KUDOS
NAM Honors Six NIH Scientists
Six NIH scientists are among 90 new members and 10 international members elected to the National Academy of Medicine during its annual meeting Oct. 19. They are:
Dr. Peter L. Choyke, senior investigator, Molecular Imaging Program, National Cancer Institute, “For pioneering advances in the imaging of prostate cancer that have enabled accurate localization of clinically significant tumors. His work has allowed more accurate and efficient biopsies as well as focal therapies that cause fewer side effects than conventional therapies.”
Dr. Cynthia E. Dunbar, NIH distinguished investigator and branch chief, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, “For leading pioneering genetic marking and therapy trials targeting hematopoietic stem cells and developing uniquely predictive non-human primate models to successfully improve the safety and efficiency of various gene therapies as well as gain insights into hematopoiesis and immunology.”
Dr. Heinz Feldmann, chief, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “For leading the development of the vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine platform that resulted in the first Ebola vaccine. His mobile diagnostic laboratory for public health and biodefense emergencies is now used by the World Health Organization.”
Dr. Louis M. Staudt, chief, Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, and director, Center for Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Institute, “For demonstrating that genetic profiling can distinguish lymphoma subtypes, predict patient survival and individualize therapy, thus playing a key role in launching the era of cancer precision medicine. He devised loss-of-function genetic screens for essential cancer genes, thereby enabling effective targeted therapies for molecular subtypes of lymphoma.”
Dr. Hannah A. Valantine, professor of medicine, Stanford University; former NIH chief officer for scientific workforce diversity and senior investigator, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, “For her national leadership in both scientific workforce diversity and cardiac transplantation research. Her data-driven approach in these two important areas has led to game-changing policies and new programs that enriched the nation’s biomedical talent pool and have generated paradigm-shifting innovations in patient care.”
Dr. Carlos Alberto Zarate Jr., NIH distinguished investigator and chief, Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, “For demonstrating that a single ketamine infusion has rapid, robust and relatively sustained antidepressant effects in individuals with treatment-resistant depression and bipolar depression, in addition to significant anti-suicidal and anti-anhedonic effects. Identifying ketamine as a rapid-acting antidepressant and anti-suicidal ideation agent was a paradigm shift in psychiatry.”
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