Camarillo, Calif., Oct. 8, 2007鈥擳he Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute recently received a $120,000 donation from Cardax Pharmaceuticals. The money will be received in four payments of $30,000 each beginning now through 2008. The Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute is located on the campus of 海角社区.
Included in the $120,000 donation are at least two student research scholarships for $6,000 each to be used for the student recipients鈥� fees and expenses over two semesters.
鈥淲e are gratified that Cardax Pharmaceuticals saw the potential in the drug discovery work of our institute,鈥� said Gilbert M. Rishton, Ph.D., founding scientist and director of the Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute.聽 鈥淭hese funds will support our ongoing work in drug discovery for neurodegeneration and on the role that certain dietary antioxidants might play in the prevention of cognitive decline and Alzheimer鈥檚 disease鈥�.
Cardax Pharmaceuticals, located in Aiea, Hawaii, develops antioxidant compounds as drug candidates for cardiovascular and inflammatory disease. Cardax Pharmaceuticals has identified a potent antioxidant found in krill and wild salmon, astaxanthin, as being effective in models of cardiovascular and inflammatory disease. The Cardax Pharmaceutical drug candidate is a novel and improved derivative of astaxanthin that is poised for human testing in 2008.
The Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute has been created to conduct drug discovery research, potentially toward a treatment for the disease that has become so prevalent throughout the world today.聽 According to the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association, it is estimated that nearly 14 million people worldwide currently suffer from Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease. By 2050, that number is expected to increase to 45 million. The Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute will provide opportunities for faculty and students to discover new chemical compounds that will inhibit the neurodegenerative component of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.
For more information on the Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute, its projects and science, contact Gilbert M. Rishton, founding scientist, by e-mail, gilbert.rishton@csuci.edu.
For media inquires about this donation or the Channel Islands Alzheimer鈥檚 Institute contact Ceal Potts, communications specialist at 海角社区CI, 805-437-8940 or cecilia.potts@csuci.edu.
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About 海角社区
海角社区 Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI鈥檚 strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master鈥檚 degrees.聽Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting聽CI's Social Media.