Four NIH’ers Elected to National Academy of Medicine

Four NIH scientists are among the 100 newly elected members of the National Academy of Medicine, which announced the honor during its annual meeting. Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

The honorees from NIH, and their citations, are:

Dr. Michael Lenardo, chief, molecular development of the immune system section, Laboratory of Immune System Biology, and director, Clinical Genomics Program, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “For the discoveries of molecular mechanisms of immunological tolerance, seminal work on programmed cell death, defining new inherited genetic diseases of immunity, and developing targeted therapies that have saved the lives of children suffering from certain of these devastating diseases.”

Dr. Luigi D. Notarangelo, chief, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, “For making seminal discoveries in the characterization of the molecular and cellular bases of several forms of primary immune deficiencies, and for his leadership role in the creation of networks of centers that care for patients with these disorders, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment.”

Dr. Andre Nussenzweig, chief, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, “For making seminal discoveries that speak to how cells maintain their own genome stability, allow chromosome fragility, and license leukemogenesis at the hands of aberrant DNA repair.”

Dr. Julie A. Segre, senior investigator, microbial genomics section, National Human Genome Research Institute, “For pioneering whole-genome sequencing to track the transmission of fully antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacterium in the midst of a deadly hospital outbreak.”

Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors. With their election, NAM members make a commitment to volunteer their service in National Academies activities.