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Alliance for Aging Research Celebrates Healthy Aging at Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner

Published September 29, 2015

Several full tables at 25th Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner.

Nonprofit Organization Honors Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Rep. Diana DeGette, Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D., and Scott Simon

Washington, D.C., September 29, 2015 – Today the Alliance for Aging Research honors Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado, Alzheimer’s research pioneer Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D., and Scott Simon of National Public Radio at its 22nd Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“This evening we once again have the privilege of honoring a group of individuals who have advanced the cause of health and better quality of life as we age,” says Susan Peschin, MHS, Alliance president and CEO. “Whether it is in the arena of innovative public policy, groundbreaking research, or impactful storytelling, each of our honorees has made their mark in improving the human condition.”

Ayotte is the recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award for her leadership in the U.S. Senate in launching and co-chairing the Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus to elevate the issue of family caregiving and for introducing and co-sponsoring several legislative proposals to strengthen the U.S. mental health system.

DeGette is the recipient of the Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging, which is named in memory of the U.S. legislator from Florida. DeGette led the way for development and passage of the historic 21st Century Cures Act in the House earlier this summer and has been a dedicated champion of medical research throughout her career.

Tanzi is the recipient of the Silver Innovator Award for spearheading his research lab’s “Alzheimer’s-in-a-dish model,” a revolutionary 3-D discovery that lends support to the 30-year-old hypothesis that plaques are the early culprits in Alzheimer’s disease and provides encouragement that newer interventions might ultimately benefit patients if given early enough in the course of the disease. Tanzi was recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People for 2015.

Simon, an award-winning journalist for National Public Radio, is the Alliance’s Indispensable Person of the Year in recognition of his 2015 book Unforgettable: A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a Lifetime, which poignantly captures his experiences with his mother during her last days.

In addition the Alliance will screen a new video that calls on U.S. government leaders to work together to increase funding in support of the valuable work of the National Institutes of Health.

For more information, please visit the dinner event page. For inquiries, please contact Noel Lloyd at 202.370.7852 or [email protected].

About the Alliance for Aging Research
The Alliance for Aging Research is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the pace of scientific discoveries and their application in order to improve the universal human experience of aging and health. The Alliance was founded in 1986 in Washington, D.C., and has since become a valued advocacy organization and a respected influential voice with policymakers. Visit agingresearch.org for more information.

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