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What is healthy for your body is good for your eyes, that is the message the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) is highlighting during the month of May as it observes Healthy Vision Month. “To lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma participate in healthy habits all through your life,” said Kathleen Honaker, Executive Director, AHAF.
The American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) today announced the award of $6.4 million dollars in grants to researchers seeking preventions, new treatments, and cures for Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight,” because it often has no symptoms until there is irreversible vision loss making it the leading cause of blindness worldwide affecting approximately 65 million people according to the World Health Organization.
Noted researcher and doctor, Willem J. Kolff, M.D., who died February 11, 2009, and is known for his work in the design of the first artificial heart and artificial kidney, received early research funding from the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) made available today, through the launch of their new computerized reporting system, the actual amounts spent on research of 215 of their disease categories showing less money was spent on Alzheimer's disease research than originally thought. This information further highlights the importance of private donations to fund research into finding a cure for this devastating illness.
An independent team of scientists is leading Alzheimer's disease research in a new, promising direction. Through a $1 million grant they received last year from Alzheimer's Disease Research, a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), Donald F. Weaver, M.D., Ph.D. and his colleagues at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada are leading a multi-site, multidisciplinary international effort to design a drug that might one day prevent the onset of this devastating disease.
This year, Alzheimer's Disease Research (ADR), a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation, has awarded $5.2 million in Alzheimer's disease research grants. After reviewing applications from around the world, the ADR Scientific Review Committee awarded 27 grants of two- and three-year duration to scientists from the U.S. and Europe conducting research on Alzheimer's disease.
Macular Degeneration Research (MDR) and National Glaucoma Research (NGR), two programs of the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF), have awarded a total of $2.7 million in eye disease research grants for 2008.
This year, the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) has awarded a total of $7.9 million in grants for its three programs, Alzheimer's Disease Research (ADR), Macular Degeneration Research (MDR) and National Glaucoma Research (NGR). The Scientific Review Committees for each program awarded two- and three-year grants to 54 scientists from around the world.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Health Assistance Foundation (AHAF) have partnered to fight heart disease and promote healthy lifestyles by initiating regional and national research projects and by coordinating a public outreach campaign.