print this page | email this page
Robert M. Weinreb MD, UCSD Distinguished Professor, Inaugurates Daniel Scott Weston Lecture Series October 25, Launching Silicon Valley Chapter
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Friday, Sept 14, 2007 – Robert M. Weinreb, MD, nationally acknowledged glaucoma researcher and clinician, will be the inaugural Daniel Scott Weston Glaucoma Research lecturer as Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) officially launches its Silicon Valley chapter Thursday, October 25, at 6 pm hosted by prominent developer and rancher Lydia and John Vidovich in their home in Los Altos Hills, California, GRF’S President and CEO Thomas M. Brunner announced today.
“In glaucoma, Dr. Weinreb is acknowledged nationally as one of our leading clinicians, surgeons and scientists,” Brunner said. “As President of the American Glaucoma Society and previously as President of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Association of International Glaucoma Societies, he’s also one of our country’s most persuasive and authoritative voices for glaucoma to be a national health priority.”
“Dr. Weinreb’s innovative approach to beating this looming epidemic of blindness from glaucoma is exactly the kind of visionary effort we need to see more of across the country,” said chapter Founding Chair Art Takahara (Mountain View), “and exactly the kind of imaginative leadership we think of as the entrepreneurial spirit here in Silicon Valley.”
At the University of California, San Diego, Shiley Eye Center Dr. Weinreb is the Director of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center, which provides state-of-the-art laboratory and clinical research facilities for glaucoma and a home for a world-renown team of 60 scientists and staff.
Known for their unique cross-disciplinary investigative programs, the scientists at the Hamilton Center seek to enhance the discovery and translation of innovative research to prevent and cure glaucoma blindness. Additionally, Dr. Weinreb is Distinguished Professor and Chief of the Glaucoma Division and Vice Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology. A prolific researcher and writer, he has more than 900 scientific publications and 11 books to his credit; delivered 42 named lectures and serves on 17 Editorial Boards.
The Weston Lecture, established with a grant from Gladys and George Weston DDS (Redwood City), memorializes their son Daniel Scott Weston, who died of a brain tumor at the age of 47 in 1998. “We want to foster innovative efforts to preserve and protect the vision of future generations while celebrating the life of a beloved son who warmed our hearts with humor, kindness and compassion,” said Dr. and Mrs. Weston, who have a personal interest in glaucoma.
The Weston Lecture will be presented annually and showcase a nationally recognized scientist or clinician whose work is significantly advancing our knowledge of glaucoma, particularly in the area of new therapies and progress toward a cure.
Interested members of the public may attend the event by prior reservation, but space is limited and subject to availability. The mission of the new chapter is to provide a forum in Silicon Valley for innovative research speeding the cure for glaucoma, as well as to raise major gifts in support of research and education initiatives provided by GRF.
For information on the Lecture or Chapter, contact Craig Palmer at (415) 986-3162 or e-mail: cpalmer@glaucoma.org.