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  • Quotes

    Q. What do you and your academic friends make of the debate over embryonic-stem-cell research in this country?

    A. In Britain, like most of the developed world, stem-cell research is regarded as a great opportunity. America will be left behind if it doesn’t change policy.     — Stephen Hawking, New York Times – February 1, 2004

  • Orrin Hatch

    Read a moving account of Senator Hatch’s long and inspiring search concerning his decision to support stem cell research from his book, Square Peg.

  • Yvonne Perry

    The "Right to Recover" by Yvonne Perry highlights TAMR's accomplishments in Texas. Click hear to read the excerpt and to listen to the companion song.

TAMR Officers and Board of Directors

EXECUTIVE BOARD

President: Lorraine Chammah

  • BA Biology, BS. MS Nursing
  • Science teacher, nurse and community activist
  • Former President Capitol Area Parkinson’s Society

VP of  Community Affairs:  Marjorie Gold

Vice President, Legislative Affairs: Leslie Ribnik, JD

Vice President of Community Affairs: Marjorie Gold, JD

Secretary: Jan Ozias, RN, Ph.D.

Treasurer: A. J. Hernandez

  • President of the Young Onset group of the Capital Area Parkinson’s Assoc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Hugh L. Brady

  • Attorney at Law
  • Director, Legislative Lawyering Clinic, University of Texas School of Law
  • Author, Texas House Practice

William Brinkley, Ph.D., Co-chair – Science Committee

  • Senior Vice President for Graduate Sciences
  • Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine

Joe A. Brown

  • Past president Texans for Advancement of Medical Research
  • Texas Coordinator, Parkinson’s Action Network
  • Board of Directors, Houston Area Parkinson’s Society

Nina Brown, Communication Committee

  • Texas Coordinator, Parkinson’s Action Network
  • Vice President, Board of Directors, Houston Area Parkinson’s Society
  • Secretary, The Alliance for Medical Research

Veronica De La Garza, Legislative Committee

  • Advocacy Director, South Central Region, American Diabetes Association

Ralph Dittman, MD, MPH, MCSE, Finance Committee

  • Surgeon, Author and Playwright

Judith L. Haley

  • Past president, Texans for Advancement of Medical Research
  • Vice President, Outreach Chair, Executive Board, JDRF Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter
  • Vice Chair, Texas Diabetes Council

Rick Hayley

  • Three-time Governor Appointee to the Texas Diabetes Council.
  • Federal Legislative Ambassador of the American Cancer Society.
  • Experimental islet cell and stem cell recipient patient with type 1 diabetes.
  • Former Board Member of the Coastal Bend Chapter of the American Diabetes Association.

J. Maxine Jenks, Ph.D., J.D.

  • Attorney and author
  • Board member, Capital Area Parkinson’s Society, Austin, Texas
  • Charter member, Riverbend Church

Bettie Sue Masters, Ph.D., D.Sc., M.D. (Hon.), Co-chair – Science Committee

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • President, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-2002-2004
  • Elected Member, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies-1996–
  • Member, Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health-2000-2004
  • The Robert A. Welch Foundation Distinguished Professor in Chemistry, The Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio-1990–
  • Women’s Leadership Council of San Antonio-2001-
  • Member, Advisory Council to the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health-2004-2008

Kathryn McCarter

Rebecca K. McCleery

  • Past president of Texans for Advancement of Medical Research
  • Legislative Chair and Board of Directors, Austin Chapter, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
  • Fellow, Austin Project

Stephen L. McCleery, Legislative Committee

  • Attorney; Board Member and Fellow, Austin Project
  • First Assistant District Attorney, Travis County (Retired)
  • Fellow and Board Member, Austin Project
  • Volunteer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

Laura Templeton

  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) – Executive Committee
  • Board Member, Government Relations Co-Chair & Advocacy Team Leader JDRF – Austin Chapter.
  • Board Member, Central Texas Communities In Schools

The members of the TAMR Board, Advisory Board and committees serve as individuals. Their credentials are listed only to demonstrate the members’ areas of expertise.