Today, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation announced its 2022 mesothelioma award recipients for its Pioneer Award, the Klaus Brauch Above and Beyond Award, and the Bruce Vento Hope-Builder Award.
Each year, the organization presents awards to those in the community who have made an extraordinary impact in the fight against mesothelioma. The awards will be presented at 12 PM CDT during the Awards Session at the 2022 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma on Saturday, July 23rd. The conference and the awards presentations will be streamed live for those unable to attend in person. The livestream registration is offered at no cost at www.curemeso.org/symposium.
“Our mission is ambitious and achieving it has required and will continue to require Herculean efforts by many people,” said Julie Powers, the executive director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
“On behalf of the organization’s board of directors, our science and community advisory boards, our community of patients, caregivers, those who have lost a loved one, and our volunteers, I want to extend a profound thank you to our 2022 award recipients for their tireless work and dedication.”
The Pioneer Award recognizes individuals pioneering scientific advances in mesothelioma research and treatment. This award, determined by a vote of the organization’s Science Advisory Board, recognizes Hedy Lee Kindler, MD, a medical oncologist at the University of Chicago Medicine.
Dr. Hedy Kindler is the director of the Mesothelioma Program at her institution where she has established one of the world’s premier centers for the treatment of mesothelioma. Dr. Kindler has been affiliated with numerous scientific organizations and has served on the organization’s Science Advisory Board. This year, she also served as faculty director for the community conference of the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma. Throughout her career spanning nearly three decades, Dr. Kindler has been at the forefront of patient care as well as research. She has developed and led numerous clinical trials seeking to test the efficacy of novel agents against mesothelioma thus positioning herself as a true pioneer in this often overlooked cancer.
The Bruce Vento Hope-Builder Award, named for Minnesota Congressman Bruce Vento, recognizes an individual who creates hope for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones through advocacy. This year, the organization recognized the efforts of Maria Towe with this award.
Maria Towe came to the Foundation when her wife Cris was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017. Ever since her wife’s passing in 2019, Maria has lent her time and (numerous) talents to the Foundation and its work. Leaning on her background in public health, she was instrumental in the development, deployment, administration, and analysis of a large survey of the Foundation’s community. Currently, Maria is a member of the organization’s Community Advisory Board through which she continues to contribute to the mission of the organization.
The Klaus Brauch Above and Beyond Award, named after one of the organization’s first patient volunteers, seeks to recognize an engaged and exemplary individual who invests time and talent to advance the Foundation’s mission. This year’s recipient is Richard Mosca.
Richard Mosca was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2008. He, along with wife Lora, became instantly involved in the Foundation’s mission. Over the years, Rich served on the Foundation’s board of directors and has provided countless patients with hope and support. Most recently, Rich became involved with the Department of Defense’s medical research program, where he supplied the patient experience in his role as consumer reviewer and has applied the knowledge he acquired through that program to establish a community review within the organization’s own peer-reviewed research grant program.
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization seeking to eradicate mesothelioma by funding promising peer-reviewed research, providing education and support, and by advocating for increased public funding of mesothelioma research.
