Washington, D.C.; January 4, 2012 – The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) announced a newly elected leadership team at its December board meeting. Amy Comstock Rick was elected as CAMR president.
Rick served as CAMR president from 2008-2010. She succeeds Lisa Hughes, Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, whose two-year term expired at the end of 2011.

“I am honored to serve as president of CAMR at this critical time in our nation’s stem cell research progress,” said Rick. “I look forward to continuing CAMR’s strategic policy work in this arena. Millions of patients await better treatments and cures, and I’m excited to lead the coalition working to deliver on the promise that stem cell research provides,” she added.

CAMR, comprised of more than 100 nationally recognized patient groups, universities, and scientific societies, continues to advocate and educate around research toward developing better treatments and cures for individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders. On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order calling for federal funding and NIH oversight of embryonic stem cell research. The NIH released its guidelines for funding and oversight on July 6, 2009, and 138 stem cell lines are currently approved for research and funding.

The 2012 leadership team includes:

Vice President of Operations/Secretary
Rhonda Norsetter
Senior Special Assistant to the Chancellor University of Wisconsin-Madison

Vice President of Membership
Ross Frommer
Deputy Vice President for Government and Community Affairs and Associate Dean Columbia University Medical Center

Vice President of Finance/
Treasurer
Tony Mazzaschi
Senior Director, Scientific Affairs
Association of American Medical Colleges

Vice President of Legislative Affairs
Carrie Wollinetz
Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Association of American Universities

Vice President of Communications
Sean Tipton
Director of Public Affairs
American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Vice President of Science
Kevin Wilson
Director of Public Policy
American Society for Cell Biology

Vice President of State Initiatives
David Chatel
Executive Vice President of Advocacy
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

CAMR also elected the following board members:

Kevin Casey
Associate Vice President
Government, Community and Public Affairs Harvard University

Beth Ann Felder, JD
Director Federal Relations
Johns Hopkins University

Lisa Hughes
Senior Director, Policy and Advocacy
The Prevent Cancer Foundation

Pam Lokken
Vice Chancellor, Government and Community Relations Washington University in St. Louis

Michael Manganiello
Partner
HCM Strategists

Jennifer Poulakidas
Vice President, Congressional and Governmental Affairs Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities

Bernard Siegel
Executive Director
Genetics Policy Institute

Laura Whitton
National Director, Government Relations
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Nancy Witty
Executive Director
International Society for Stem Cell Research

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The Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (CAMR) is the nation's leading pro-cures coalition. It is comprised of nearly 100 nationally recognized patient organizations, universities, scientific societies, and foundations advocating for the advancement of breakthrough research and technologies in regenerative medicine -- including stem cell research and somatic cell nuclear transfer -- to cure disease and alleviate suffering for individuals with life-threatening illnesses and disorders.

Carol Blymire
CAMR Communications Consultant
carol@carolblymire.com
301.891.1113 (office)
301.332.8090 (cell)