Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson Receive 2024 Humanitarian Award at the World Brain Mapping Foundation's 21st Annual Gathering for Cure Awards

Inventor and philanthropist Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife Alya Michelson received the 2024 Humanitarian Award at the World Brain Mapping Foundation's 21st Gathering for Cure (GFC) Awards Gala at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The Humanitarian Award is given to individuals who have contributed significantly to survival and quality of life of patients across the Globe. Previous recipients of the annual award include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Ming Hsieh.

The World Brain Mapping Foundation focuses on helping wounded soldiers, brain and spine cancers, neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, MS, etc.), and neuropsychiatric and spine disorders. Its annual GFC Awards Gala recognizes pioneers in brain mapping, health policy, neuroscience, and mental health philanthropy, amongst others, while connecting to its mission and bringing its message of neurotech innovation and innovation to the masses in order to fast track therapeutics and diagnostics for neurological disorders.

"Gary and Alya have introduced game-changing, pioneering solutions and policies advancing science and technology, which has impacted billions of people. The committee specially recognized the Michelsons for their significant role in establishing institutes focused on convergent biosciences and advancing immunotherapy; this is in complete alliance with our Brain Technology and Innovation Park (BTIP) initiative," said Babak Kateb, M.D, PhD, President of the World Brain Mapping Foundation. "These initiatives will transform Los Angeles into a global powerhouse for biotech and neurotech positioning our City and the State as leaders in immunotherapy, cell based therapeutics, and neurotech innovation."

Dr. Michelson is world renowned as a surgical innovator and the most prolific individual inventor in medical history, with nearly 1,000 patents. Millions of people worldwide benefit from Dr. Michelson's inventions, which have revolutionized spinal surgery, making it safer and more effective.

Since retiring from his medical practice, Dr. Michelson has worked full-time on philanthropic initiatives with Alya. They co-chair Michelson Philanthropies, a network of four private operating foundations to advance education, animal welfare, public policy, intellectual property, and medical research. The Michelsons have spearheaded transformative initiatives in medical innovation, including co-founding the USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience and the newly announced California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, which will be housed at the UCLA Research Park, currently under development.

"It is a great honor to share this award with my husband and partner, and as an artist and former journalist, I have always used and will continue to use my voice for good," said Alya Michelson while accepting the award. "I wanted to also thank our team at Michelson Philanthropies for believing in our mission and always doing their best."

Other GFC award recipients this year include California State Senator Ben Allen (Pioneer in Healthcare Policy), Dr. Sujuan Ba (Pioneer in Medicine), and Mr. Cameron Piron (Pioneer in Technology Development).

This 2024 GFC Awards Gala focused on mental health and brain and spine disorders and raised funds for pioneering initiatives, such as Global Neuroscience20, Women in Neuroscience Group (WING), BTIP, fellowship programs, and humanitarian missions as part of Global Physicians and Scientists GPS.

Editor's Note: A photo of Dr. Gary Michelson and Alya Michelson at the 21st Annual Gathering for Cure Awards can be found here.

About Michelson Philanthropies

Michelson Philanthropies is devoted to driving systemic change to advance medical research, animal welfare, education and equity, and intellectual property. It was created and is co-chaired by Giving Pledge members Alya and Dr. Gary K. Michelson to support vulnerable and underserved communities through catalytic grantmaking, social enterprises, impact investments, and energetic public advocacy. The philanthropies are comprised of 501(c)(3) private operating foundations that include Michelson Medical Research Foundation, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Michelson 20MM Foundation, Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, and the Michelson Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. Learn more at MichelsonPhilanthropies.org.

About the Michelson Medical Research Foundation

Founded by Dr. Gary K. Michelson in 1995, the Michelson Medical Research Foundation accelerates solutions to global health challenges by fostering high-risk, high-reward approaches that disrupt the status quo to make innovative ideas a reality. Through convergent collaboration among engineers, scientists, and physicians, the foundation helps rapidly move bold concepts and technologies from the laboratory into clinics and communities around the world. Michelson Medical Research Foundation is a division of Michelson Philanthropies. For more information, visit: www.michelsonmedicalresearch.org.

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