January 12, 2011, Reston, VA - The American Academy of Audiology Foundation is pleased to announce that Karen Avraham, PhD, will present the 2011 Marion Downs Lecture in Pediatric Audiology. Dr. Avraham's presentation, Genetics of Deafness: Implications for Diagnosis and Therapy, will be offered on Friday, April 8, at AudiologyNOW!® 2011 in Chicago.Dr. Avraham is full professor at the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and the director of the Tel Aviv University Center for Middle Eastern Genetic Diseases. Her presentation will address the remarkable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms governing auditory function through the identification of genetic mutations leading to hearing loss. Recent research has uncovered information about the DNA sequences of 50 different genes responsible for hereditary deafness, and Dr. Avraham will address the implications of these discoveries on genetic counseling, the prediction of progression and onset of syndromic features, and how advances can guide the choice of therapy.
Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Dr. Avraham received her BA from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and her PhD at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. Her first breakthrough in the field of hereditary impairment came in 1995, when she discovered a gene for deafness in a model for this sensory defect in humans. Since joining the faculty at Tel Aviv University in 1996, Avraham's work has centered on the discovery of disease genes, focusing on hereditary hearing loss. Her team uses a multidisciplinary approach, using genetic, developmental, biochemical, cellular, and bioinformatic tools to decipher the molecular basis of hearing loss. Dr. Avraham is leading the field in elucidating mechanisms by which mutations lead to auditory and vestibular dysfunction, using state-of-the-art technology. The tools acquired in studying the genes involved in deafness and deciphering their regulation are now being used in the Avraham laboratory for the development of therapeutic techniques for the treatment of hearing impairment.
Dr. Avraham has mentored over 50 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and has published over 100 manuscripts in high profile journals such as Science, Nature Genetics, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She is an elected member of EMBO, the European Molecular Biology Organization, and the international Collegium ORLAS, limited to 10 scientists and physicians per country who have contributed to research in otolaryngology. She has received the Burt Evans Young Investigator Award, the Sir Bernard Katz Prize, and the Bruno Memorial Award from the Rothschild Foundation. She is Associate Editor of the journals JARO, EMBO Molecular Medicine, and the European Journal of Human Genetics. Dr. Avraham is currently President of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO).
Dr. Avraham's team is highly active within the community, and she is on the board of 'Na Lagaat' (Do Touch), a theatre group of hearing impaired and blind actors. She is actively involved in providing education about the genetics of hearing loss to support groups and associations for the hearing impaired, as well as training of hearing impaired graduate students at Tel Aviv University.
The AAA Foundation is honored to offer a presentation by such an esteemed researcher at AudiologyNOW! The 2011 lecture will also be available via a live Webcast through eAudiology, the Academy's online educational forum, and will be available on demand at no charge through March 2012. Funding for the Marion Downs Lecture in all of its formats has been made possible with a grant from The Oticon Foundation through its generous ongoing partnership with the AAA Foundation. The AAA Foundation Board of Trustees appreciates The Oticon Foundation's philanthropic support that allows international access to this important information that advances quality audiology care and treatment for the community of those with hearing impairment. For more information on the annual Marion Downs Lecture in Pediatric Audiology, visit www.audiologyfoundation.org.
About the American Academy of Audiology Foundation
The American Academy of Audiology Foundation's mission is to promote philanthropy in support of research, education, and public awareness in audiology and hearing science. The AAA Foundation works closely with the American Academy of Audiology to fund research grants, to sponsor educational opportunities for students, audiologists and other hearing professionals, and to increase public understanding of the causes, treatments, and prevention of hearing loss. The AAA Foundation is exempt under 501(c)(3) of the IRS code, and all gifts are tax deductible as allowed by law. For more information, visit the AAA Foundation Web site at www.audiologyfoundation.org.
About the Oticon Foundation
When Hans Demant founded Oticon in 1904, it was for a good reason: his wife was hearing impaired, and he was determined to help her and others like her. Inspired by Demant's humanistic philosophy, his son William and his wife created the William Demant & Ida Emilie Foundation in 1957. The Foundation is also known as the Oticon Foundation. The Foundation's statutes mandate that income be used to support the needs of hearing-impaired individuals as well as organizations. Income is derived through the Foundation's ownership of the majority of shares in the Oticon company. As one of the world's oldest foundations, the Oticon Foundation sponsors social and educational programs, publications, conferences, cultural activities and campaigns—for researchers, hearing care professionals and the general public.
For more information on Oticon, visit oticonusa.com. You may also visit the Oticon web channel on AudiologyOnline.
