Hub Staff Report
Thursday, September 10th, 2015
A new professorship in water and public health and one focused on genetic medicine have been established at Johns Hopkins University with a combination of private donations and state funding through the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative.
The two professorships, announced today, are among the first six positions at Maryland universities supported by $14.9 million in funding from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The E-Nnovation initiative is intended to spur private donations to universities for basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields by matching private donations of at least $500,000.
“At a time when our scientists and researchers face a challenging funding landscape, we thank our state leaders for their vital support and their recognition that research universities are where bold discovery and innovation happens,” JHU President Ronald J. Daniels said. “This initiative is a wonderful example of the possibilities ignited through public and private partnership.”
The Reta Honey Hiers Professorship for Tarlov Cyst Disease was private funding and funding from the state program. The professorship will be held by Justin Caplan M.D.; Hal Dietz M.D., the Victor A. McKusick Professor of Genetics in the departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is the Principal Investigator on Tarlov cyst research and is director of the William S. Smilow Center for Marfan Syndrome Research; and a member of the McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine. Tarlov cysts are debilitating fluid-filled sacs that form within spinal nerves, most prevalently in the sacral spine, causing life-altering pain and multi-systems symptomatology.
“These professorships are an excellent example of the ways in which Johns Hopkins connects the laboratory and the classroom to real-world issues affecting individuals, communities, and society as a whole,” JHU Provost Robert C. Lieberman said. “These awards are an investment not only in our scholars, but also in improving the lives of people across Maryland, and the world.”