WEATHERFORD, OKLA., Nov. 3, 2005—On November 17, a pair of representatives from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation will be the featured speakers at a luncheon hosted by the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place at noon at the Thomas Stafford Air and Space Museum, and it will feature presentations by Stephen Jackson, Ph.D., and Tim Yaciuk.

Dr. Jackson is an associate research scientist at OMRF. He will speak about his work, which includes focuses on the immune system. In particular, he studies the antibodies that we produce to fight disease and how these antibodies can malfunction in diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Jackson earned his Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has been a member of OMRF’s scientific staff since 2002.

Tim Yaciuk, a director of development at OMRF, will also speak at the luncheon. Yaciuk will offer an overview of the work of OMRF, with a specific emphasis on OMRF’s Alzheimer’s disease research and education programs.

“This event will offer a great opportunity for people to get to learn more about the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and some of the cutting-edge science that is taking place right here in Oklahoma,” said Yaciuk. “We have always received strong support from Weatherford and all of western Oklahoma, and we are grateful to the Chamber for the chance to meet the people who make our work possible.”

Located in Oklahoma City, OMRF (www.omrf.org) is a nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and curing human disease. For almost 60 years, its scientists have focused on such critical research areas as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease. OMRF is home to Oklahoma's only member of the National Academy of Sciences.

The luncheon is free, and anyone interested in attending should call Carolyn Dunn at the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce at (580) 772-7744.

High-resolution photos of Jackson and Yaciuk are available upon request.