Grantee Blau Receives Excellence in Science Award

by Danielle Wittenberg
January 6, 2000

NIH grantee Dr. Helen M. Blau recently received the 1999 Excellence in Science Award from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Dr. Helen M. Blau

The award is presented to one woman annually to recognize outstanding achievement in the biological sciences. Blau, who is professor and chair of molecular pharmacology at Stanford University School of Medicine, was honored for research that has had a fundamental impact on the understanding of how cells become and remain differentiated during development. She was also cited for developing several highly useful and innovative research technologies, for contributing to gene therapy, and for training many research and medical students.

The award was presented to Blau on December 12 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in Washington, DC. It included a $10,000 unrestricted research grant, funded by Eli Lilly and Company, and a recognition plaque. Blau also delivered her award lecture, titled "Can Blood Vessels Begin Anew in Old Adults? The Promise of Gene Therapy," at the meeting.

Blau has received support from NIGMS, NICHD, NIA, and NCI.