The "scientific beaker" is being passed from Dr. Anand Mehta, the first Bruce Witte Scholar, to Dr. Andy Cuconati who has been named the new Bruce Witte Scholar. This research scholarship was set up by HBF co-founders Paul and Janine Witte to encourage young scientists to pursue hepatitis B research.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to be the Bruce Witte Scholar of the HBF. This scholarship launched my career. I think it is a very important tool in helping to keep bright young people in the field. More than anything it has helped me to stay committed to HBV research and the search for a cure," said Dr. Mehta.

Dr. Cuconati shares this sentiment. "Being named the Witte Scholar is a tremendous honor, and the high standard set by Dr.Mehta is one that I hope to meet. The measure of my success will be to advance novel antivirals and help bring them to clinical trials. I hope to better understand the biology of HBV cccDNA, and begin to develop therapies to remove it from the infected liver cell."

Dr. Ender Simsek was named the first Hepatitis B Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow in recognition of his outstanding commitment to science and to the study of HBV. He received his doctoral degree in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University (Phila., PA) in 2005.

"It is a privilege to complete my post-doctoral fellowship in HBF-sponsored labs. The ultimate goal in my life is to make a difference in the lives of the children and families suffering with this disease. Knowing that there is still no lasting cure for the treatment of hepatitis B, I am deeply committed to working hard, learning more, and never giving up the pursuit to find a cure."

BInformed, Winter 2006.