New Vision Research Scholars
Leonard Litwin Scholar
The Leonard Litwin Scholar award was introduced in 2021 as a means of supporting scientists who have demonstrated commitment to the advancement of research in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The individual chosen will have already made significant contributions to the AD research field and are likely to make substantial contributions in the future. The award is made possible by the generosity of Carole Pittelman, Leonard Litwin’s daughter, who along with her father and family, have committed substantial resources over the years to finding a cure for AD. There is no application for the Leonard Litwin Scholar Award and it is presented “ut visum fit” to individuals.
Dr. Ralph Nixon is the first to be named a Leonard Litwin Scholar. Currently, he serves as Vice Chairman on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of the national Alzheimer’s Association and on the Governor’s Commission on Alzheimer’s Disease for the State of New York. Dr. Nixon’s work is the first to call attention to the importance of proteases in Alzheimer’s disease. His studies have defined cellular pathways involving proteases that are considered critical to Alzheimer’s pathogenesis and have identified promising new targets for therapy of the disease.
New Vision Scholar
Dr. Andreana Benitez’s work, supported by the New Vision Scholar award, seeks to develop a new treatment to prevent dementia in MCI using non-invasive brain stimulation. Her team has conducted two phase I trials showing that intermittent theta burst, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTBS-rTMS) is safe, feasible, acceptable, and is potentially efficacious in improving cognition in two MCI patient groups – those with amnestic MCI due to AD, and those with post-stroke MCI. Moving forward, they are harnessing the ability of iTBS-rTMS to improve multiple symptoms – depression and cognitive dysfunction – in patients with MCI due to AD and/or cerebrovascular disease. Her team is excited that the New Vision Foundation supports our work which is geared towards serving the greatest number of patients, helping them remain independent as long as possible.
