The Ralph Wilson Medical Research Foundation has announced that a Wilson Fellow, Dr. Maria Siemionow, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, has recently been featured in an article published by the New York Times titled, "A New Face: A Bold Surgeon, an Untried Surgery."

The article, published on July 26, 2005, highlights Dr. Siemionow's latest cutting edge pursuit to undertake a novel and somewhat extraordinary medical procedure: a face transplant.

Key research enabling the development was funded by Mr. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. through the Ralph Wilson Medical Research Foundation. Dr. Siemionow received a three year Grant beginning in 2000 from the Foundation totaling $300,000. The reward led to development of a post procedure drug regimen that was instrumental in inducing long term tolerance of transplants.

Through this grant, the Dr. conducted innovative experiments in laboratory rats as she was able to induce long-term tolerance to hind-leg transplants with a seven day drug regimen.

Dr. Siemionow hopes to translate the success with laboratory animals to humans. According to the New York Times, "If similar results can be achieved in humans (many previous efforts along these lines have failed), the advance will alter the calculus behind transplantations, making them feasible for a much greater number of patients, including those with facial disfigurements."

For more information, please see the article published online on New York Times web site: www.nytimes.com.