May 13, 1998
The H.E. Sellers Chair in Cystic Fibrosis established at The Hospital for Sick Children
TORONTO - In recognition of the Sellers' family long-term commitment to cystic fibrosis research, SickKids tomorrow announces the establishment of the H.E. Sellers Chair in Cystic Fibrosis at The Hospital for Sick Children. Named for family patriarch Henry Eugene Sellers, the Chair provides a stable base from which to consolidate the Hospital's role at the forefront of cystic fibrosis research, and ensures resources are available in perpetuity.
Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui, head of Genetics and Genomic Biology Research and the Hospital's Geneticist-in-Chief, has been named inaugural chair holder. Dr. Tsui led the research that identified the defective gene responsible for cystic fibrosis in 1989. As holder of the H.E. Sellers Chair in Cystic Fibrosis at The Hospital for Sick Children, Dr. Tsui will continue his research into the genetic basis of cystic fibrosis and more effective treatments for the disease.
"I would like to thank the Sellers family and SickKids for their unparalleled support of my work," says Dr. Tsui. "Because of their support, my colleagues and I have made great inroads towards understanding cystic fibrosis. However, our work is far from over because we still have no clear picture of what causes cystic fibrosis. The H.E. Sellers Trust in Cystic Fibrosis will allow us to continue our research."
"The Sellers family is very pleased to participate in the establishment of this chair," said Dr. Edward M. Sellers, grandson of the late Henry Sellers. "We are proud to be associated with SickKids and the important contributions that have been made here through research in cystic fibrosis. One of the goals of the H. E. Sellers Foundation, set up in 1958, was to support biomedical research. When such support helps us to better understand the cause of a disease and leads to better treatment or prevention, it is a matter of great satisfaction to everyone involved."
For more than a century, The Hospital for Sick Children has made landmark contributions to the health and well being of children around the world through the provision of scientific knowledge, medical teaching and patient care.
For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs
The Hospital for Sick Children
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ON
M5G 1X8
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