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THE ELI AND EDYTHE L. BROAD FOUNDATION CREATES GRANT PROGRAM FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Daniel Hollander, M.D. to Lead Innovative Research Effort

Funding Available to Expand on Recent Advances in Crohn’s Disease Research

Friday, November 2, 2001

Los Angeles, CA – Eli Broad announced today the creation of the Broad Medical Research Program (BMRP) for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) grants.  The Broad Medical Research Program will be part of The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Foundation.  The program’s initial goal is to support creative and novel research into the causes, management and prevention of IBD.  Daniel Hollander, M.D. has been named the Director of the program.

Eli Broad said: “I believe that the best way to advance medical knowledge is to support innovative and promising research.  Dr. Hollander is a widely recognized expert in this field for his visionary work on IBD.  I am honored that he is committing his time and efforts to finding improved therapy and prevention of IBD.” 

“In light of recent genetic discoveries regarding Crohn’s disease, I am excited about the opportunities these grants will provide to investigators working in IBD research,” Dr. Hollander said.  “The Broads’ investment in innovative research will no doubt result in improvements in IBD therapy and possibly its prevention.” 

The Broad Medical Research Program’s goal is to fund basic or clinical research projects that:

• are in the early stages of exploration;
• propose new directions or ideas;
• are creative, innovative, cutting edge and imaginative; and
• are not ready for funding by other more traditional granting agencies. 

All proposals must be based on sound scientific evidence and careful evaluation of current knowledge in IBD research.  In addition, the BMRP wants to attract well-trained scientists who are not currently working in IBD to apply their knowledge, expertise and techniques to IBD research.  Interdisciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged.  Although most grants will total approximately $100,000 U.S. per year, the BMRP will consider larger requests if required for the project.

IBD refers to two chronic inflammatory disorders:  Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.  Both diseases result in inflammation of the intestinal wall, but differ in location and depth of inflammation.  It is estimated that up to one million people in the United States are affected with IBD, which occurs predominantly in urban areas of North America and Europe.  Primary symptoms include abdominal pain, bleeding, diarrhea, weight loss and fever.  There can be secondary complications, such as joint, eye, skin and liver problems.  In patients with mild symptoms, medications can control the disease.  However, for those with severe IBD, hospitalizations, surgery, transfusions and intravenous feeding may be needed.  Although scientific advances have been made in understanding and treating IBD, the precise cause, successful treatment and prevention of IBD remain unknown.

The BMRP will benefit from the outstanding scientists who serve on its Advisory Board: 

• Theodore Bayless, M.D. of Johns Hopkins University, recipient of the Janssen Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Gastroenterology;
   

•  Paul Berg, Ph.D. of Stanford University, 1980 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry for his fundamental studies of DNA;
   

• David R. Cave, M.D., Ph.D. of Tufts University, with extensive research experience in infective agents and the gastrointestinal tract;
   

•  David D. Ho, M.D. of The Rockefeller University, Time magazine’s 1996 Man of the Year for his pioneering treatment for HIV infection;
   

•  Alice S. Huang, Ph.D. of California Institute of Technology, former Dean of Science at New York University;
   

•  Eric S. Lander, Ph.D. of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, a world leader in the international Human Genome Project; and
   

•  Ernest M. Wright, D.Sc. of the University of California, Los Angeles, with distinguished research achievements in intestinal biology.

Hollander is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine.  Before joining the BMRP, he was President/CEO of the Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute.  Hollander has held several academic leadership positions including:  Executive Dean and Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and Professor of Medicine and Head, Division of Gastroenterology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

While at UCI, he also served as Associate Dean for Research and Program Development, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs.   Hollander is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American College of Physicians, the American Federation for Medical Research, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Physiological Society and the Western Association of Physicians. 

He is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Gastroenterology.  He has conducted research on the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease, as well as on nutrient lipid absorption and the influence of aging on intestinal functions. 

Hollander hopes that this new funding will stimulate exciting ideas to tackle the problem of IBD.  “I would like nothing better than to be inundated with outstanding, novel research proposals.” 

Eli Broad is recognized as a “venture philanthropist” because he shoulders the financial risk for innovative projects that might otherwise not receive funding from traditional institutions.  He seeks promising ventures to find solutions to some of our nation’s most vexing long-term challenges.  According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, in 2000, only Bill Gates surpassed the Broads in giving.  He is chairman of SunAmerica Inc., a leading financial services company specializing in retirement savings, and serves on the board of SunAmerica’s parent company, American International Group, Inc.  He is founder-chairman of KB Home (formerly Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation).

In addition to the Broad Medical Research Program, the Broads have two other foundations.  Improving governance, management and labor relations in the nation’s largest urban K-12 school districts is the mission of The Broad Foundation.  Lending contemporary works of art to museums and university galleries is the mission of The Broad Art Foundation.

If you have questions or would like more information about the BMRP, please visit our website at http://www.broadmedical.org.

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