BWF has named 11 physician-scientists as the 2007 recipients of its Clinical Scientist Awards in Translational Research. These $750,000 awards are intended to support established, independent physician-scientists who are dedicated to translational research—the two-way transfer between laboratory research and patient treatment—and mentoring physician-scientist trainees.
     This year, BWF has awarded a total of $8.25 million to foster the development and productivity of these investigators. The awards give them the freedom and flexibility to explore scientific questions, apply the resulting knowledge at the bedside and bring insights from the clinical setting back to the laboratory for further study.
     Translational Research Awards provide $150,000 per year over five years. Candidates must have an M.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. degree and hold an appointment or joint appointment in a subspecialty of clinical medicine. They must also be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and Canada and hold a current license to practice medicine.
     “We hope these awards will lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of disease as well as new methods of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease,” said BWF President Enriqueta C. Bond, Ph.D. “BWF is particularly interested in supporting physician-scientists who bring novel ideas and new approaches to translational research.”
     BWF launched the Translational Awards program in 1997 and has made a total of 80 awards—an investment of more than $58 million in the careers of physicians who bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside.
     Following are the 2007 award recipients, along with their institutions, departmental affiliations, and project titles:

Jayakrishna Ambati, M.D.
University of Kentucky
Suppression of angiogenesis

Kenneth Cusi, M.D.
University of Texas-San Antonio Health Science Center
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes: a novel intervention strategy targeting metabolic & molecular defects

Michael R. DeBaun, M.D.
Washington University
Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor inhibitors: a target for decreasing sickle cell disease-related morbidity

Michael S. Diamond, M.D., Ph.D.
Washington University
Epitope-based immunogens and diagnostics for dengue virus

Anna Huttenlocher, M.D.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Diagnosis and treatment of autoinflammatory disease

Branch Moody, M.D.
Harvard Medical School
Human T-cell responses to CD1 and lipid antigens from M. tuberculosis

Annabelle Rodriguez, M.D.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Deficiency of the lipoprotein receptor, scavenger receptor class B type I, in women with infertility

Norman E. Sharpless, M.D.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
The p16INK4 a tumor suppressor in stem cell aging

Warren D. Shlomchik, M.D.
Yale University
Memory T cells for improved immune reconstitution and GVL in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Pradeep Singh, M.D.
University of Washington
Gallium as an antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agent: a trojan horse strategy that disrupts bacterial iron metabolism

Russell Van Gelder, M.D., Ph.D.
Washington University
Pathogenesis of inflammatory eye disease

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Burroughs Wellcome Fund

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, N.C., is an independent, private foundation dedicated to advancing the medical sciences by supporting research and other scientific and educational activities. A majority of its grant making is conducted through competitive programs designed to support the career development of young scientists and to build capacity in research areas BWF believes to be undervalued or in need of targeted support. BWF’s current assets are in excess of $750 million and average annual grants are approximately $30 million. For more information about BWF, contact Russ Campbell, communications officer, at 919-991-5119 or visit our web site at www.bwfund.org

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Public Release Date: 14 Mar 2007

Contact: Russ Campbell
news@bwfund.org
919-991-5119
Burroughs Wellcome Fund