| In a presentation ceremony today, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation received a $25,000 grant from ManorCare Health Services, which owns and operates six skilled nursing facilities in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The grant, which will support Alzheimer’s research, was presented to OMRF Vice President of Development Art Cotton by representatives of ManorCare. Through its HCR Manor Care Foundation, ManorCare Health Services sets aside monies each year to assist not-for-profit organizations which conduct research and education related to issues affecting the elderly, as well as organizations that provide community-based services addressing the needs of the elderly.
“As the nation’s elderly population continues to grow, senior care issues will become more critical. Our Foundation is motivated to build an enduring record of support for those who can contribute meaningfully to improving the quality of life for our seniors,” explained Jennifer Steiner, Executive Director of the HCR Manor Care Foundation. |
 Vice President for Development Art Cotton and Associate VP for Development Sandy Cotton receive a check for $25,000 from Manor Care’s regional directors. |
“Since OMRF is a private, non-profit, biomedical research institute, we are dependent upon the philanthropy of individuals and foundations like HCR Manor Care” said Art Cotton, Vice President for Development for OMRF. “Without these gifts, grants, and donations, world-class science and research would not be possible at OMRF. We are truly grateful for this gift from the HCR Manor Care Foundation.”
In 2000, OMRF researchers led by Jordan Tang, Ph.D., identified memapsin 2, a key enzyme that contributes to Alzheimer’s Disease, and created an inhibitor to stop its activity. While the research is still in early phases, this discovery is a significant step toward understanding, treating, and controlling Alzheimer’s Disease.
HCR Manor Care Foundation, Inc., established in 1997 to provide elderly focused philanthropy, selected OMRF as one of this year’s grant recipients in recognition of its outstanding quality research in the Alzheimer’s field. “In its short history, the HCR Manor Care Foundation has now granted nearly $2 million for research, education, and outreach that is primarily focused on the elderly and persons requiring post acute services,” remarked J. Susan Hines, president of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to be able to support our local community partners in their efforts to cure this disease that affects so many of Oklahoma and the nation’s elderly,” said Glen Roebuck, ManorCare Health Services’ Regional Director of Operations for Oklahoma.
Chartered in 1946, OMRF is a private, non-profit biomedical research institution which employs over 400 scientists, physicians, technicians, and administrative and support personnel, including Oklahoma’s only two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. OMRF focuses on several critical areas of research: Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, stroke, AIDS, children’s diseases and genetic disorders.
