$1 million from 'Tyler's Hope' will boost UF research effort

February 17, 2011

WHAT: University of Florida officials will announce a $1 million gift to establish a Tyler’s Hope Dystonia Research Laboratory that will work in conjunction with the already existing Tyler’s Hope Center for Dystonia Care at the UF’s Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration. The new laboratory will promote basic and translational research in dystonia, a malady that has disabled more than a half million Americans and is the third most common movement disorder behind Parkinson’s disease and tremor. Officials will also recognize that one of the nation’s foremost scientists working in the dystonia field has been recruited to the UF College of Medicine’s department of neurology to lead the laboratory.

The event will feature:
* Michael Good, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine
* Michael Okun, M.D., co-director of the Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, national medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, and medical adviser to Tyler’s Hope
* Richard A. Staab, president for Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure

WHERE: The Broad-Bussel Atrium, Biomedical Sciences Building, 1275 Center Drive, Gainesville, Fla., 32610

WHEN: 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21.

CONTACT: Media representatives are encouraged to call John Pastor, public relations coordinator for UF’s McKnight Brain Institute and the Health Science Center, at 352-273-5815, jdpastor@ufl.edu. Parking and escorts to the site are available.

NOTES: The event will be streamed live beginning shortly before 2 p.m. at http://tinyurl.com/4lljvpv or at http://video.ufl.edu