The Endocrine Society selected 14 leaders in the endocrinology field as winners of the organization’s prestigious 2017 Laureate Awards. Established in 1944, the Laureate Awards recognize the highest achievements in the endocrinology field. Three oncology leaders in particular were recognized for outstanding work in research, leadership, and investigation.
Klaus H. Kaestner, PhD
Klaus H. Kaestner, PhD
The annual Roy O. Greep Award for Outstanding Research recognizes meritorious contributions to research in endocrinology. Dr. Kaestner is the Suor Butterworth Professor of Genetics and Associate Director of the Diabetes Research Center and the Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
He combined innovative mouse genetics with state-of-the-art functional genomics to understand the molecular and epigenetic basis of the development and function of the endocrine pancreas and liver. He also pioneered the exploration of the epigenetic and chromatin landscape of the endocrine pancreas. Dr. Kaestner’s groundbreaking discoveries of human islet cell plasticity and alterations of the beta-cell epigenome have expanded our understanding of beta-cell pathophysiology and opened the door to novel treatments for diabetes.
Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD
Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD
The annual Outstanding Leadership in Endocrinology Award recognizes outstanding leadership in fundamental or clinical endocrinology. Dr. Woodruff is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, as well as Immediate Past Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center Basic Science Program and Director of the Northwestern University Center for Reproductive Science.
An internationally recognized expert in ovarian biology, Dr. Woodruff coined the term “oncofertility” to describe the merging between the oncology and fertility fields. She is the Founder and Director of the Oncofertility Consortium and of the Women’s Health Research Institute She received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2011 from President Barack Obama for her work with the Women’s Health Science Program.
Nima Sharifi, MD
Nima Sharifi, MD
The annual Richard E. Weitzman Outstanding Early Career Investigator award recognizes an exceptionally promising young clinical or basic investigator. As Kendrick Family Endowed Chair for Prostate Cancer Research at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, Dr. Sharifi has become a leader in castration-resistant prostate cancer research. His laboratory identified critical enzymes and pathways for the conversion of adrenal-derived precursors to potent androgens in prostate cancer cells and a major genetic determinant of this capacity. Peers praised his bold approach to challenge dogma and and his insistence on translating his work between bedside and bench. ■
