Dana’s Angels Research Trust is very honored to have the opportunity on Saturday, May 30, 2015 to present its GUARDIAN ANGEL AWARD to Dr. Gregory P. Crawford, Dean of the College of Science and the William K. Warren Foundation Dean, Professor of Physics at the University of Notre Dame.
Dean Crawford’s contributions have been both scientific and incredibly personal. Under Dean Crawford’s tenure at the University of Notre Dame, the College of Science established what is now known as The Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare & Neglected Diseases. The Center is charged with the mission of supporting translational research of Notre Dame faculty. The aim is to link researchers with the finances and scientific resources needed to translate their research into technologies- drugs, vaccines, diagnostics- that will ultimately improve patient outcomes, including for Niemann-Pick type C disease (“NPC”) patients.
In addition, since 2010, Dean Crawford has been riding his bicycle to raise awareness and funds for research to find treatments and a cure for NPC. The morning after DART’s Gladys Knight Gala Concert, Greg will embark upon his fifth cross-country bike ride for NPC. Greg’s van, beautifully adorned in blue and gold will be parked in front of the Palace Theatre for the Gladys Knight Gala.
Greg will depart from Long Island, New York on the “Road to Discovery,” and finish around June 26, 2015 in Pebble Beach, CA, just in time for the fourth annual “Parseghian Classic”, a 3 day golf tournament supporting the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation for NPC research. Greg’s treks are always highlighted with stops to visit NPC researchers and families, as well as Notre Dame alumni clubs, along the way.
The rides are a celebration of Notre Dame’s partnership with the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, like DART, a grass roots, non-profit organization dedicated to funding medical research projects to find a treatment for NPC and related neurodegenerative disorders. Notre Dame’s former head football coach Ara Parseghian lost three grandchildren to NPC.
Prior to joining Notre Dame, Greg was at Brown University, where he was the dean of engineering (2006-2008) and professor of physics and engineering (1996-2008). His research focuses on soft matter materials, photonic materials, medical devices, displays, nano-science, magnetic resonance, and photonic devices with a focus on human health. With over 300 research and education publications, review articles, and book chapters, and more than 20 U.S. patents and patent applications, Greg is passionate about translating basic science discoveries into value for human health and for society.
Greg attended Kent State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and Ph.D. degrees.
