NIDDK's Director Honored by Hematology Society
Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P., director of the National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes
of Health, received the American Society of Hematology's Outstanding
Service Award on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the group's annual meeting
in Atlanta. An estimated 20,000 physicians and scientists attended
the meeting.
The Outstanding Service Award recognizes Dr. Rodgers' significant
contributions to hematology, particularly in the areas of genetic
diseases, molecular genetics of human blood cells (hemoglobins),
and human blood cell development (hematopoiesis), according to
the society. He is also being honored for efforts to increase the
number of minority scholars focusing on hematology and for becoming
the first hematologist to direct NIDDK, established in 1950.
"Griff Rodgers is an outstanding physician-scientist and
molecular hematologist. He's internationally recognized for contributions
to the development of effective therapy for sickle cell anemia
and other genetic diseases of hemoglobin, and he is also an accomplished
scientific leader and mentor," said NIH Director Elias A.
Zerhouni, M.D.
"It is an honor to recognize Dr. Rodgers for his strong dedication
to improving the understanding and treatment of blood disorders," said
ASH President Andrew I. Schafer, M.D., of New York Presbyterian-Weill
Cornell Medical Center.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
a component of the NIH, conducts and supports research in diabetes
and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases,
nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases.
Spanning the full spectrum of medicine and afflicting people of
all ages and ethnic groups, these diseases encompass some of the
most common, severe, and disabling conditions affecting Americans.
For more information about NIDDK and its programs, see www.niddk.nih.gov.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's
Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and
Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research,
and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and
its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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