Haute Event: The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation 2nd Annual Luncheon and Symposium

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation held its 2^nd annual luncheon and symposium – “Hope on the Horizon: New Drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease – at the Jumeirah Essex House on Wednesday, September 21, 2011.

The event brought together approximately 275 guests to raise $600,000 for Alzheimer’s drug discovery research led by Executive Chairs, Leonard A. Lauder, Lynn Forester de Rothschild,  Nancy and Mel Goodes, Honorary Chairs Bonnie Pfeifer Evans and Alice Shure. The event was emcced by journalist Paula Zahn,

A door prize drawing raised over $50,000 and featured an Imperial Shih Tzu puppy. 100% of the proceeds from this event will be used to fund promising drug research and early clinical studies for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Luncheon featured presentations focused on the urgency of finding breakthrough treatments to detect, prevent, and cure Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In the 11:00 am presentation, Joan Sutton Straus introducedDr. Howard Fillit, who presented a progress report on the development of Alzheimer’s drugs. Leonard A. Lauder, Co-Chairman of the Foundation, welcomed guests at the Luncheon.  Bonnie Pfeifer Evans and Alice Shure, trustees of the Charles Evans Foundation, presented the inaugural Charles Evans Award for Excellence to Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Founder, President, and CEO of Avid Radiopharmaceuticals, Inc.  This award recognizes individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced the field of Alzheimer’s drug discovery. Following the award presentation, Paula Zahn conducted an onstage interview with Dr. Eric Kandel, distinguished neuroscientist, world-renowned researcher, and winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The luncheon concluded with special remarks from Mel Goodes, former Chairman and CEO of Warner-Lambert.