Tabak To Receive Research!America Advocacy Award

Dr. Lawrence Tabak, who is performing the duties of NIH director, will receive the John Edward Porter Legacy Award. The award, announced by Research!America on Oct. 6 and supported by Ann Lurie, honors individuals who show outstanding commitment to sustaining the nation’s world-class leadership in medical and health research. The 27th annual Advocacy Awards will be presented in March 2023.

“We are pleased to honor Dr. Tabak for his years of leadership and service in working to ensure that the United States has a strong and vibrant medical and health research ecosystem,” said Susan Dentzer, chair of Research!America’s board of directors. “We are also grateful to Dr. Tabak for his all-important role in leading the NIH through the current period of transition.” 

Tabak has worked to advance solutions to complex public health and scientific issues including peer review, team science, precision medicine, data science, rigor and reproducibility, brain research, opioid use disorder and the Covid-19 pandemic, to name a few. 

“He may be remembered most, however, for his efforts to advance diversity and equity at NIH, initiating critical programs to diversify the biomedical research workforce and increase diversity, inclusion and accessibility within NIH,” according to the award announcement. 

The annual Research!America Advocacy Awards—first hosted in 1996—recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership efforts have advanced the nation’s commitment to medical, health and scientific research.