Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Medical Genetics Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics

Amy Kritzer, M.D., of Boston Children's Hospital and Ronit Marom, M.D., Ph.D., of Baylor College of Medicine receive the 2015-2016 Genzyme/ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine Medical Genetics Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics

Amy Kritzer, MD of Boston Children's Hospital and Ronit Marom, MD PhD of Baylor College of Medicine were honored as the 2015-2016 recipients of the Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Medical Genetics Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics at the ACMG 2015 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The objective of the two Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Awards is to support training programs that advance education, research and standards of practice in medical genetics, to develop and expand clinical and laboratory expertise in medical genetics, and to initiate and develop a broad-based infrastructure for industry funding of high quality projects in the fields of medical genetics. Two awardees are given the opportunity to participate in an in-depth clinical and research experience at a premier medical center with expertise and significant clinical volume in the area of biochemical genetics.

The Award grants $75,000 per year to each of two recipients' institutions selected by the ACMG Foundation through a competitive process and will provide for the sponsorship of one year of the trainees' clinical genetics subspecialty in biochemical genetics following residency.

Dr. Kritzer received her MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine; completed her Pediatrics Residency at Floating Hospital for Children in Boston, MA and her clinical genetics fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. Her research during the award period will focus on direct detection of glycophospholipids in lysosomal disease using advanced spectroscopy. "I am so honored to be given this wonderful award. It will allow me to continue my Biochemical Genetics Training while also giving me an opportunity to conduct translational research. The goal of my research is to provide patients with lysosomal disease and their families with better information about the disease process, prognosis and effect of therapeutic interventions."

The second award recipient, Dr. Marom, is currently in her second year of residency in Medical Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. She said, "It is an honor, and I am grateful to be one of the recipients of the Genzyme/ACMG Foundation award. The Biochemical Genetics fellowship will broaden my knowledge and understanding of a wide range of metabolic disorders, and will allow me to become actively involved in the care of patients with inborn errors of metabolism. The outstanding research and academic environment at Baylor College of Medicine will provide me with the clinical and research training necessary to achieve my goal of becoming a physician-scientist in the area of biochemical genetics." Dr. Marom completed her MD and PhD at Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel; she then completed her Pediatrics Residency at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel and her Fellowship in Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Her research will focus on nitric oxide supplementation as a therapy in argininosuccinate lyase deficiency.

"The Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Clinical Genetics Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics is critical to the development of the genetics workforce. This fellowship allows Dr. Kritzer and Dr. Marom the chance to receive advanced clinical and research training in biochemical genetics, which is a field that is rapidly changing ," said Bruce R. Korf, MD, PhD, FACMG, president of the ACMG Foundation.

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Since 2005, the Genzyme Corporation has generously sponsored this prestigious award, and in 2012 they doubled their commitment for the 2012 through 2016 Fellowships. The ACMG Foundation is honored to have the Genzyme Corporation as a member of its Corporate Partners Program. For more information about the Corporate Partners Program and other ways to support the work of the ACMG Foundation, please visit http://www.acmgfoundation.org.

Note to editors: To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact Kathy Beal, MBA, ACMG Director of Public Relations at kbeal@acmg.net or 301-238-4582.

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Genzyme/ACMG Foundation Medical Genetics Training Award in Clinical Biochemical Genetics