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- Posted Thursday February 21, 2013
Oscar winner Jeff Bridges joins TGen's diabetes initiative
'The Dude' endorses The Waylon Jennings Fund for Diabetes Research
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Feb. 21, 2013 -
Academy-Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges has joined the National
Honorary Committee in support of The Waylon Jennings Fund for
Diabetes Research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen).
Bridges - who won Best Actor for playing a troubled musician in
the 2009 movie Crazy Heart - joins country music stars Keith Urban,
Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson and Billy Ray Cyrus in support of
a nationwide initiative aimed at finding new diabetes treatments
for the 26 million Americans with this life-threatening
disease.
"Waylon is a hero of mine and I am proud to support The Waylon
Fund for Diabetes Research," said Bridges, whose popularity made a
quantum leap with his portrayal of "The Dude" in the 1998
cult-classic film The Big Lebowski.
"I've always admired Waylon as an artist and an Outlaw.He
was someone who did it his way, just like my character, The Dude.
And in the true Outlaw spirit, he kicked down the doors that were
closed to him with both feet.Waylon is a true inspiration for
both musicians and scientists who are fighting diabetes," said
Bridges, who also is involved in ending hunger, filming two new
movies and recently penned a book with co-author Bernie Glassman:
The Dude and the Zen Master.
Jeff Bridges - Photo courtesy of Jeff Bridges
Bridges has often said his character Bad Blake in Crazy Heart
was inspired by thinking of himself as the fifth member of The
Highwaymen, a supergroup formed by outlaw-country veterans Johnny
Cash, Willie Nelson, Kristofferson and Waylon.
Working with Waylon's widow, Jessi Colter, and their son, Shooter
Jennings, TGen established The Waylon Fund in 2011. Waylon, who
lived much of his storied career in Arizona, died in 2002 at age 64
from complications of diabetes. He is buried in Mesa, Ariz.
TGen's research into diabetes will allow physicians to more
accurately predict who has the greatest risk of developing Type 2
diabetes and related complications, while also identifying targets
for treatment of the disease.
"'We are so honored to have the support of Mr. Bridges for our
efforts to better treat diabetes and its complications," said Dr.
Johanna DiStefano, Director of TGen's Diabetes, Cardiovascular
& Metabolic Diseases Division, who leads a team of scientists
working in five areas of research: diabetes and heart disease,
diabetic nephropathy, diabetes and obesity, diabetes and liver
disease, and diabetes and individualized treatment
strategies.
For more information, please visit www.thewaylonfund.org, and click
on The Waylon National Honorary Committee button at the bottom of
the page.
# # #
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a
Phoenix-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
