Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 23, 2008) –The March of Dimes Foundation has awarded Ho Yi Mak, Ph.D., Assistant Investigator, a Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award. The award of $150,000 over two years supports junior investigators whose work promises insight into the causes of human birth defects. Dr. Mak is the seventh Institute researcher to receive the award since 2003.

     Dr. Mak is working to identify the genes and mechanisms that govern lipid homeostasis. Using as a model system the nematode C. elegans, whose genome encodes many of the metabolic and signaling pathways that are found in humans, Dr. Mak’s lab investigates how the nervous system communicates with other tissues to control fat storage and how fat is packaged within cells.

     Obesity is a leading cause of insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. Diabetes in pregnant women can affect the development of the fetus brain and heart, and can cause miscarriages. Babies born to women with diabetes may also have a higher risk of developing obesity and type-2 diabetes. A better understanding of the genetic factors that contribute to the development of obesity will have a direct impact on the prevention and treatment of diabetes during pregnancy and improve fetal and neonatal care.

     “All of us at the Institute are pleased that the March of Dimes will expand its support of our early career researchers by recognizing Ho Yi Mak with the Basil O’Connor Award,” said William B. Neaves, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. “Dr. Mak’s work should improve our understanding of obesity and its impact on pregnancy and early development. He is an excellent choice for funding from the March of Dimes.”

     “One of the great attributes of the Basil O’Connor award is that it specifically targets new and innovative research,” said Kim Larrick, Executive Director, March of Dimes Kansas City Division. “The award underscores the importance of Dr. Mak’s work and the esteem of the Kansas City bioscience community. It is especially exciting for our base of volunteers and supporters to have a researcher from our community be recognized in this way.”

     Dr. Mak earned a B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology from the University College London for his work at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Learn more about his work at www.stowers-institute.org/labs/MakLab.asp.

About the Stowers Institute
     Housed in a 600,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility on a 10-acre campus in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research conducts basic research on fundamental processes of cellular life. Through its commitment to collaborative research and the use of cutting-edge technology, the Institute seeks more effective means of preventing and curing disease. The Institute was founded by Jim and Virginia Stowers, two cancer survivors who have created combined endowments of $2 billion in support of basic research of the highest quality.

About the March of Dimes
     The March of Dimes is a national foundation whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services education, and advocacy to save babies. More information is available on the March of Dimes Web site www.marchofdimes.com or by calling (913) 387-3604.