THANK YOU, DR. OLNEY
January 31, 2012 The University of California, San Francisco announced yesterday that neurologist and pioneering ALS researcher Richard K. Olney, MD, has passed away. Dr. Olney began focusing on ALS, also known as 'amyotrophic lateral sclerosis' or 'Lou Gehrig's disease', approximately 25 years ago, ultimately serving as the founding director of UCSF's ALS Treatment and Research Center. The Center currently sees more than 375 patients with ALS and conducts considerable research with the goal of developing an effective treatment for the disease, which afflicts approximately 1 of every 1,000 individuals, with a median survival time of three to five years.
Dr. Olney's life - and now, his death - is of particular note, given his life's work: Dr. Olney himself was diagnosed with ALS eight years ago.
Rather than stepping aside, Dr. Olney continued his work until the very end, even though he ultimately had little control over muscle function and was able to communicate only via a computer tablet which translates eye blinks into words.
The impact of his life is recalled by Lucie Bruijn, Chief Scientist with the ALS Foundation, which supported much of his work:
“He has been an inspiration to those of us who work every day toward the goal of finding meaningful therapies for ALS. It is an honor to have known him personally and the ALS Association is proud to have funded his important studies to identify genetic and environmental influences that impact the disease.”
Dr. Olney, we salute you. May your life's work continue to bear much fruit, and may you continue to inspire the researchers, and patients and families, who are battling this horrible disease. Like you, we look forward to the day when a cure is found.