NHLBI grantees recognized for top clinical research accomplishments

Office of the Director - May 17, 2012

From left: NHLBI grantees Frank Accurso, M.D.; Malcolm Brenner, M.D., Ph.D.; Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D.; Francis McCormack, M.D.; and Bonnie Ramsey, M.D., recipients of the 2011 Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Awards from the Clinical Research Forum.

The Clinical Research Forum has established a competition to recognize 10 outstanding clinical research accomplishments in the United States each year. The awards are given to clinicians and researchers whose work has had "significant impact on the health of our nation." In the competition's inaugural round, 2010-2011, five of the 10 recipients are NHLBI grantees.

"We are extremely proud of the NHLBI-funded researchers who are being recognized, and attest to the value of our public investment in clinical research," said Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NHLBI. "These scientists are making a difference in the health and well-being of patients right now, which is worth celebrating."

The NHLBI-supported awardees are:

Frank Accurso, M.D. (University of Colorado, Aurora), and Bonnie Ramsey, M.D. (Seattle Children's Research Institute and University of Washington), were recognized for their clinical trials that assessed a new cystic fibrosis treatment for patients who have mutations in a gene called G551D. This work received additional NIH support from NIDDK and NCRR. View PubMed abstracts for Accurso and Ramsey
Malcolm Brenner, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston), received the Forum's second-highest award for his work on improving bone marrow transplantation. His team created an enzyme "on/off switch" to stop T cells in the immune system from attacking donor cells during the period after transplants when patients are most vulnerable. This work received additional NIH support from NCI. View PubMed abstract
Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D. (Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute), was recognized for identifying three digestion byproducts in the gut that predict risk for cardiovascular disease, including hardening of the arteries. This work received additional NIH support from NIDDK and NCRR. View PubMed abstract
Francis McCormack, M.D. (University of Cincinnati), was recognized for testing a new treatment for the lung disease LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis) in women. His team found that sirolimus, which is typically used to prevent rejection after organ transplantation, can slow or halt progression of LAM—the first drug to do so. This work received additional NIH support from ORD and NCRR. View PubMed abstract