August 2004
Honors & Appointments
Jaime Grutzendler, MD, assistant professor of neurology and of physiology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, received a New Scholar Award in Aging from the Ellison Medical Foundation for his work investigating the dynamics of neuronal-microglia interactions in Alzheimer’s disease. The foundation also awarded a New Scholar Award in Global Infectious Disease to Liming Li, PhD, assistant professor of molecular pharmacology and biological chemistry, for her project facilitating prion research using C. elegans.
Christine J. DiDonato, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, has received the Young Investigator Award in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology Foundation and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association, the award supports researchers working toward the cause, treatment, and cure of SMA, the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers. The award also provides support for Dr. DiDonato’s mentor, Leon G. Epstein, MD, professor of pediatrics and head of the neurology division at Children’s Memorial Hospital.
On June 16 the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington honored Elliot J. Roth, MD, Paul B. Magnuson Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and department chair at the Feinberg School, with its 2004 John W. Goldschmidt Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation.
In June Eric G. Bremer, PhD, research associate professor of neurological surgery, received two awards in Washington for his work on gene chip applications and data mining. A member of the Children’s Memorial Institute for Research and Education (CMIER), Dr. Bremer was honored by Computer World at the Smithsonian Institution as a finalist for the 21st Century Achievement Award. He also received the BioIT Best Practices Award for best informatics applications, which was presented at the National Press Club.
Joan S. Chmiel, PhD, professor of preventive medicine, will serve on the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Review Committee of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for a four-year term that began July 1.
Two Northwestern University faculty members recently were elected to the Endocrine Society’s Governing Council, for three-year terms. Andrea E. Dunaif, MD, Charles F. Kettering Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism and endocrinology division chief at the Feinberg School, is president-elect. Kelly E. Mayo, PhD, professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, will serve as the basic scientist council member.
During Australia’s Medical Research Week in early June, Mary J.C. Hendrix, PhD, professor of pediatrics and president and scientific director of CMIER, received the Australian Society for Medical Research Medal. In her acceptance speech, she noted that communicating the benefits of science in plain language to the general public is essential to achieving research goals.
Cardiologist Neil J. Stone, MD, professor of clinical medicine, was elected president of the Midwest Lipid Association (the newest chapter of the National Lipid Association) during an inaugural forum of the Midwest group held July 9â11 in Chicago.
Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, professor of preventive medicine, has received the Dannon Institute Award for Excellence in Medical/Dental Nutrition Education. The award was presented on April 18 during the Experimental Biology meeting in Washington.