NORTH BETHESDA, Md.,
Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
(FNIH) today bestowed its annual Trailblazer Prize for
Clinician-Scientists to Michael
Wilson, M.D., of the University of
California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Wilson has received the
Trailblazer Prize, along with a $10,000 honorarium, for pioneering a
next-generation diagnostic approach to pinpoint infectious causes
of inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system. The
Trailblazer Prize is made possible by a generous donation from John
I. Gallin, M.D., and Elaine Gallin, Ph.D., to the FNIH.
Now in its third year, the Trailblazer Prize recognizes the
outstanding contributions of early career clinician-scientists
whose research translates basic scientific observations into new
paradigm-shifting approaches for diagnosing, preventing, treating
or curing disease and disability.
Dr. Wilson is Associate Professor of Neurology in the Division
of Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology at the UCSF Weill Institute
for Neurosciences. Bypassing the traditional process of
differential diagnosis, Wilson employs the innovative technique of
metagenomic next-generation sequencing. This approach efficiently
analyzes the genetic material in a patient's sample to precisely
identify specific infectious agents causing inflammation while also
ruling out irrelevant pathogens that might otherwise have been
suspected. Wilson has unearthed key knowledge about the infectious
and autoimmune causes of inflammatory conditions in the brain,
spinal cord and meninges, including major discoveries such as
co-identifying the family of viruses behind acute flaccid myelitis,
a paralyzing, polio-like condition affecting children. Wilson's lab
is currently applying these novel methods to search for an
infectious trigger in multiple sclerosis. Dr. Wilson earned his
M.D. and M.A.S. from UCSF.
"Dr. Wilson has developed and applied revolutionary new tools to
improve the diagnosis of central nervous system infections like
meningitis and encephalitis. His groundbreaking work has led to new
insights about infectious and autoimmune diseases, with
important implications not only for how individual patients are
treated, but for a better understanding of the etiology and
pathophysiology of these disorders," said Steven M. Paul, M.D., Chairman of the Board,
FNIH.
In lieu of an in-person event to celebrate this achievement, the
Trailblazer Prize will be bestowed via the Online Celebration of
the 2020 FNIH Awards, an interactive website launched today at
awards.fnih.org to laud Dr. Wilson and the other recipients of 2020
FNIH honors.
"I feel very fortunate to win this award, which is an incredible
honor," said Dr. Wilson. "This is a very meaningful recognition of
the work that I've done with a phenomenal group of scientists and
clinicians. I am fortunate to get to work in an environment that
offers close collaboration between the laboratory and the clinical
space, and seeing that recognized means quite a lot."
Dr. Wilson was selected as the 2020 Trailblazer Prize recipient
by a jury of distinguished biomedical research leaders, chaired by
Michael J. Welsh, M.D., Director,
Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of
Iowa. In addition to Dr. Welsh, other members of the
esteemed jury include:
- Barry Coller, M.D., Vice
President for Medical Affairs, Physician in Chief, David
Rockefeller Professor, The Rockefeller
University
- Michael Fox, M.D., Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Center, Harvard Medical School; 2018
FNIH Trailblazer Prize Recipient
- Helen H. Hobbs, M.D., Professor
of Internal Medicine and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center
- John I. Gallin, M.D., NIH Associate Director for Clinical
Research and Chief Scientific Officer, NIH Clinical Center
- Crystal Mackall, M.D., Ernest
and Amelia Gallo Family Professor of Pediatrics and Internal
Medicine, Stanford University
- Steven M. Paul, M.D., Chairman
of the Board, FNIH; President and Chief Executive Officer,
Karuna Therapeutics, Inc. and
Venture Partner at Third Rock Ventures
To view the Online Celebration of the 2020 FNIH Awards, please
visit awards.fnih.org.
About the Foundation for the National Institutes of
Health
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions
in support of the mission of the NIH, the world's premier medical
research agency. The Foundation, also known as the FNIH, works with
its partners to accelerate biomedical research and strategies
against diseases and health concerns in the United States and across the globe. The
FNIH organizes and administers research projects; supports
education and training of new researchers; organizes educational
events and symposia; and administers a series of funds supporting a
wide range of health issues. Established by Congress in 1990, the
FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For
additional information about the FNIH, please
visit fnih.org.
Media Contact:
Greta Gorman
Foundation for the NIH
(301) 435-4038
ggorman@fnih.org
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SOURCE Foundation for the National Institutes of Health