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Christian Messa UTMB alumnus contributes to eye disease,
diabetes research GALVESTON, Texas — Dr. Robert B. Wilkins and his wife, Claire, recently committed more than $360,000 to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to support eye research involving the incurable eye disease macular degeneration, as well as diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness overall, while macular degeneration is the main cause of blindness in people 55 and older. Wilkins, a UTMB alumnus who practices ophthalmology in Galveston and Houston, made the commitment through the Wilkins-Houseman Foundation. The Galveston resident established this philanthropy with a longtime patient and friend, Harriett Houseman, now deceased, to fund eye-related research. Approximately $270,000 of the couple’s contribution will support continued UTMB studies of the link between the distribution of pigment in the retina and the onset of macular degeneration being carried on by Dr. Erik van Kuijk, an associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at UTMB. According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, affects more than 10 million people in the United States alone. The disease is characterized by deterioration of the macula, the middle portion of the retina that focuses central vision and makes it possible for a person to read, recognize colors or faces and see objects in detail. Van Kuijk’s research is beginning to shed light on AMD risk factors, which are mostly unknown, although the chances of developing the disease have been linked to smoking and significantly increase as people age. The disease may also be hereditary. Wilkins, a clinical professor in UTMB’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, said he has had a special interest in AMD research, having treated so many patients and friends with this frustrating problem. “Dr. van Kuijk is on the verge of some breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration,” Wilkins said. “I’ve been impressed and want to fund his research on a continuing basis.” Dr. John T. Troupe II, associate professor and interim chair of UTMB’s Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, thanked the Wilkinses for demonstrating such confidence in the department’s research. “Dr. Robert Wilkins has continued to participate in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences by his generous contribution to our growing research program,” Troupe said. “My thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Wilkins for this gift and the vote of confidence it represents.” The Wilkinses are also committing $90,000 to support the diabetes research of Ronald G. Tilton, Ph.D., an associate professor of internal medicine affiliated with both the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Diabetes Center and the Division of Endocrinology at UTMB. Tilton and his colleagues are investigating how diabetes contributes to the degeneration of the retina, which is a leading complication of the disease. Dr. Randall J. Urban, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and director of the Stark Diabetes Center, said, “The Wilkinses recognize the enormous potential of Dr. Tilton’s research, and we are grateful for their sponsorship. Diabetes affects the body in multiple ways, and it is gratifying to have philanthropic support that enables us to explore this aspect of the disease in greater detail.” Urban is the Edward Randall and Edward Randall Jr. Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine. A 1964 UTMB School of Medicine graduate, Robert Wilkins is a practicing ophthalmologist at Houston Eye Associates and has served as its president for more than nine years. He founded the National Society of Eye Plastic Surgeons and has served as its president. Wilkins, who is regularly listed among the nation’s finest physicians in the consumer guide America’s Top Doctors, once cared for Nelda Stark, an Orange, Texas, philanthropist. She and her husband, H.J. Lutcher Stark, both deceased, established their namesake foundation that made a landmark contribution in 2000 to create the Stark Diabetes Center. The Wilkinses play an active role in the Galveston community. Robert Wilkins, who was born and raised on Galveston Island, was the creator and one of the writers of the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, “Galveston,” a fund-raiser that generated more than $500,000 to benefit the city’s Strand Theatre. The Wilkinses have chaired the production of the Momus Ball during Galveston’s Mardi Gras celebrations, and both are active in the Galveston Historical Foundation and the Grand 1894 Opera House advisory board. They are also involved in many philanthropic activities in Houston. The Wilkinses are members of the President’s Cabinet, a volunteer organization that provides financial resources to help advance the mission of UTMB. They are longtime supporters of the academic health center and have given to numerous programs and initiatives, including the Breast Imaging Campaign, diabetes research and the adaptive restoration of the university’s Open Gates facility into an advanced teleconference center. Robert Wilkins has also served on the Development Board, a volunteer group that creates fund-raising strategies for the university. Its members act as UTMB’s “ambassadors” by assisting in outreach efforts to alumni, patients and other supporters. Wilkins was the “dean” and organizer of the first UTMB Mini Medical School, which was held in 1999 at the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science in Houston. The Mini Medical School is a series of free public health-education courses taught by UTMB faculty. The Wilkinses’ latest contribution is part of the university’s Timeless Values, Pioneering Solutions comprehensive campaign. This five-year, $250 million fund-raising initiative will enhance areas of excellence in teaching the art and science of health care; infectious diseases, biodefense and vaccine development; health care access and telehealth; and longevity, chronic diseases and neurological recovery. UTMB |
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