Timothy Springer, the HMS Latham Family Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Boston Children’s Hospital, has been named to receive the 2023 Robert Koch Prize from the Robert Koch Foundation. The prize promotes basic scientific research in the field of infectious diseases and recognizes exemplary projects to solve medical problems.
Springer and his co-recipient, Francisco Sanchez-Madrid of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, were recognized for their discovery of integrins, proteins that connect cells and are crucial for the function of these cells, such as the migration of cells from the blood into the tissue. Their work was recognized for its fundamental importance for understanding the immune system and its reactions.
"With this year's prizewinners, we are honoring two world-famous pioneers of immunology," said Wolfgang Plischke, chairman of the Robert Koch Foundation.
Springer will receive the award at a ceremony in Berlin in November, 2023.
Marcia Haigis, professor of cell biology in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS, has been awarded the 2023 Samsung Ho-Am Prize in Medicine from the Ho-Am Foundation. The prize recognizes an individual of Korean heritage who has made distinctive contributions to the efforts of humankind to conquer disease and comes with an award of $230,000.
Haigis was recognized for discovering that tumor cells recycle ammonia, which had previously only been considered a waste product of cellular metabolism, accelerating tumor cell growth and proliferation. Her discovery provided a new direction in the study of cancer and for opened the possibility of developing a new cancer treatment through inhibitors that block ammonia recycling.
Edward Chouchani, HMS associate professor of cell biology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been awarded a 2023 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Sciences from the Vilcek Foundation. The prize is awarded to immigrant scientists whose early-career work demonstrates outstanding achievement and has the potential to leave a significant impact on the field.
Chouchani was recognized for his work to decipher the molecular mechanisms that drive metabolic disease, with the aim of developing therapeutic interventions targeted at the molecular drivers of metabolism within cells.
Two HMS faculty members received awards from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
Eric Pierce, the HMS William F. Chatlos Professor of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, was awarded the 2023 Proctor Medal in honor of outstanding research in the basic or clinical sciences as applied to ophthalmology.
Demetrios Vavvas, the HMS Solman and Libe Friedman Professor of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, was awarded the 2023 Kreissig Award for Excellence in Retinal Surgery. The award recognizes younger investigators who seek to optimize functional outcomes for patients needing retinal surgery.
Pierce and Vavvas received their awards at the ARVO’s annual meeting in April, where Pierce also delivered the Proctor Award Lecture.
Five Harvard Medical School faculty members have been elected 2023 fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of their significant and enduring accomplishments in cancer research and cancer-related sciences.
“These individuals from across the world have all made significant and groundbreaking contributions to cancer research,” Margaret Foti, chief executive officer of the AACR, said of the 2023 fellows.
“We are deeply honored to have them join our 289 existing Fellows,” she said.
The five new fellows from HMS are:
Keith Flaherty, HMS professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, in recognition of his groundbreaking translational discoveries and seminal contributions to the development of vemurafenib and other therapeutic agents for the treatment of melanoma.
Judy Lieberman, HMS professor of pediatrica at Boston Children’s Hospital, in recognition of her fundamental research contributions to the field of cancer immunology that have contributed to understanding cytotoxic T lymphocytes; for the discovery of T-cell exhaustion in humans; and for innovative work describing the molecular basis of inflammatory cell death.
Thomas M. Roberts, HMS professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in recognition of his instrumental contributions to elucidating the tyrosine kinase signaling pathways critical for tumorigenesis, and for fundamental discoveries of signaling mechanisms capable of regulating cell growth, contributing to the development of transformative cancer therapies.
Catherine Wu, HMS professor of medicine at Dana-Farber, in recognition of her groundbreaking discoveries involving immunogenic antigen targets; for developing genomic-guided immunotherapy and neoantigen-targeting cancer vaccines; and for translating these research findings into early-phase clinical trials designed to ascertain the clinical viability of personalized tumor vaccines in melanoma and glioblastoma patients.
Fellows of the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust of top contributors to cancer science and medicine who help advance the mission of the AACR to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy and advocacy, and funding for cancer research.
Six Harvard Medical School students have received 2023 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. They are among 30 graduate students to receive the merit-based award for immigrants and children of immigrants and were selected for their achievements and their potential to make meaningful contributions to the United States.
Chosen from a pool of nearly 2,000 applicants, each of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellows will receive up to $90,000 in funding to support their graduate studies.
The 2023 Harvard Medical School Soros Fellows are:
Ashri Anurudran, an MD student at HMS. As an aspiring physician-advocate and leader in global gender justice, she is committed to bridging the gap between lived experiences of survivors of sexual violence and global health practice.
Adriana Liimakka, an MD student in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology and a master’s student in the Department of Biomedical Informatics in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS. Liimakka is studying the genetics of musculoskeletal complications and hopes to advocate for equity through innovation in musculoskeletal health care and providing culturally competent care.
Silvia Huerta Lopez, an MD/PhD student in medicine and biological sciences investigating the neurobiology of sensory perception. Huerta Lopez is committed to advocating for undocumented immigrants and patients as a physician-scientist to honor the sacrifices made by her parents and other immigrants.
Nathan Mallipeddi, an MD student at HMS. He aspires to a career as a health care operator and investor focused on transforming the delivery of health care services for people with communication disorders.
Eana Xuyi Meng, an MD student at HMS and a PhD student in the Department of the History of Science at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She is committed to the dual practice of medicine and history, through practicing integrative medicine and illuminating histories of complementary medicines utilized by historically marginalized communities.
Vaibhav Mohanty, an MD/PhD student in the Harvard-MIT MD/PhD program. He hopes to use physics-based theories of evolution to understand how molecular-level structural changes in proteins can affect the evolutionary fitness of viruses and cancers, with the aim of developing novel therapeutic approaches.
The 2023 Soros Fellows include green card holders, naturalized citizens, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, individuals born abroad who graduated from both high school and college in the United States, and the U.S.-born children of two immigrants.
