Health & Fitness

RESEARCH

Using Stem Cells

Volunteers Needed

Hadassah gains Taubman
donation to fight ALS.

Ann Arbor

I

n support of continued collaboration
researching the use of
stem cell technology to treat
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS),
Bloomfield Hills philanthropist A. Alfred
Taubman has donated $300,000 to
Hadassah, the Women's
Zionist Organization of
America.
Taubman is a long-
time supporter of stem
cell research. During the
2010 World Stem Cell
Summit in Detroit on
Oct. 5, he received the
A. Alfred
Stem Cell Action Award
Taubman
from the Genetics Policy
Institute.
His Hadassah gift supports collaborative
research between Dr. Benjamin Reubinoff,
director of the Human Embryonic Stem
Cell Research Center at Hadassah Medical
Center in Jerusalem, and Dr. Eva Feldman,
director of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical
Research Institute at the University of
Michigan.
Since 2009, the two researchers have
been working together to
study stem cell therapy in the treatment of
ALS. Hadassah is a partner
in the Taubman Institute-Israel Initiative,
which brings together
medical researchers at the University of
Michigan and in Israel.
With the help of Taubman's gift, the
international team will apply the latest
embryonic stem cell technology to develop
in test tubes human tissue containing
the genetic defects for ALS. The intent: to
mimic the conditions in which ALS occurs.

"When I discussed Reubinoff's research
with him a few years ago',' Taubman said,
"I was immediately impressed and felt it
critical that I do what I could to support
his groundbreaking work in stem cell
research.
"We are fortunate to have a climate in
Michigan that welcomes and encourages
embryonic stem cell research. And the
powerful combination of Reubinoff's and
Feldman's medical minds, backed by the
prestige of the Hadassah Medical Center
and the University of Michigan, has the
potential to seriously impact medical his-
tory."
The Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah
has worked on Hadassah's behalf to sup-
port medical research at a local level. Its
members co-sponsored an event for
Reubinoff and Feldman and U-M lead-
ers following Reubinoff's initial visit to
Michigan when he presented the second
annual A. Alfred Taubman Lectureship on
his work in January 2009.
"Supporting advanced medical research
is at the core of Hadassah's mission',' said
Nancy Falchuk, Hadassah's national presi-
dent.
Taubman, founder of the Oakland
County-based real estate development
company Taubman Centers, founded the
Taubman Institute at the U-M in 2007 with
a gift of $22 million. The funds are part of
more than $60 million Taubman has given
to the university.
"Stem cell research has the potential to
be at the forefront of medical progress','
Fakhuk said.
"We are grateful for Mr. Taubman's gen-
erous gift facilitating Dr. Reubinoff's and
Dr. Feldman's critical work in this field:'

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Oakland County is seek-
ing volunteers who are 55 or older.
Senior volunteers choose from a variety of volunteer positions in their com-
munity. Opportunities at hospitals, cultural institutions, food pantries, schools
and more are available. RSVP will find a place close to home where you can
make a real contribution to your community.
RSVP is a program of Catholic Social Services of Oakland County and is
sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For infor-
mation on volunteer opportunities: Carol Heckman, (248) 559-1147 ext. 3435.

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October 21 • 2010

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