$5 Million Gift for Psoriasis Research in Ohio

[Guest guest]

from the press release:

University Hospitals Receives $5 Million Dermatology Gift, Largest in

U.S. :

University Hospitals' Department of Dermatology has received a $5

million gift from The Murdough Foundation to advance the research and

treatment of psoriasis, a chronic genetic disease that affects the

skin

and the joints. The gift is the largest known in the U.S., for

dermatology at an academic medical center. The Murdough Family Center

for Psoriasis will support and stimulate clinical research and

treatment for, and education about, psoriasis.

The Murdough Foundation of Hudson, Ohio, is an independent foundation

that primarily provides support to organizations in Northeast Ohio.

Foundation President G. Murdough, Jr., is a member of the

University Hospitals Board of Directors, and is the founder and CEO

of

Step2, a multinational manufacturer and marketer of high- quality

plastic products for children and for the home and garden, based in

Streetsboro, Ohio. Mr. Murdough is also the founder and former

president of The Little Tikes Company.

" We want University Hospitals to be the #1 location in the world for

research and treatment of psoriasis, " Mr. Murdough says. " Great

progress has been made and we hope even greater strides will be

possible with this gift, " adds his wife, Joy Murdough. " Our ultimate

hope is to cure psoriasis. "

The Department of Dermatology at University Hospitals is recognized

among the top psoriasis programs in the world, with a strong record

of

accomplishment for innovation and translational research. The

Department consistently ranks among the top dermatology programs

nationally for competitive research funding from the National

Institutes of Health (NIH). The Department also is one of six

NIH-designated National Skin Diseases Research Centers.

Psoriasis manifests as patches of itchy, inflamed skin that can vary

from mild to extremely severe. Currently, the Department of

Dermatology

studies the triggers of psoriasis flares and the natural mechanisms

and

therapies that can bring this complex disease under control. " With

the

Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis, we will be able to continue to

determine causes of psoriasis, as well as identify improved therapies

for patients living with the condition, " says D. , MD,

Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at University Hospitals

Case

Medical Center. " This gift allows us to educate the community and

physicians about the cause and treatments for psoriasis that will

improve the quality of our patients' lives. "

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affects an

estimated 2-3 percent of people worldwide. The NIH estimates between

5.8 and 7.5 million of these are Americans. Neil Korman, MD, PhD, who

will direct the Murdough Family Center's Psoriasis Treatment Program,

has treated thousands of psoriasis patients, and directs the Clinical

Trials Unit in the Department of Dermatology. The Clinical Trials

Unit

has played a leading role in the all of the major recent psoriasis

clinical trials. " The opportunity to create an innovative clinical

education and treatment network in the community will enable

pioneering

treatment advances in our community as a model for the nation, " Dr.

Korman says.

" We are truly grateful for supporters like Tom and Joy Murdough, and

their commitment to not only enhancing quality care at University

Hospitals, but their dedication to millions of people living with

skin

disorders, " says F. Zenty III, University Hospitals President

and CEO. " At University Hospitals, our mission is To Heal. To Teach.

To

Discover. This gift will help us deliver on that promise to those

afflicted by psoriasis locally, regionally, nationally, and

throughout

the world. "

" This gift is a meaningful tribute to the work and vision for

diagnosis

and treatment of skin diseases at University Hospitals, " adds Fred C.

Rothstein, MD, President and CEO, University Hospitals Case Medical

Center. " The generosity of the Murdough family will enable our

researchers and clinicians to discover new ways to continue to care

for

psoriasis patients, and will provide information to patients and

educational opportunities for the next generation of healthcare

professionals. "

[Guest guest]

I sought to thank the Murdough Foundation for such a generous gift and found

the website for the new Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis. I hope you

will all check it out and send them a letter of thanks. Orin

_http://www.murdoughpsoriasis.com/_ (http://www.murdoughpsoriasis.com/)

[Editor's Note: Thanks for this, Orin. It is good to see you here again. How

are you doing? For the newbies, Orin used to be a very active moderator of this

site and he is our research guru. Kathy F.]