paul Greengard Professorship at Rockefeller University, in honor of longtime Fisher Center director and Nobel Laureate Paul Greengard. [15]

In 2021, the Foundation announced the endowment of another professorship at Rockefeller University, to be named the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fisher Professorship in Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Disease. [16] Since 2021, the Professorship has been held by Professor Sidney Strickland. [17]

Preserving Your Memory

Since 2007, the Foundation has published Preserving Your Memory, a triannual magazine available to subscribers and distributed to medical professionals nationally. The magazine is also made available for free on the Foundation website. [18]

The magazine has interviewed the caregivers of high-profile individuals suffering from Alzheimer's, as well as written features about high-profile caregivers themselves. It also provides educational materials, updates on discoveries in neuroscience, and brainteaser puzzles. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockefeller University</span> Biomedical research university in New York City, US

The Rockefeller University is a private biomedical research and graduate-only university in New York City, New York. It focuses primarily on the biological and medical sciences and provides doctoral and postdoctoral education. It is classified as a "Special Focus – Research Institution". Rockefeller is the oldest biomedical research institute in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arvid Carlsson</span> Swedish neuroscientist (1923–2018)

Arvid Carlsson was a Swedish neuropharmacologist who is best known for his work with the neurotransmitter dopamine and its effects in Parkinson's disease. For his work on dopamine, Carlsson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000, together with Eric Kandel and Paul Greengard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Greengard</span> American neuroscientist (1925–2019)

Paul Greengard was an American neuroscientist best known for his work on the molecular and cellular function of neurons. In 2000, Greengard, Arvid Carlsson and Eric Kandel were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system. He was Vincent Astor Professor at Rockefeller University, and served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund, as well as the Scientific Council of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. He was married to artist Ursula von Rydingsvard.

Manuel Alvarez is a Cuban-American obstetrician-gynecologist who has appeared on Fox News Channel shows such as America's Newsroom, Fox & Friends, Happening Now, Varney & Co., Money with Melissa, The O'Reilly Factor, The Kelly File, and Fox News Weekend, as well as on the local affiliate, WNYW-Fox 5 News. He currently serves as chairman of the department of obstetrics/gynecology at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey, and runs AskDrManny.com out of its headquarters in Hoboken, New Jersey. Alvarez is an outspoken opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, insisting it will lead to "socialized medicine" and "the end of private practice".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol W. Greider</span> American molecular biologist and Nobel laureate

Carolyn Widney Greider is an American molecular biologist and Nobel laureate. She joined the University of California, Santa Cruz as a Distinguished Professor in the department of molecular, cell, and developmental biology in October 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearl Meister Greengard Prize</span> Award

The Pearl Meister Greengard Prize is an award for women scientists in biology given annually by the Rockefeller University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zachary Fisher</span> American businessman and philanthropist (1910–1999)

Zachary Fisher was an American philanthropist and businessman. Born in the Brooklyn area, Fisher began his involvement with construction in his teen years. He then played a role in the New York real estate community for years while also serving as a major philanthropic benefactor for the men and women in the United States Armed Forces and their families, as well as being involved with numerous other not-for-profit organizations. President Bill Clinton awarded Fisher the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph M. Steinman</span> Canadian immunologist and cell biologist

Ralph Marvin Steinman was a Canadian physician and medical researcher at Rockefeller University, who in 1973 discovered and named dendritic cells while working as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Zanvil A. Cohn, also at Rockefeller University. Steinman was one of the recipients of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The Kavli Foundation, based in Los Angeles, California, is a foundation that supports the advancement of science and the increase of public understanding and support for scientists and their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippa Marrack</span> English biologist and immunologist based in the US

Philippa "Pippa" Marrack, FRS is an English immunologist and academic, based in the United States, best known for her research and discoveries pertaining to T cells. Marrack is the Ida and Cecil Green Professor and chair of the Department of Biomedical Research at National Jewish Health and a distinguished professor of immunology and microbiology at the University of Colorado Denver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisher House Foundation</span> Charity in United States

Fisher House Foundation, Inc. is an international, nonprofit established to improve the quality of life for members of the military, veterans, and their families. The foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital. Fisher Houses are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve.

Richard Lewis Huganir is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience and Psychological and Brain Sciences, Director of the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Brain Science Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has joint appointments in the Department of Biological Chemistry and the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Michael Stern was an American reporter, author and philanthropist. As a reporter during World War II he issued some of the first accounts from a liberated Rome, Italy in June 1944. He later worked in concert with Zachary Fisher to create the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, United States.

Samuel E. Gandy, is a neurologist, cell biologist, Alzheimer's disease (AD) researcher and expert in the metabolism of the sticky substance called amyloid that clogs the brain in patients with Alzheimer's. His team discovered the first drugs that could lower the formation of amyloid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladstone Institutes</span>

Gladstone Institutes is an independent, non-profit biomedical research organization whose focus is to better understand, prevent, treat and cure cardiovascular, viral and neurological conditions such as heart failure, HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer's disease. Its researchers study these diseases using techniques of basic and translational science. Another focus at Gladstone is building on the development of induced pluripotent stem cell technology by one of its investigators, 2012 Nobel Laureate Shinya Yamanaka, to improve drug discovery, personalized medicine and tissue regeneration.

The Hilgos Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the ongoing process of artistic creation for people who have different forms of memory impairment such as Alzheimer's disease.

BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Clarksburg, Maryland. BrightFocus funds research in an effort to discover cures for Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma, and provides information and free English and Spanish resources to increase awareness about these diseases. Through its research programs — Alzheimer’s Disease Research, National Glaucoma Research, and Macular Degeneration Research — the Foundation has awarded nearly $290 million in research funding. BrightFocus provides free public education and free printed brochures and publications on brain and eye diseases in English and Spanish, including Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. BrightFocus has active research grants in 17 countries and at 154 institutions. BrightFocus Foundation offers free monthly low-vision audio podcast programs with medical experts on Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration and a free expert Alzheimer's video series called "Zoom in On Alzheimer's and Dementia" with medical doctors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alzheimer's Foundation of America</span> Non-profit organisation in the USA

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is an American nonprofit organization based in New York City whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias nationwide, and fund research for better treatment and a cure. AFA unites more than 2,000 member organizations from coast-to-coast that are dedicated to meeting the educational, social, emotional and practical needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and their caregivers and families. Member organizations include grassroots Alzheimer's agencies, senior centers, adult daycare center, home healthcare agencies, long-term care residences, research facilities, and other dementia-related groups. AFA holds Charity Navigator's highest rating of 4 stars.

Tamas Bartfai, is a Hungarian neuroscientist with interests in neurotransmission, neuropeptides, prostaglandins, fever, and drug discovery. As of 2015, he is a professor in The Scripps Research Institute, and an adjunct professor at Stockholm University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Pennsylvania. As an author, he is widely held in libraries worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent Karosen</span>

Kent L. Karosen was an American businessman, author and philanthropist who served on the board of several charitable organizations. He was the President and CEO of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, a nonprofit health organization.

References

  1. "Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Fisher Center - GuideStar Profile".
  2. "Charity Navigator - Rating for Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation".
  3. "Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research".
  4. "Preserving Your Memory® Magazine". 28 January 2014.
  5. "Interim Leadership for Fisher Center Lab" (Press release). 24 September 2019.
  6. "Zachary Fisher - Builder, Philanthropist, Patriot - Fisher House Foundation".
  7. "Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Fisher Center - GuideStar Profile".
  8. "Charity Navigator - Historical Ratings for Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation".
  9. "Alzheimer's Research Foundation, Fisher Center - GuideStar Profile".
  10. "WHY Can't GRANDMA REMEMBER MY NAME? | Kirkus Reviews".
  11. Figueroa, Ariana (31 October 2016). "Teaching children why grandma can't recall their name". Miami Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  12. "Kent Lawrence KAROSEN Obituary (2018) the Miami Herald". Legacy.com .
  13. "Barry R. Sloane".
  14. "Lucretia V. Holden promoted to Executive Director at the Fisher Center" (Press release). 25 January 2020.
  15. "Paul Greengard Professorship established with $5 million gift from the Fisher Center Foundation".
  16. "Philanthropy News".
  17. "Sidney Strickland".
  18. "Preserving Your Memory® Magazine Archive". 8 February 2014.
  19. "Alzheimers".