Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Honors the Goodnow Fund and Biogen at Fourteenth Annual Fall Symposium and Luncheon

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) hosted its Fourteenth Annual Fall Symposium and Luncheon on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at The Pierre. This year’s event recognized two outstanding partners who have helped to advance the ADDF’s mission, The Goodnow Fund and Biogen.

Nine-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and ADDF board member Paula Zahn hosted the luncheon, which raised $1.1 million to directly support the ADDF’s mission of rapidly accelerating the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's disease.

The Goodnow Fund was honored with the Charles Evans Award in recognition of Ned Goodnow and his family’s significant support of Alzheimer’s research, which has aided in the discovery of new therapies and diagnostic tools.

“I cannot overstate how much my father, Ned Goodnow, appreciated the ADDF’s focused efforts to accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s drugs,” said Carl Goodnow, accepting the award. “My father understood the required perseverance for the challenge the ADDF has undertaken. And he knew the investments of the ADDF and the Goodnow Fund would continue to bear fruit.”

The ADDF’s Co-Founder and Co-Chairman Ronald S. Lauder presented Biogen with the Visionary Partner Award for its dedication to the Diagnostics Accelerator and furthering Alzheimer's research, with an emphasis on biomarkers and early-stage disease. The award was accepted by Rachid Izzar, Executive Vice President of Global Product Strategy and Commercialization at Biogen and ADDF board member.

“The ADDF has taken big risks, supporting the most innovative scientific ideas around the world, and as a result, we have seen tremendous payoff,” said Ronald Lauder. “This tremendous progress would not be possible without the collaboration of partners like Biogen.”

Preceding the luncheon, Dr. Howard Fillit, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF, moderated a scientific symposium titled, Advancing Biomarkers, Facilitating Breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s. Panelists included leading Alzheimer’s industry experts Joel Braunstein, MD, Co-Founder and CEO of C2N Diagnostics; Danielle Graham, PhD, VP, Head of Biomarkers at Biogen; and Russ Lebovitz, MD, PhD, CEO of Amprion.

Notable guests in attendance included: Carol Boulanger, Charles Cangro, Linda Fischbach, Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, Gary Lauder, Josh Lauder, William Lauder, Bonnie Lautenberg, Julie Medler, Justin Meltzer, Robin Melzer, Phebe Farrow Port, Muffie Potter Aston, Sharon Sager, Martha Webster, Liz and Randal Sandler, Carol Weisman, Stephanie Ginsberg, and Susan Gutfreund among other ADDF supporters.