This scholarship honors the lives of two remarkable people, Dr. Robert Guthrie and Dr. Richard Koch, whose work changed the face of PKU.

Dr. Robert Guthrie, creator of the PKU newborn screening test, died in 1995. In memory of his remarkable gift to PKU children, this higher education scholarship program was started after his death. After he developed the test in 1961, he spent more than thirty years advocating for the establishment of newborn screening programs in the United States and many other countries and became a Board member of National PKU News in 1989 when it started, until his death at age 79.

Dr. Richard Koch, a long-time colleague and friend of Dr. Guthrie, died on September 24, 2011. We decided to honor him by adding his name to the scholarship program. Dr. Koch dedicated his entire career of more than 50 years to identify, treat and help find a cure for PKU. His work was at the forefront of PKU treatment and research. Dr. Koch was the principal investigator on two large collaborative studies on PKU children and maternal PKU that forever changed how PKU was treated. He also lobbied tirelessly for newborn screening for PKU.

There is no question that young people with PKU who are bound for higher education programs owe this opportunity to early screening and diet treatment. Over the years, the scholarship program has honored more than 125 outstanding young people with PKU who have gone on to succeed in careers as distinguished doctors, lawyers, scientists, teachers and professors, pilots, musicians, artists, actors, and so many others.

We hope families and others whose lives have been touched by Dr. Guthrie's and Dr. Koch's remarkable careers will generously support The Guthri-Koch PKU Scholarship. It exists only because of your donations.

Please click the Donate button to make your donation!

Remember, all donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law.