Los Angeles, California -- (CCN Matthews - July 25, 2006) - The W.M. Keck Foundation, a leading supporter of high-impact medical research, science and engineering, announced the 2006 class of grant recipients under its Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research program today.

Robert A. Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Now in its eighth year, our Young Scholars program helps to promote the early career development of some of the country's brightest young biomedical scientists. We are once again very pleased to support a group of young investigators who we believe have the promise to become our nation's research leaders."

Initially established in 1998 as a five-year, $25 million initiative, the Keck Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research program was designed to support groundbreaking research addressing the fundamental mechanisms of human disease. The W.M. Keck Foundation Board renewed the program for an additional five years in 2003, bringing the total amount to be awarded up to $50 million by 2008. Under the program, each grant recipient's sponsoring institution receives an award of as much as $1 million to support the scientist's research activities for a period of five years. It is hoped that the investment in the Keck Scholars will greatly benefit society for generations to come with continued advances in understanding - and combating - the fundamental mechanisms of human disease.

The 2006 class of Distinguished Young Scholars are:

• Luis Amaral, Ph.D., Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University - Dr. Amaral uses computational methods to identify and map patterns of molecular interactions within cells, which are part of a growing sea of complex biological information. These maps hold promise for future drug development to cure diseases while avoiding unwanted side effects. His research has the potential to greatly decrease the amount of time a
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