Winners Of The 2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award
September 10, 2010
The Award was presented to the winners during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on September 8th.
“Scientific knowledge has advanced tremendously since HIV was first identified in early 1980s,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., global head, Pharmaceuticals Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. “At the time, HIV was a disease with very high mortality rates. While many challenges remain, the breakthroughs led by scientists including Drs. De Clercq and Fauci, as well as Dr. Paul Janssen himself, are helping people with HIV to live long and productive lives.”
During his distinguished career, Dr. De Clercq played a leading role in the discovery of antiviral agents now used to treat a variety of viral infections, including those caused by herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and HIV. "In working with Dr. Paul on the discovery of the first NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) I always admired his drive for new scientific discoveries and his passion for helping patients,” said Dr. De Clercq. “Dr. Paul was a highly respected scientist whose work continues to extend and improve the lives of people around the world, and I am honored to be selected as the recipient of an award whose namesake carries on his tremendous legacy.”
Dr. Fauci has made significant contributions to the understanding of virtually every aspect of HIV pathogenesis over the past 29 years. He pioneered the field of human immunoregulation with a number of scientific observations that serve as the basis for current understanding of the regulation of the human immune response. “It’s wonderful to do impactful, meaningful work that you love,” said Dr. Fauci. “While we should be proud of the many scientific advances that have been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we know that in many respects, our work is just beginning. Developing HIV interventions and delivering them to the people who need them will require scientific and public health vision, and dedication from all sectors of society.”
About the Dr Paul Janssen Award
The Dr. Paul Janssen Award is presented annually. The Award winner is chosen by an independent committee of internationally-renowned scientists from leading academic and scientific institutions, whose own research contributions have resulted in critical advances in improving human health. The Award includes a citation and a $100,000 shared prize.
Established by Johnson & Johnson in 2004, the Award is named for Dr. Paul Janssen, the founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. Known to his colleagues as "Dr. Paul," Janssen was one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate researchers. He helped save millions of lives through his contribution to the discovery and development of more than 80 medicines, four of which remain on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research was established by Johnson & Johnson to honor the memory of Dr. Paul.
"We're proud to recognize and celebrate those outstanding scientists who are making significant contributions to scientific research and the development of critical new medicines, and who exemplify Dr. Paul's passion for medical innovation," said Paul Stoffels, M.D., who worked with Janssen while at Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. and is now global head, Pharmaceuticals Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson
Learn more about the Dr Paul Janssen Award at www.pauljanssenaward.com.