The Robert S. Gordon, Jr. Lecture was established in 1995 in tribute to Dr. Gordon for his outstanding contributions to the field of epidemiology and for his distinguished service to the National Institutes of Health. The award is made annually to a scientist who has contributed significantly to the field of epidemiology or clinical trials research. The Lectureship is awarded by the NIH on the advice of the Office of Disease Prevention in the Office of the Director and the recommendation of the Epidemiology & Clinical Trials Interest Group.

The Gordon Lecture is part of NIH's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series, which was organized in 1994 by the Office of Intramural Research to invite distinguished scientists to present topics of broad scientific interest to a cross-section of NIH researchers.

Previous Award Recipients

Epidemiology has a long, prominent history at NIH and many consider it and biometry to be the "basic sciences" for prevention and clinical trials research. Much of this tradition resulted from the determined efforts of Robert S. Gordon, Jr. who dedicated much of his professional career to the field of epidemiology. For the last ten years of his life as special assistant to the director of NIH, Dr. Gordon made significant contributions to inter-institute policy and management issues regarding epidemiology, clinical trials, and health effects of environmental hazards. His interest and commitment motivated him to originate and oversee the highly regarded Public Health Service (PHS) Epidemiology Training Program which continues today.

Dr. Robert Sirkosky Gordon, Jr. (1926-1985) came to NIH in 1953 as a National Heart Institute (now NHLBI) clinical associate. Subsequently, he served in several NIH posts, including clinical director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases (now NIAMS and NIDDK), associate director for clinical care in the Clinical Center, director of the Clinical Center, and ultimately, special assistant to the director of NIH. Dr. Gordon also had been a visiting professor in social and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland Medical School, and at one time served as PHS assistant surgeon general.

His breadth of knowledge in clinical sciences resulted in him becoming the chief advisor in that area to two NIH directors. He was an early organizer of efforts to address the emergence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). He organized the NIH Working Group on AIDS in 1982, was a member of the PHS Executive Task Force on AIDS, and became the key NIH coordinator for AIDS research and liaison to other PHS agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Gordon received his bachelor's degree and medical degree from Harvard University, and later earned a master's degree in epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. During his clinical career, he conducted research and wrote in the scientific literature on a variety of subjects. In the early 1960s, he helped develop a cholera research program in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and instituted a new therapy for cholera patients, drastically reducing the mortality rate from the disease. He also made major contributions to better understanding of fat transport and metabolism related to prevention of premature arteriosclerosis.

His numerous awards included the 1972 Stouffer Award for his work on the isolation and origin of free fatty acids, their hormonal control, and their importance as a source of energy for many organs, including the heart. He also received the Department of Health and Human Services Exceptional Achievement Award. Dr. Gordon was a member of several scientific societies, including the American College of Epidemiology and the Society for Epidemiology Research, and was president of the Society for Clinical Trials from 1981 to 1983.