2011 Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology
The Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute is accepting nominations for the 2011 Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology, awarded annually to a national or international leader in the field of organ transplantation. The prize consists of a crystal award, an honorarium of $15,000, and travel expenses to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the spring of 2011 to formally receive the award and to present the Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology lecture. Over a two-day period, the winner will also participate in related activities and meet informally with faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students.
Nomination deadline: May 3, 2010
The Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology, previously known as the Annual Thomas E. Starzl Lectureship, was established in 1996 by the Department of Surgery and subsequently endowed by Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. (currently Astellas Pharma, Inc.) to honor the clinical and scientific contributions of Dr. Thomas E. Starzl. Outstanding national and international leaders who have made significant contributions to the fields of organ transplantation and immunology are invited to the University of Pittsburgh to present their work and receive the prize.
Dr. Starzl joined the University of Pittsburgh in 1981 to direct the Pittsburgh Transplantation Institute, which in 1996 was renamed the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. He now holds the position of Professor of Surgery and Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Starzl was the first to transplant kidneys in humans with consistent success, perform liver transplantation, and successfully transplant human intestines. He introduced four commonly used immunosuppressive drugs (prednisone, ALG, cyclophosphamide, and tacrolimus) for clinical transplantation. The discovery in 1992 by Dr. Starzl and colleagues of donor-derived leukocytes in the tissues of long-term functioning organ transplant recipients unmasked a fundamental principle of transplantation tolerance. Dr. Starzl’s seminal contributions to the field of organ transplantation and immunology have been recognized around the globe. His most recent distinctions include the 2004 National Medal of Science, the nation’s highest scientific honor, the 2009 Department of Veterans Affairs Diamond Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Transplantation Medicine, and the 2009 Institute of Medicine Gustav O. Lienhard Award.
Nomination Procedure
Please submit the following information electronically to starzlprize@upmc.edu:
1. a completed nomination form (available on http://stiresearch.health.pitt.edu),
2. a letter of nomination with a detailed description of the research accomplishments that qualify the nominee for this award, and
3. a copy of the nominee’s current curriculum vitae.
The deadline for receipt of all nomination materials is May 3, 2010.
Questions concerning the Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology or the nomination process may be referred to 412-383-8884 or starzlprize@upmc.edu.
