AAPS celebrates scientists who have made powerful contributions to science, leadership, and service.
Among my personal highlights from PharmSci 360 was witnessing the presentation of AAPS’ awards. I watched scientists who are role models for all of us cross the stage and be recognized by their peers. I was especially moved when Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., FAAPS, accepted the AAPS Distinguished Scientist Award, and said, “AAPS is strong, because we all believe in helping our patients, because we all come with better solutions for the patients, and we think of them every day, whether we work in industry or academia. I promise you as long as I am active, I will continue working in that field.”
The question I want to pose today is who should be the next person to cross that stage? After all, we are not that far away from the deadlines for the 2019 round of nominations. But first, a little background on AAPS’ Awards.
Through its awards program, AAPS spotlights and celebrates the most impactful science and scientists who serve as role models in the pharmaceutical science community. AAPS recognizes these accomplishments in three areas that relate to its mission and goals:
- Scientific Contribution and Innovation
- Leadership
- Service
In revising its Awards Program in 2018 around these foci, AAPS has brought new energy to one of the organization’s enduring traditions. We are now better able to see the scientists, leaders, and volunteers who have shaped the pharmaceutical sciences. Through this program, they are celebrated by their peers, and held up as role models to the scientists who will come after them.
Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist:
Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., FAAPS
The University of Texas at Austin
AAPS’ highest award recognizes an individual’s lifetime achievements that have made substantial contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences with a lasting impact. The focus of those achievements is research and advancement of science.
Listen to Prof. Peppas’ acceptance speech.
Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics:
Diane J. Burgess, Ph.D., FAAPS
University of Connecticut, former AAPS President
The Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics, endowed within AAPS, recognizes individuals who have made significant research contributions to the field of pharmaceutics. This research may be in the areas of physical pharmacy, preformulation, dosage form design, formulation, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, transporter function, gene delivery, and related areas into which pharmaceutics may evolve in the future. Supporters hope this $10,000 award, presented biannually, will allow recipients to promote progress in the these areas of research.
Watch Prof. Burgess’ receive her award.
Global Leader Award:
Vinod P. Shah, Ph.D., FAAPS
Pharmaceutical Consultant, former AAPS President
The Global Leader Award recognizes a leader working in pharmaceutical science, technology, engineering, or education whose contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences community have resulted in an outstanding positive impact on education and/or public health. This award aims to support the recipient’s work and to encourage pharmaceutical scientists around the world to keep driving toward treatments and cures that improve life for all global citizens.
Listen to Dr. Shah’s acceptance speech.
AAPS Distinguished Service Award:
Marilyn E. Morris, Ph.D., FAAPS
University at Buffalo, former AAPS President
The AAPS Distinguished Service Award recognizes and publicly thanks a member for a lifetime of service to AAPS. Distinguished Service Award recipients are held up as an example of the inclusive, collaborative volunteer leadership AAPS encourages.
Listen to Prof. Morris’ acceptance speech.
Emerging Leader:
James J. Moon, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes scientists and pharmaceutical professionals who are early in their careers and who have made a significant impact on promoting public health through the pharmaceutical sciences. AAPS sees these young scientists as future global leaders and wishes to encourage their work and to hold them up as an example to other early career scientists.
Pharmaceutical Global Health Award:
Stephen R. Byrn, Ph.D., FAAPS
Purdue University
The Pharmaceutical Global Health Award recognizes AAPS members for their impact on their communities, both in the United States and abroad, through humanitarian work that may or may not involve the pharmaceutical industry, but which does improve public or global health.
Prof. Byrn could not join us at PharmSci 360 this year, but he did send an acceptance video.
LEARN
About these recipients, who will be recognized in AAPS Newsmagazine throughout 2019. You can read about Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., in the January issue Member Spotlight.
In addition to great scientists, AAPS also recognizes great science.
Outstanding Manuscripts Awards
AAPS PharmSciTech High Impact Article Award
Development of Solid Self-Emulsifying Formulation for Improving the Oral Bioavailability of Erlotinib, by Duy Hieu Truong, Tuan Hiep Tran, Thiruganesh Ramasamy, Ju Yeon Choi, Hee Hyun Lee, Cheol Moon, Han-Gon Choi, Chul Soon Yong, and Jong Oh Kim
The AAPS Journal High Impact Article Award
Clinical Predictors of Venetoclax Pharmacokinetics in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients: A Pooled Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis,
by Aksana K. Jones, Kevin J. Freise, Suresh K. Agarwal, Rod A. Humerickhouse, Shekman L. Wong, and Ahmed Hamed Salem
The AAPS Pharmaceutical Research Meritorious
Manuscript Award
A Lower Temperature FDM 3D Printing for the Manufacture of Patient-Specific Immediate Release Tablets, by Tochukwu C. Okwuosa, Dominika Stefaniak, Basel Arafat, Abdullah Isreb, Ka-Wai Wan, and Mohamed A. Alhnan
LEARN
About these manuscripts in the January AAPS Newsmagazine.
Best Abstracts
AAPS also recognized 105 abstract submissions in 2018. The winners are available on the AAPS awards webpage. AAPS selects the best abstracts from more than 1,700 submissions for display at AAPS PharmSci 360 each year. The Best Abstract awards recognize the most exciting research, based on poster abstracts that are submitted and screened before the event.
I also had the pleasure of presenting the Student Chapter Awards during a much less formal (and very lively!) meeting of student chapter leaders during PharmSci 360. I would be remiss in not congratulating University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for their exemplary work.
AAPS recognizes student chapters that have provided exceptional service and outreach. Examples include: offering scientific sessions and professional development education and training; participating in community and charitable social events; collaborating with other schools, chapters, or industry on a project; promotional efforts for the chapter.
In conclusion, have you answered my question yet? Who do you believe should stand before their peers and be recognized for their contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences in 2019?
AAPS is now accepting nominations for our 2019 awards. Several awards allow colleagues to nominate a candidate. We want to recognize members in industry and regulatory positions, as well as those in academia. I urge our best role models to apply, regardless of geographic region, area of science, or work sector. The deadline for nominations is May 15, 2019.
You can learn more about the Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics, how you can contribute, past recipients, individual and corporate donors, and how to nominate a colleague for this biennial award.
LEARN
About the other AAPS awards and how to submit a nomination.