McCabe recognized for leadership, research on Down syndrome

McCabe

Edward McCabe, executive director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the School of Medicine, recently was presented the Theodore D. Tjossem Research Award by the National Down Syndrome Congress at its annual convention in San Antonio.

The prestigious research award is presented to individuals or institutions that contribute to the understanding of Down syndrome or improve the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families. The award is named after Theodore D. Tjossem, who was the chief of the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers branch at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), from 1966 until his retirement in 1987.

“The Linda Crnic Institute for Down syndrome is being recognized by the Down syndrome community for its research and leadership. Dr. McCabe and his team are pioneers in bringing clinical care and research together in one setting,” said David Tolleson, executive director of the National Down Syndrome Congress. “They have not only undertaken important research around medical standards and high-incidence diseases, such as congenital heart defects, they have also been key leaders in advocating for more and better research as witnessed by their organization at the first National Conference on Down syndrome in conjunction with the NIH.”

McCabe accepted the award with colleagues Michelle Livingston, director of operations and government affairs at Global Down Syndrome Foundation – the nonprofit that supports the institute – and DeOndra Dixon, advocate and ambassador for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

“On behalf of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, I am humbled and honored to be added to the list of Theodore D. Tjossem Research Award recipients,” McCabe said. “The fact is, people with Down syndrome deserve sound research and fair funding that will provide them the best medical care and health outcome, as well as allow them to reach their true potential. We are committed to delivering what people with Down syndrome deserve.”

The National Down Syndrome Congress annual convention is the only annual, national conference in the United States for people with Down syndrome, their families, and their care providers. To learn more about National Down Syndrome Congress or the Annual Convention, please visit www.ndsccenter.org.