2012 Awardee

Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD - Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor, Washington University

Dr. Gordon is the founding Director of the Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology at Washington University and is recognized for "Establishing the field of human microbiome research". His work and this field have implications for 21st century medicine, as it further evolves on disease prevention, new definitions of health, new ways for determining the origins of our individual biological differences and approaches for understanding how changes in our cultural traditions, lifestyles, technology, and biosphere are impacting human microbial ecology and human evolution.

2012 Awardees

Govindaswami Chinnadurai, Ph.D. - Professor of Molecular Virology, Saint Louis UIniversity

Dr. Chinnadurai has made pioneering contributions in the areas of regulation of programmed cell death (“apoptosis”) and the mechanisms of oncogenic cell transformation through his studies on viral oncogenes. He discovered the first BH3-only pro-apoptotic family protein (BIK) that launched world-wide
studies on BH3-only family proteins that trigger the onset of apoptosis program and led to the development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs that are on clinical trials. Dr. Chinnadurai’s team also discovered that a region of the human adenovirus oncoprotein E1A (the “C-terminal region”) can suppress oncogenic transformation of primary epithelial cells. His group linked the tumor suppressive activity of E1A with the interaction of different cellular protein complexes. Further studies by his group resulted in the discovery and cloning of “C-terminal binding protein” (CtBP). CtBP and its family members are transcriptional co-repressors that govern essential developmental pathways and oncogenesis. These proteins repress tumor suppressor genes, apoptosis-inducing genes, and genes associated with the differentiated state of the cell. CtBP and related proteins are being investigated as novel anti-cancer targets.

Scott Hultgren, Ph.D. -Helen Lehbrink Stoever Professor of Moledular Microbiology; and Director, Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research, Washington University

In recognition of his standing as one of the world's most accomplished microbiologists, Scott was recently elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences. His research on urinary tract infections (the most common infectious complaint of women presenting to primary outpatient clinics has uncovered the novel and elegant mechanisms that bacteria use to fold and assemble the subunits of the fiber into its final structure. His studies have revolutionized our understanding of the molecular basis of chronic and recurrent UTI and his group is developing novel antibiotics and vaccines to prevent and cure UTI. He has also been influential in women's health policy and was a principal contributor to the strategic plan developed by the Office for Research in Women's Health to establish priorities for research at the NIH.

Past Award Recipients: Duane Grandgenett, Ph.D. (2011) and Toni Kutchan, Ph.D. (2011); Alan L. Schwartz, Ph.D. (2010); Cheryl S. Asa, Ph.D.(2009) and Gerald Medoff, M.D. (2009); Martin H. Israel, Ph.D. (2008), Kattesh V. Katti, Ph.D. and Robert M. Senior, M.D. (2007); Barbara Schaal, Ph.D. and Raymond E. Arvidson, Ph.D. (2006); G. Alexander Patterson, M.D. and Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D. (2005); Patricia G. Parker, Ph.D. and Clifford M. Will, Ph.D. (2004); Susan Mackinnon, M.D. and Raymond G. Slavin, M.D. (2003); Carl M. Bender, Ph.D. and Robert E. Ricklefs, Ph.D. (2002); Christopher I. Byrnes, Ph.D. and Dennis W. Choi, M.D., Ph.D. (2001); Allen R. Atkins, Ph.D. and Sarah C. R. Elgin, Ph.D. (2000); Robert B. Belshe, M.D. and Ananthachari Srinivasan, Ph.D. (1999)

2012 Awardees

Kevin L. Deppermann - Chief Engineer-Senior Fellow: Crop Analytics Automation and Engineering Lead

For nearly 34 years, Kevin has made significant contributions not only to Monsanto, but to the entire scientific community. Most recently, he led and worked on a team that conceptualized the first seed chipping system, which has revolutionized the way seeds can be analyzed for future breeding and development of improved seeds. In addition to this invention, he was instrumental in the development of automated imaging systems, advances in operations, and automation for analyzing liquid formations, all of which have played important roles in transforming plant breeding. He has been issued nearly 30 U.S. patents in areas of automation and engineering and was honored as Inventor of the Year in 2010 by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He also received the Queeny Award, Monsanto's highest award for science and technology.

Stuart A. Solin, Ph.D. - Charles M. Hohenberg Professor of Experimental Physics, Washington University

Stuart is internationally recognized for his significant discoveries in Condensed Matter Physics and the Nanosciences.  As inventor of the Extraordinary Magnetoresistance (EMR) sensor device concept, he has seeded a hugely important area of research that has now been taken up extensively by industry around the globe. This work was selected by the American Physical Society as one of the most important research achievements in Physics in 2002. It has the capacity to revolutionize high density data storage and retrieval in computers as well as a number of other disciplines and technologies. Stuart has already developed nano arrays of his new sensors for biological and medical applications such as ultra high resolution imaging of cancer cells. He has published over 270 peer reviewed scientific articles and is a co-inventor on 17 US and International patents. 

Past Award Recipients: Ettigounder (Samy) Ponnusamy, Ph.D. (2011) and Alexander Rubin, Ph.D. (2011); David a. Fischhoff, Ph.D. (2010) and Stephen R. Padgette, Ph.D. (2010); Ramesh K. Agarwal, Ph.D. (2009); Sherman J. Silber, M.D., F.A.C.S. (2008); Robert B. Horsch, Ph.D. (2006); Krishnan K. Sankaran, Ph.D. (2005); Rudolph N. Yurkovich (2004); Donald P. Ames, Ph.D. (2003); Richard E. Pinckert, Ph.D. and Jonathan S. Turner, Ph.D. (2002); Richard D. Bucholz, M.D. (2001)

2012 Awardee

Audrey Odom, MD, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology, Washington University

Audrey is dissecting a key metabolic pathway in malaria which does not exist in humans. By targeting this pathway, her long-term goals are to develop antimalarials with minimal heart toxicity. She recently demonstrated that fosmidomycin (an antimalarial agency currently in clinical trials of combination therapy) inhibits isoprenoid biosynthesis in cultured malaria parasites without significant off-target effects (Biochemistry 2011). Her work is creative, bold and focused. According to Alan Schwartz, she is a "budding exceptional physician-clinical scientist, and one who is destined to be truly outstanding."

Past Award Recipients: Randall J. Bateman, M.D. (2010); Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ph.D. (2010); Jonathan M. Chase, PhD. (2009); Timothy E. Holy, Ph.D. (2009); Sonya Bahr, Ph.D. (2008); Eric C. Leuthardt, M.D. and Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D. (2007); Shelley D. Minteer, Ph.D. (2005); James H. Buckley, Ph.D. (2004); Phyllis I. Hanson, M.D., Ph.D. and James P. McCarter, M.D., Ph.D. (2003); Karen L. Wooley, Ph.D. (2002); Jonathan B. Losos, Ph.D. (2001); Steven F. Dowdy, Ph.D. and Michael E. Wysession, Ph.D. (2000); Laura L. Dugan, M.D. (1999); Scott Hultgren, Ph.D. (1998); James M. Bornholdt, Ph.D. (1997); Alison Goate, Ph.D. and Robert D. Davinroy (1996); Jacob D. Langer, M.D. (1995)

2012 Awardees

Pamely Gay, Ph.D. - Assistant Research Professor, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Pamela is a world leader in citizen science and the use of new media in astronomy education with an international following for her innovative podcasts, blogs and articles. (She is co-host of Astronomy Cast, consistently listed in the top 25 Science & Medicine section of the iTunes Library.) She is doing pioneering research on motivations in citizen science and serves as an empowering mentor for the undergraduate and graduate students on her research team. Dr. Gay is sought out by the most prestigious astronomy conferences in the world to serve as an invited speaker; equally she is sought after by top astronomy researchers who wish to collaborate with her to promote their science to the general public.

Michael W. Friedlander, Ph.D. - Emeritus Professor of Physics, Washington University

For more than four decades, Michael has played a major role in science education. Since 1994, each semester he has organized a series of four "Saturday Science" public lectures in the Washington University Physics Department. The 200-seat lecture hall is often filled. Beyond the region, Michael has been an influence for science understanding nationally with five books published, all well written for the general public. The two published by Harvard University Press describe the history of the study of cosmic rays and what is now known about these energetic particles--anarea of astrophysics to which he has contributed significant original research.

Past Award Recipients: Young Scientist Program, Washington University in St. Louis (2011); Harold H. Harris, Ph.D. (2010); Victoria Lynn May (2009); Harold R. Messler, B.S. (2008) and John Ridgen, Ph.D. (2008); Patrick L. Osborne, Ph.D. (2007); Kenneth Mares, Ph.D. (2006); Robert A. Williams, Ph.D. (2005); Paul H. Young, M.D. and William L. McConnell (2004)