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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2004
Contact: Stacy Brooks
American Physiological Society
301-634-7253
sbrooks@the-aps.org
APS Announces Four
2004 Young Investigators Awards
BETHESDA, Md. – The American Physiological
Society (APS) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2004 Young
Investigators Awards. The awardees, who hold academic standing up to the
assistant professor level, are APS members who have demonstrated outstanding
promise in the field of physiology. More than $62,000 in monetary prizes is
presented to the recipients and their research programs. Winners will
receive their awards on Monday, April 19 at the APS annual meeting in
Washington, D.C.
2004 Young Investigator Award Winners:
Sarah Gebb, Ph.D. –
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver
The Giles F. Filley Memorial Award in Respiratory Physiology and Medicine
An award of $20,000 will be made to the University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center on Dr. Gebb’s behalf. The focus
of her research is normal lung development and how premature birth
disrupts this process. Her lab has observed that prior to birth, the lung
actually needs a low oxygen environment to grow and develop properly. Thus,
the high oxygen environment that a premature baby’s lungs are exposed to
after birth may actually impede lung growth. Dr. Gebb is also investigating
several approaches to improve lung development in the high oxygen
environment in hopes of improving the mortality and morbidity associated
with premature birth.
Dolly Mehta, Ph.D. –
University of Illinois
The Giles F. Filley
Memorial Award in Respiratory Physiology and Medicine
An award of $20,000 will
be made to the University of Illinois on behalf of Dr. Mehta. She is
studying the effects of RhoA, a low molecular weight G protein found to be a
central player in disrupting the cell layer that lines blood vessels. This
layer, called the endothelial barrier, is vital in maintaining fluid balance
in tissue. Dr. Mehta’s lab is investigating the role of Rho regulators in
controlling the activation of RhoA. This research will shed light on the
mechanisms of inflammation and edema, a hallmark of acute respiratory
distress syndrome.
Armin Just, M.D., Ph.D. – University of North Carolina
The Arthur C. Guyton Award for
Excellence in Integrative Physiology
An award of $15,000 will
be made on Dr. Just’s behalf to the University of North Carolina.
His research focuses on time-dependent aspects of
cardiovascular regulation and the dynamic interaction of its underlying
mechanisms. His previous studies investigated the frequency ranges of
regulating mechanisms, revealed a new source of blood pressure variability,
and determined the balance and interactions between the mechanisms
regulating blood flow in the kidney. Ongoing studies investigate factors
governing this balance and compare the regulatory responses to other
vascular beds to better understand short- and long-term regulation of blood
pressure.
Bruce Schultz, Ph.D. –
Kansas State University
The Lazaro J. Mandel Young Investigator
Award
This $7,500 award
recognizes an individual with outstanding promise in the field of epithelial
and renal physiology and will be given on Dr. Schultz’s behalf to Kansas
State University. Dr. Schultz' research focuses
on developing treatments to
circumvent or cure cystic fibrosis. He is
also studying cells that line the distal portion of the male reproductive
tract and have implications in treating infertility and developing male
contraceptives. Additionally, Dr. Schultz researches mammary function and
the prevention or treatment of mastitis, the most costly disease to the
dairy industry.
For more information on the APS and the Young
Investigator Awards, go to
http://www.the-aps.org/awards/awd_society.htm or contact Stacy Brooks at
301-634-7253 or
sbrooks@the-aps.org.
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The American Physiological Society is a professional scientific
membership organization devoted to fostering scientific research, education,
and the dissemination of scientific information. The APS supports a variety
of educational activities including programs and fellowships to encourage
the development of young scientists at the undergraduate and graduate
levels, with a particular focus on women and underrepresented minorities.
Founded in 1887, the Society’s membership includes more than 11,000
professionals in science and medicine.
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