HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA AWARDS 2022 BERMAN-TOPPER FAMILY HD CAREER DEVELOPMENT FELLOWSHIP
New York, NY, June 30, 2022 — The Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Sara Sameni (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies) has been awarded the HDSA Berman-Topper Family HD Career Development Fellowship for 2022.
This prestigious fellowship, made possible in part to the generosity of the Berman and Topper families, provides up to $80,000 of funding per year for three years to young scientists and clinicians who desire to make Huntington’s disease (HD) part of their long-term career plan. HDSA received applications from researchers from all around the world for this competitive grant.
“I’d like to congratulate Dr. Sameni on being named the 2022 recipient of this fellowship,” said Michael Berman. “She brings a new perspective to the study of HD biomarkers, and joins a fantastic group of fellows who are bringing hope to the community through their commitment to HD research.”
Dr. Sameni’s project is entitled Predicting and monitoring Huntington’s disease progression and its response to therapy via MMM technique: Computational Modeling, cellular Metabolism, assessment of Membrane fluidity. “Sara has a unique skillset and a passion for HD research, and she will apply her expertise in biomedical engineering and mathematics to the study of human cells,” said Leora Fox, PhD, Assistant Director of Research and Patient Engagement at HDSA. “This will allow her to create personalized models to predict disease course and treatment response in people with HD.”
“Sara shows true dedication to HD research and her work will continue to expand what we know about the disease. We are excited to have her join this prestigious program as she embarks on her professional career and look forward to seeing the impact she makes in the years ahead,” said Arik Johnson, PsyD, Chief Mission Officer at HDSA.
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Huntington’s disease is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person’s physical and mental abilities during their prime working years and has no cure. Each child of a parent with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the faulty gene that causes HD. Today, there are over 41,000 symptomatic Americans and more than 200,000 at-risk of inheriting the disease. The symptoms of HD are described as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – simultaneously.
The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the premier nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by HD. From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the world’s leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people with HD and their families. To learn more about Huntington’s disease and the work of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, visit www.hdsa.org or call 1-800-345-HDSA.
