From the President of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

Each of us is affected by medical research. It is the mission of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation to support research for health, to highlight public service that enables scientific investigators to do their work, and to support public health initiatives that save lives. Following the lead of the pioneering citizen-activist Mary Lasker, the Foundation fully understands that it is critical to educate people everywhere that an investment in medical research yields incalculable returns in improved lives, treatments for debilitating disorders, and new means of preventing diseases. Investing in research also pays dividends because it builds a highly skilled workforce and promotes economic development.

In today's increasingly globalized world, the impact of scientific knowledge is significantly broadened. Science can be a great leveler, with the ability to empower people in all corners of the world. Thus, the United States' investment in medical research extends far beyond our borders; it provides hope for millions of people afflicted with disease, it enhances our understanding of vital process, and it can serve as a model by which governments around the world can invest resources in empowering their own citizenry.

I invite you to explore on this website the interplay, highlighted by the Lasker Foundation for sixty-five years, between basic science and clinical research, and to learn about the many outstanding individuals who have helped prove the importance of medical research in improving our health.

Maria Freire, Ph.D.
President
Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation