Philanthropists honored for service

ACGT president and co-founder, Barbara Netter, at left, with Savio L.C. Woo, founding chair, ACGT Scientific Advisory Council and professor at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

Barbara Netter and her late husband Edward Netter have been awarded the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Distinguished Service Award for their contributions to the field of genetic and cellar therapy.

As the founders of Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT), the Netters have helped grant almost $25 million in funding to cancer researchers and physicians worldwide. The award was presented during the 17th annual meeting of the ASGCT May 22, in front of some 1,700 scientists and cancer research advocates.

Its an honor to receive this accolade from an organization at the center of our medical community, Ms. Netter said in a statement. Through the work at ACGT and in the cell and gene therapy realm, I have the rare opportunity to see new and optimistic methods of treating cancer unfold. With fantastic breakthroughs in cancer cell and gene therapy occurring more frequently, the future is bright.

Founded in 1998, the ASGCT is a non-profit medical organization dedicated to boosting awareness for gene and cell therapies. These therapies have been shown to be effective against cardiovascular, genetic, infectious and degenerative disorders in addition to cancer. ASGCT publishes the medical journal Molecular Therapy to report on the latest advancements in the field.

The ASGCT Advisory Council selected Barbara and Edward Netter (posthumously) for this award based on the founding of ACGT and the enormous contributions made to advancing cancer gene therapy research, ASGCT advisory council chair Terence R. Flotte said.

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Philanthropists honored for service