20 Years Anniversary

1995

Philanthropist Zachary Fisher joins forces with David Rockefeller, donating a total of $10 million to create the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University

1995

Dr. Greengard and team at the Fisher Center at The Rockefeller University continue their effort to identify new signaling pathways involved in Alzheimer’s disease, and demonstrate the importance of a novel type of enzyme, phosphatases, PP1, which can regulate the amyloid precursor protein, APP, a product of which causes Alzheimer’s

1998

The Functional Assessment Staging procedure (FAST) developed by Dr. Reisberg, the director of the Fisher Education and Resources Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, becomes the U.S. Medicare mandated standard for hospice care evaluation and admission

1999

Zachary Fisher, Founding Chairman, passes away. Michael Stern is President & CEO of Fisher Center

2000

Dr. Greengard receives the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his revolutionary study on how cells communicate with one another in the brain

2002

Fisher Center branches into the Alzheimer’s Information Program for caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s with launch of website, ALZInfo.org

2003

Dr. Greengard and team confirm that a protein previously identified by the lab binds to APP directly. This protein and APP co-localize in neuronal extensions that have an important role in learning and memory

2003

Fisher Center scientists at The Rockefeller University discover the effect that the anti-cancer drug Gleevec has on reducing beta-amyloid plaques in the brain without affecting other cellular compounds which could produce negative side affects

2003

With Dr. Reisberg’s study, memantine [Namenda], is approved by the U.S. FDA as the first medication for advanced Alzheimer’s disease

2005

Dr. Greengard and colleagues demonstrate how the beta-amyloid peptide inhibits the synaptic plasticity, which prevents neurons from signaling and communicating correctly

2006

Dr. Greengard and team discover a novel cellular pathway involving the enzyme PLD1 linking, for the first time, a cellular function to Alzheimer’s involved in neurite outgrowth, a process necessary for normal learning and memory. The team also found that PLD1 can act as a negative regulator of beta amyloid formation

2007

Preserving Your Memory magazine launches. Key interviews of note include, Sarah Polley, Maria Shriver, and Diane Keaton

2007

Dr. Greengard and team, pursuing their unique effort to identify novel therapeutic targets from the kinase family, identify the kinase CK1 as a novel target for Alzheimer’s

2009

Kent Karosen becomes President & CEO of Fisher Center

“The Fisher Center is celebrating our 20th anniversary of supporting research in the quest to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. I am proud to say that we are carrying on Zachary Fisher’s mission when he established the Foundation, which was to find a cure for this devastating disease that ultimately caused the passing of his wife. There is so much more work that still needs to be done, and we are thankful to our committed donors who have joined us in our quest to cure Alzheimer’s.”

2010

The Fisher Center lab discovers a previously unknown protein (GSAP) that inhibits beta-amyloid production without interfering with any other biological function

2010

Dr. Greengard awarded Karolinska Institutet’s Bicentennial Gold Medal, the highest award conferred by the Karolinska Institutet during its 200th anniversary celebrations

"The Fisher Center scientists at The Rockefeller University are most grateful to the Fisher Center Foundation for their funding support over the past 20 years, enabling us to get one step closer to finding a cure. As a result of their support, we have been able to make substantial progress in the field of Alzheimer's research."

2015

Rockefeller scientists identified a protective molecule, WAVE 1, which the scientists found to be important in the production of beta amyloid. This finding provides an opportunity to create new treatments

2015

Dr. Greengard commemorated by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences during their 100th anniversary

2015

The Fisher Center earns Charity Navigator’s coveted 4-star rating for its financial responsibility and administrative transparency for the fourth year in a row

2015

The Fisher Center Foundation has given over $35 million, to date, to support Alzheimer’s research

“I am so proud of the many philanthropic achievements my uncle, Zachary Fisher, made throughout his life, including founding the Fisher House Foundation and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. I am most proud of the establishment of the Fisher Center and its many accomplishments over the past 20 years. I am thrilled to continue supporting the Foundation as a tribute to my uncle and his beloved wife, Elizabeth.”

Kenneth Fisher

“I am honored to be Chairman of the Fisher Center and am proud to be part of such an outstanding Foundation whose mission is to find a cure for this devastating disease affecting over 30 million people worldwide.”

Barry Sloane, Fisher Center Chairman/Treasurer

20 Years Anniversary

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