Nomination Guidelines
The Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize for Research in Arthritis recognizes those researchers whose contributions during the previous five years have represented a significant advance in the understanding, treatment or prevention of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. It is a fitting memorial tribute to Lee C. Howley Sr., former chairman of Revco D.S., Inc., who was instrumental in the establishment of the Revco Arthritis Research Center at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Arthritis Foundation extends its gratitude to the Howley family on behalf of the estimated 70 million Americans who have arthritis for making the Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize for Research in Arthritis possible. The recognition that this program offers for excellence in arthritis research will ensure that the search will continue for cures to the more than 100 forms of arthritis and the rheumatic diseases. The Howley family's expression of commitment offers hope that one day the problems of arthritis will be solved.
The 2008 recipients are Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD, of Columbia University College of
Physicians. His contributions to our understanding of the development and function of the
skeletal system have been nothing short of remarkable. Prior to Karsenty’s work, little was
known about the molecular basis of mammalian skeletal system development and
differentiation. Now, a decade later, the field is burgeoning with a plethora of new transcription
factors, coactivators, corepressors, and signaling pathways that explain the development of
the osteoblast from the mesenchymal stem cell, both during embryonic development and
during postnatal bone formation. Michel Nussenzweig, MD, PhD, of Rockefeller University.
Dr. Nussenzweig’s contributions to the fields of B cell development and dendritic cell function
have provided important insights into the etiology of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis and have paved the way to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of
these diseases.
Previous recipients include Gary Koretzky, MD, David Wofsy, MD, Gary Firestein, MD, Chella
David, PhD, David Felson, MD, MPH, Jeffrey Ravetch, MD, David V. Goeddel, PhD, Betty
Diamond, MD, Peter Lipsky, MD, David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD, Daniel Kastner, MD, PhD,
Morris Reichlin, MD, Matthew H. Liang, MD, MPH, William P. Arend, MD, Arthur Weiss, MD,
PhD, Michael B. Brenner, MD, Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, Barton F. Haynes, MD, K. Frank
Austen, MD, Allen C. Steere, MD, Darwin J. Prockop, MD, PhD, John P. Atkinson, MD,
Douglas T. Fearon, MD, Robert J. Winchester, MD, Eng M. Tan, MD, Mart Mannik, MD,
Dennis A. Carson, MD, Hugh O. McDevitt, MD,C. William Castor, MD, Joan A. Steitz, PhD,
Michael Lerner, MD, PhD, and John A. Hardin, MD.
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding contribution to research
that represents a major advance in the understanding, treatment or prevention of arthritis and
rheumatic diseases.
Sponsoring Organization: Support is provided by a generous endowment by the Howley
Family.
Eligibility: An investigator is eligible for nomination if he or she has performed major research
in a clinical or scientific field directly related to the rheumatic diseases in facilities located within
the U.S. during the five years immediately preceding July 1, 2009.
Restrictions: The award will ordinarily be made to a single individual. In exceptional
situations, the prize committee may recommend either:
- Dividing the award equally among more than one investigator from a single research group.
- Dividing the award among individuals from more than one research group who have
made critical contributions to the same research area or problem.
Basis of Judgment: The awardee will be chosen primarily on the basis of the following
criteria:
- Significance of the work to understanding and treatment of rheumatic disease and to initiating and sustaining the field of arthritis research.
- Originality and innovative insight on the part of the investigator into a major scientific
problem. - Intellectual and scientific independence of the investigator clear evidence that he or she
is the prime intellectual and organizational force behind the particular research effort
cited. - The magnitude and quality of other career research efforts by the investigator, whether
or not related to the major scientific achievement, will be given some weight in case of a
close decision.
Nominations: Nominations can be made by any individual who is thoroughly familiar with the
work of the nominee and must be co-sponsored by another such individual. One of these
individuals should ordinarily be associated with an institution at which some of the work was
performed and the other nominator from a different institution.
Deadline and Nomination Letter: The deadline for receipt of all nominating materials is July
1, 2009. See attached Instructions for Nominating Candidates for details.
Award Procedure: The award will be presented at the Evening of Honors dinner on Friday,
November 20, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia.
