The Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures honored Jim and Diny Landen at its annual Lifesaver luncheon held April 18, 2016. This was the organization’s fourteenth annual luncheon recognizing individuals who have long supported medical research in the state and specifically embryonic stem cell research.
Jim and Diny Landen have been active in the local business and non-profit communities for more than 25 years. They both graduated from Southern Methodist University with business degrees, and returned to Omaha in 1987 to continue their business activities and raise their three sons.
Jim serves as chairman and CEO of Security National Bank, a local community bank, founded by his parents Clarence “Mickey” and Mary Landen. In 2014, Security National celebrated its 50th anniversary. Diny has also been active in the business community primarily in broadcast and communications.
Through the years, they have served on the boards of many civic, social service, arts and health organizations. Jim is currently on the boards of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Clarkson Regional Healthcare Services, the Nature Conservancy and the Salvation Army. He is also serving on the Comprehensive Cancer Center Building Committee.
Diny sits on the board of directors of Joslyn Art Museum and Project Harmony. She also serves on the UNMC Board of Counselors.
The Coalition will also recognized Tammy Kielian, Ph.D. who was the recipient of the Chancellor Emeritus Harold M. Maurer, M.D. and Beverly Maurer Scientific Achievement Award. Dr. Kielian is an internationally recognized researcher on the interaction between bacterial infection and the cellular inflammatory response.
Today, Dr. Kielian is focused on a disease commonly known as Juvenile Batten disease (JBD). JBD is a degenerative condition resulting in the death of neurons in the brain over an approximate 10 year period. Juvenile Batten disease first presents with blindness around 5-10 years of age, from there progressing to seizures, cognitive and motor loss, dementia and premature death.
