NORMAN and OKLAHOMA CITY, May 24, 2006 – The Sarkeys Foundation of Norman has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to help purchase a state-of-the-art microscope for genetics research.

The epi-fluorescence microscope will be used primarily by scientists who conduct research on the causes of Down syndrome, a birth defect that occurs in about 1 in 800 live births in the nation. Down syndrome is a major cause of mental retardation and congenital heart disease.

“The Sarkeys Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership in our state and a wonderful track record of improving the standard of life for Oklahomans,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “This donation will enable OMRF researchers to better understand the causes of birth defects and also to make advances in other fields of biomedical research, including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and heart disease.”

In addition to OMRF researchers, scientists from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center also are expected to use the equipment.

“The Sarkeys Foundation Board is pleased to be able to assist the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with another very worthwhile research project,” said Cheri D. Cartwright, Executive Director of the Sarkeys Foundation. “Not only can we be assured that our funding will be used wisely and well, there is the added bonus that it will be used locally.”

Proceeds from OMRF’s 2005 annual appeal, a statewide fund-raising effort that secured donations from hundreds of individuals across Oklahoma, also helped provide funding for the research equipment.

The microscope is essential for Dean Dawson, Ph.D., who recently was recruited to OMRF from Tufts University in Boston. His laboratory studies cell division and how breakdowns in the process can lead to diseases and serious birth defects such as Down syndrome.

Down syndrome, like many birth defects, results from chromosomal imbalances. Women who give birth later in life, past the age of 33, are more likely to be affected by chromosome imbalances than the offspring of younger women. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

“Grants such as this one from Sarkeys are critical for obtaining the latest tools scientists need to further their research,” Prescott said. “With this high-end microscope, OMRF scientists can find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent deadly diseases.”

The Sarkeys Foundation’s history of providing philanthropic support to OMRF dates back to 1965. Prior to this new grant, Sarkeys most recently endowed the G.T. Blankenship Chair in Alzheimer’s and Aging Research at OMRF.

Earlier this month, Robert Barstead, Ph.D., was installed as the first Blankenship chair holder during a banquet at the Governor’s Mansion. His research involves decoding genomes of tiny organisms whose genetic makeup provides important clues for solving diseases from Alzheimer’s to muscular dystrophy.

About OMRF:
Celebrating its 60th birthday in 2006, OMRF (www.omrf.org) is a nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and curing human disease. Its scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease. It is home to Oklahoma’s only member of the National Academy of Sciences.