The award recognises role of three key contributors to bringing Lenacapavir to market: Wesley Sundquist, chair of the University of Utah’s department of biochemistry, who provided the foundational scientific research; Moupali Das, Vice President of Clinical Development, HIV Prevention & Paediatrics at Gilead Sciences, who championed the drug’s clinical development; and Ms. Raphael, who ensured the clinical trials were inclusive, ethical, and community-centred. This recognition stands as a testament to Yvette’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voices of African women and girls are heard in scientific research that directly impacts their lives.

For over two decades, Yvette has stood at the forefront of HIV advocacy, challenging research paradigms and ensuring that clinical trials serve the needs of those most vulnerable to HIV infection. Her leadership as Chair of the PURPOSE 1 Advisory Board transformed how clinical trials are conducted, setting new standards for community engagement and inclusive research practices.

APHA particularly recognises Yvette’s tireless dedication to advocating for the protection of women and girls across Africa. Through her insistence on including young women, adolescents, and pregnant women in the PURPOSE 1 trial, Yvette ensured that Lenacapavir’s remarkable protection would be available to those who needed it most from the moment of approval. Yvette has always understood that science without community engagement cannot reach its full potential, and her ability to bridge the worlds of scientific research and community advocacy has been transformative. The 100% efficacy demonstrated in the PURPOSE 1 trial is not just a scientific achievement but a triumph of inclusive research methodologies that Yvette has championed throughout her career.

APHA also acknowledges Yvette’s exceptional commitment to research communities across Africa. Through her insistence on transparency, ethical practices, and meaningful participation, she has built trust between researchers and communities that had historical reasons for scepticism. This trust-building has been critical to the success of HIV prevention research. Her work has demonstrated that when communities are genuinely engaged as partners rather than subjects, scientific outcomes improve dramatically. The twice-yearly injectable prevention method that emerged from this collaborative approach will transform HIV prevention efforts worldwide.

The Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award, established in 2022 with a $11.4 million pledge from physicist Mani L. Bhaumik, supports an annual cash prize for scientists and researchers whose work best underpins the Science Breakthrough of the Year. In 2024, Science named the development of Lenacapavir, with the potential to dramatically reduce new HIV infections worldwide, as their Breakthrough of the Year.

We at APHA could not be prouder of Yvette’s achievement as this award rightfully acknowledges what we have always known that Yvette’s unique blend of lived experience, advocacy expertise, and commitment to scientific rigour makes her an indispensable force in the fight against HIV. As we celebrate this recognition, APHA remains committed to ensuring that breakthroughs like Lenacapavir become accessible to all who need them. We echo Yvette’s call for continued investment in HIV prevention research and the funding and optimisation of delivery systems that are essential for bringing these innovations to communities. While the Lenacapavir breakthrough is significant in the HIV prevention arsenal and prevention choice basket, APHA acknowledges that more research and investment is required to find a vaccine for HIV. Yvette has pledged to continue this fight, maintaining her unwavering commitment to comprehensive HIV prevention and its eventual eradication.

APHA acknowledges that Yvette’s groundbreaking work has required support from her Board, colleagues, program partners, fellow advocates, researchers, and communities. This collective effort has been essential to her success, and we express our gratitude to all who have supported her vision and leadership.

Yvette’s recognition reminds us all that ending the HIV epidemic requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors. When scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and community advocates work together with mutual respect, extraordinary progress becomes possible.

We extend our deepest congratulations to Yvette Raphael, whose leadership continues to inspire our organisation and whose vision of community-centred research is transforming global health.

About APHA

Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa (APHA) is a leading community-based organisation dedicated to HIV prevention, education, and advocacy across Africa. Co-founded by Yvette Raphael, APHA works to ensure that people affected by HIV have access to information, prevention methods, and treatment options. The organisation is committed to amplifying community voices in scientific research and policy decisions affecting HIV prevention and treatment.

Media Contact

Njabulo Maseko
Reign Consulting
info@reigntradingandconsulting.co.za
Cell: 0839903648

Frequently Asked Questions

Source: EurekAlert!

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Solomon, who has taught at Rice for more than 15 years, was nominated for his extraordinary commitment to student learning, mentorship and public engagement. From introductory biology lectures to immersive field-based courses in ecosystems around the world, Solomon is known for igniting students’ curiosity and helping them connect scientific knowledge to real-world applications. His approach blends rigorous academics with transformative, hands-on experiences that shape students’ academic paths — and often their careers.

“For more than 15 years, Scott has been an engaging and transformative educator at Rice,” said Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “His passion for biology, his dedication to students and his innovative teaching approaches, including a public science communication seminar, truly elevate the undergraduate experience. This recognition testifies to theimpact he has made on our students and our academic community.”

Solomon teaches a wide range of courses at Rice, including Introductory Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Diversity and Public Science Communication as well as a new course on astrobiology that will be offered in the fall. In addition, he teaches a class focused on evolution and society for the Master in Interdisciplinary Studies program offered through Rice’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. His summer field courses include African Savanna Ecology, a course that takes students to Tanzania where they experience the Serengeti ecosystem, and Tropical Field Biology, which takes students to Belize to study biodiversity in two of the most complex ecosystems on Earth, the tropical rainforest and the coral reef. These field-based courses, Solomon said, are essential to helping students make meaningful connections with the organisms and ecosystems they learn about in the classroom.

“I’m deeply honored to receive the Piper Professor award,” Solomon said. “Teaching is one of the most meaningful parts of my life, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to help students explore the natural world. Their energy, curiosity and enthusiasm are an inspiration to me.”

Students describe Solomon as the kind of professor who makes biology come alive. His courses routinely receive top marks with students describing Solomon as “a mentor, a guide and an inspiration.” One student remarked, “His enthusiasm is contagious, and his ability to break down complex ideas into understandable concepts is incredible.” Another noted, “Dr. Solomon doesn’t just teach us biology, he teaches us how to think like scientists.”

That philosophy underpins Solomon’s broader teaching mission: to cultivate critical thinking, creativity and scientific literacy through active, inquiry-based learning. In addition to his classroom teaching, he serves as a mentor for student research projects, guiding undergraduates as they design experiments, collect data and present their findings. His mentorship has earned him the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award, and many of his mentees have gone on to publish in scientific journals or pursue advanced degrees in biology and environmental science. He is also an associate at Baker College, where he was a resident adviser from 2010-17, and he often hosts trips for the Rice Alumni Traveling Owls program with upcoming trips to New Zealand in December 2025 and Alaska in August 2026. Solomon also developed a specialization called Introduction to Biology with Rice Online that is distributed through Coursera.

Solomon’s impact extends well beyond the Rice campus. He is a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and has conducted fieldwork across the Americas, including studies of ant evolution and biodiversity in the Amazon Basin, Central America and the southern United States. His scholarly work, which focuses on ant behavior, evolution and symbiosis, is integrated directly into his teaching, giving students a front-row seat to the latest discoveries in the field.

A gifted science communicator, Solomon also reaches global audiences through his writing, media appearances, public talks and other outreach efforts. His book “Future Humans: Inside the Science of Our Continuing Evolution” (Yale University Press) was named a Best Book of the Year by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His next book, “Becoming Martian,” about how outer space affects the human body and mind, will be published by MIT Press in 2026. He has created popular online courses on evolution and insects for The Great Courses, appeared on NPR and the BBC and hosts the podcast “Wild World with Scott Solomon,” which brings the excitement and wonder of scientific fieldwork and exploration to general audiences. Through these efforts, he continues to champion public understanding of science in ways that are accessible, engaging and deeply informative.

“Whether mentoring a student through their first field experiment, leading a group into the rainforest or explaining evolution to a general audience, Scott brings clarity, passion and humility to everything he does,” said Thomas Killian, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. “He is an extraordinary asset to Rice and to the broader educational community in Texas and beyond.”

Media Contact
Alex Becker
Rice University
alex.becker@rice.edu
Office: 713-348-6794

Source: EurekAlert!

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Yuze “Alice” Sun, an electrical engineering professor, has been elected to The University of Texas at Arlington’s Academy of Distinguished Researchers for her contributions to technologies critical to health care, environmental monitoring and national defense.

“Dr. Sun is a trailblazer in multidisciplinary research whose transformative advancements have significantly impacted devices we rely on every day to diagnose and treat disease, communicate with others and allow our military to keep us safe,” said Kate C. Miller, vice president of research and innovation at UT Arlington.

The Academy of Distinguished Researchers, previously called the Academy of Distinguished Scholars, is the most prestigious research and scholarship award at UT Arlington. It is reserved for faculty who have made substantial contributions to research and have achieved significant recognition in their respective fields.

“I’m humbled to receive this award,” said Sun, who received a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan and completed her postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health. “I am grateful to my multidisciplinary colleagues and wonderful students at UTA over the years who have helped me conduct so much exciting research.”

Since joining UTA in 2013, Sun has established herself as a leader in multidisciplinary research, driving innovations at the intersection of photonics, nanotechnology and biochemical sensing. Her work supports critical in applications in medical imaging, cancer treatment and environmental monitoring. She has developed semiconductor lasers, wearable gas analyzers and biosensing devices to address global challenges in telecommunications, health care, space exploration and defense.

Related: Professors elected to Academy of Distinguished Scholars

Over her career, Sun has secured more than $8 million in external research funding from premier organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), Army Research Office, Department of Energy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. This sustained support showcases her ability to deliver high-impact research aligned with the missions of these competitive agencies. Notably, NSF has supported her work consistently for more than a decade—a testament to the strength and innovation of her ideas.

“The Academy exemplifies UTA’s commitment to exemplary research and creative activity, and this honor recognizes Dr. Sun’s outstanding research accomplishments as well as her commitment to her colleagues at UTA,” Dr. Miller said. “As she continues her groundbreaking academic career, Dr. Sun’s work promises to redefine industries and influence technologies shaping health care, sustainability and defense for years to come.”

Sun’s scholarly output is equally impressive, with more than 90 journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings, as well as three issued patents. Her work has been cited nearly 6,000 times, placing her among the most cited scholars globally in optofluidics—a field that manipulates light and fluids on a tiny scale for applications in sensing, imaging and biotechnology. Her work has been featured in prestigious journals such as ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and Sensors, highlighting its real-world relevance and innovation.

Related: Four UTA faculty named National Academy of Inventors senior members

Beyond her research, Sun is a dedicated educator who has mentored eight doctoral and 17 undergraduate students, many of whom have earned accolades in their respective fields. She has also developed new courses at UTA in areas such as nanotechnology and photonics, consistently receiving exceptional student evaluations and demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing engineering education.

Her contributions have earned numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, UTA’s University Award for Outstanding Research Achievement and Creative Accomplishment, and the College of Engineering Lawrence Stephens Award for Outstanding Research. Her leadership roles extend beyond UTA to the broader scientific community, participating in international conferences that promote global collaboration.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.

Original Source: https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2025/04/23/sun-earns-utas-highest-research-honor

Media Contact
Katherine Bennett
University of Texas at Arlington
katherine.bennett@uta.edu

Source: EurekAlert!

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The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is proud to announce the selection of 74 recipients to receive $2.4 million in research funding through the annual AGA Research Foundation Awards Program. AGA also announces today the addition of 10 pilot grants, totaling $400,000 in funding, to the 2026 awards portfolio to ensure that scientific discovery continues despite federal funding cuts.

“Since we established the AGA Research Foundation in 1984, AGA has been unwavering in the commitment to supporting exceptional researchers, growing the research pipeline, and fostering scientific discovery,” said Michael Camilleri, MD, DSc, AGAF, chair, AGA Research Foundation. “As we face uncertainty in federal research funding, our work is more critical than ever. The AGA Research Foundation is proud to fund some of the most talented investigators in our field and is confident our investment will lead to ground-breaking discoveries that will benefit patients with issues related to digestive health.”

To address federal funding uncertainties and ensure scientific discovery continues, AGA will also invest $400,000 in 10 additional pilot research awards in 2026. Applications for the 2026 cycle open in May.

The AGA Research Awards Program is made possible thanks to generous donors and funders. Learn more about the AGA Research Foundation.

Meet the recipients

RESEARCH SCHOLAR AWARDS

AGA Research Scholar Award

• Jonathan Downie, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Olumuyiwa Awoniyi, MD, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Simon Gray, MD, PhD, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Jessica Shay, MD, PhD, The University of Utah
• Sharon Wolfson, MD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

AGA-Bern Schwartz Family Fund Research Scholar Award in Pancreatic Cancer

• Nikki Katherine Lytle, PhD, The Medical College of Wisconsin 

SPECIALTY AWARDS

AGA-Caroline Craig Augustyn & Damian Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer   

• Ramon Jin, MD, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis

AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer   

• Harshabad Singh, MBBS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

AGA Fellowship-to-Faculty Transition Award 

• Quazim Alayo, MBBS, Washington University in St. Louis

PILOT AWARDS

AGA Pilot Research Award 

• Yalan Deng, PhD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Shuang Wang, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Xiaoqin Wu, PhD, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

AGA-Pfizer Pilot Research Award in Inflammatory Bowel Disease 

• Adebowale Bamidele, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Siyan Cao, MD, PhD, Washington University in St. Louis
• Shirley Cohen-Mekelburg, MD, The Regents of the University of Michigan

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AWARDS

AGA-Aman Armaan Ahmed Family SURF for Success Program 

• Aishat Adebisi, Washington University in St. Louis
• Jeremy Ahn, Emory University
• Nahed El Fiky, University of Maryland Baltimore County
• Alexa Gramajo, University of Southern California
• Maryam Omotola Jimoh, The College of Wooster
• NaShyla McQuirter, University of Connecticut – Storrs

AGA-Dr. Harvey Young Education & Development Foundation’s Young Guts Scholar Program 

• Aishat Adebisi, Washington University in St. Louis
• Jacob Cao, University of Pennsylvania
• Katherine Gell, Vanderbilt University
• Steven Montecinos, Rutgers University New Brunswick
• Daliya Rizvi, Duke University
• Joud Haj Sakor, University of Minnesota – Rochester

ABSTRACT AWARDS

AGA-APFED Abstract Award in Eosinophilic GI Diseases

• Maya Kota, BS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
• Angelica R. Lackey, MPH, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
• Tursun Turapov, BS, University of Utah School of Medicine

AGA Fellow Abstract of the Year Award 

• Biju Bharali, PhD, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute

AGA Fellow Abstract Awards  

• Manik Aggarwal, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Anissa Armet, PhD, RD, University of Alberta
• Eduardo Castillo-Leon, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Yufeng Chen, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Youngwon Cho, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Maria Antonia Espinosa, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Akshita Gupta, MBBS, MD, Mount Sinai Hospital
• Harpreet Kaur, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Adnan Malik, MD, MBBS, MBA, MPH, Honorhealth Mountain Vista Medical Center
• Aida A. Metri, MD, Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Wilmarie Morales-Soto, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Shaneice Nettleford, PhD, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Rachel C. Newsome, PhD, University of Florida
• Aisha Qazi, PhD, University of Illinois Chicago
• Allyson Richardson, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Jiaxian Shen, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Jiayu Ye, PhD, Stanford University
• Zahra Yousefli, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University

AGA Student Abstract of the Year Award 

• Chen Wang, MD, MSc, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

AGA Student Abstract Awards

• Ashley L. Cummings, Duke University School of Medicine
• Hillmin Lei, University of California, Riverside
• Rita Nakhle, MS, Queen’s University
• Sameer Rao, MBBS, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
• Daniel Martin Simadibrata, MD, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University
• Isabella Sirit, Vanderbilt University
• Vijaya L. Sundaram, Marshall University School of Medicine
• Eliane F. Tsopmegha, BA, Marshall University
• Julia M. J. van der Zande, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
• Xinyu Wang, MBBS, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

AGA–Eric Esrailian Student Abstract Prize 

• Emily Guan, Johns Hopkins University
• Mary McGrath, MD, University of Virginia
• Ashwariya Ohri, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
• Michael Anthony Perrin, MD, MPH, Baylor College of Medicine

AGA–Radhika Srinivasan Student Abstract Prize 

• Alexis Guenther, BS, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Jeneane Hamideh, MD, Charles R. Drew School of Medicine
• Anthony Kerbage, MD, Cleveland Clinic
• Lauren Lynch, Baylor College of Medicine

AGA Abstract Award for Health Disparities Research 

• Akhila Chilakala, MD, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
• Taranika Sarkar Das, MD, The Brooklyn Hospital Center
• Gabrielle Waclawik, MD, MPH, University of Wisconsin
• Abdelrahman Yousef, MD, University of New Mexico Hospital

AGA-Moti L. & Kamla Rustgi International Travel Award 

• Chen Jiaqi, MD, Shandong University
• Abhishek Yadav, MD, Pgimer Chandigarh

More information   
Learn more about AGA Research Foundation.

Donate to the AGA Research Foundation.

View all AGA Research Foundation awards.

See AGA’s statements on cuts to NIH research funding.

About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org

About the AGA Research Foundation
The AGA Research Foundation is the charitable arm of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). It provides more than $2.4 million in research grants annually to promising investigators in gastroenterology and hepatology.

Media Contact
Annie Mehl
American Gastroenterological Association
amehl@gastro.org

Source: EurekAlert!

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Scientists from UMass Amherst are among the researchers worldwide honored with the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, awarded to the ATLAS Collaboration at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC)  alongside its sister experiments ALICE, CMS and LHCb. Among the laureates are 36 scientists from the UMass Amherst research team, including 14 Ph.D. students, who produced results based on the data collected at the LHC from 2015 to 2018. The UMass Amherst team is led by physicists Stéphane Willocq, also the ATLAS spokesperson, as well as Benjamin Brau, Rafael Coelho Lopes de Sa, Carlo Dallapiccola and Verena Martinez Outschoorn.

ATLAS is one of the largest and most complex scientific instruments ever built and one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted in science, with approximately 6,000 members and 3,000 scientific authors as well as research teams located at CERN and at member universities and laboratories worldwide. As a general-purpose particle detector measuring over 40 meters long and around 25 meters in diameter, it was designed to investigate the fundamental building blocks of matter and the forces governing our universe. Its cutting-edge systems track particles produced in particle collisions at unprecedented energies, enabling discoveries like the Higgs boson and searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

The Breakthrough Prize, awarded to more than 13,000 Scientists from ATLAS, CMS, ALICE and LHCb experiments, specifically highlights the ATLAS Collaboration’s significant contributions to particle physics, including studies of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties and the exploration of some of the deepest questions about our universe.

“The Breakthrough Prize is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the ATLAS Collaboration and our colleagues across the LHC experiments,” said Willocq. “This prize recognizes the collective vision and monumental effort of thousands of ATLAS collaborators worldwide.”

“I am extremely proud to see the extraordinary accomplishments of the LHC collaborations honoured with this prestigious prize,” said Fabiola Gianotti, director-general of CERN. “It is a beautiful recognition of the collective efforts, dedication, competence and hard work of thousands of people from all over the world who contribute daily to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.”

UMass Amherst has been at the forefront of ATLAS research since 2004, contributing to:

• Commissioning and operation of the muon spectrometer detector and electronics critical for the identification and measurement of muons,
• Development of the software to reconstruct the trajectory of muons enabling the Higgs boson discovery as well as hundreds of precise tests of the Standard Model and searches for new physics, and
• Leadership in software, computing, physics and the ATLAS collaboration shaping the experiment’s scientific direction, including the operation of the Northeast Tier 2 computing center at the MGHPCC in Holyoke.

“Our team’s work contributes to every aspect of the experiment: design and construction of new detectors, operations and calibration of systems installed at the LHC and development of software for data processing and analysis. The new detectors designed and built at UMass Amherst use state-of-the-art electronic systems and advanced materials. The software written by our scientists leverages and develops novel AI/ML methods in each step of the data analysis chain,” says Lopes de Sa.

“Our Ph.D. students and post-doctoral researchers are leading several recent studies of Higgs boson properties and matter-antimatter asymmetry, as well as searches for new physics in the form of exotic long-lived particles,” says Martinez Outschoorn. “This recognition affirms the impact of our contributions and inspires us to continue exploring the universe’s most fundamental questions.”

While the ATLAS Collaboration celebrates the recognition of the Breakthrough Prize, its focus remains firmly on the future. The third operation period of the LHC is currently underway and preparations for the High-Luminosity LHC upgrade are advancing rapidly. The UMass team of physicists and engineers is deeply involved in preparing ATLAS for its next chapter. They are leading the development of the muon trigger processor and the inner tracker mechanical structures as well as software and computing for the High-Luminosity LHC, which will increase collision rates tenfold when it begins operation in 2030.

“We are now preparing the ATLAS detectors of the future — designed to harness these unprecedented data and further push our understanding of the universe’s fundamental building blocks,” concludes Willocq.

About the University of Massachusetts Amherst
The flagship of the commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors.

Original Source: https://www.umass.edu/news/article/umass-amherst-physicists-among-winners-prestigious-breakthrough-prize-fundamental

Expert Contact
Stéphane Willocq
UMass Amherst/ATLAS
willocq@physics.umass.edu

Media Contact
Daegan Miller
University of Massachusetts Amherst
drmiller@umass.edu

Source: EurekAlert!

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The TCT^® 2025 Career Achievement Award will be presented to Stephan Windecker, MD, during Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics^® (TCT^®), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation^® (CRF^®). TCT^® will take place October 25-28, 2025, in San Francisco, California at the Moscone Center. The award is given each year to an outstanding individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the field of interventional cardiology and has transformed cardiovascular care through clinical excellence, pioneering research, and mentorship of the next generation of physicians and researchers.

Dr. Windecker has been a pioneering force in advancing interventional cardiovascular medicine. A board-certified cardiologist specializing in interventional cardiology with a focus on transcatheter heart valve interventions, Dr. Windecker is Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at the Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, Switzerland. He is Professor of Medicine at the University of Bern and also holds the position of Vice-Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern.

Dr. Windecker’s research has been instrumental in shaping the field — particularly in the evaluation of intracoronary devices and drugs for coronary artery disease, antithrombotic therapy for patients undergoing cardiac device implantation, and minimally invasive transcatheter interventions for aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valve disease. His extensive body of work includes more than 1,000 original peer-reviewed publications and over 100 review articles, underscoring his deep commitment to advancing cardiovascular science.

“This year’s honoree is not only a leader in interventional cardiovascular medicine but also someone who has personally inspired so many of us,” said Martin B. Leon, MD, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of CRF^® and TCT^® 2025 Program Director. “Stephan has been a pioneering force in advancing the field with critical contributions in transcatheter heart valve interventions, intracoronary devices, and antithrombotic therapy. His extensive research has shaped clinical practice worldwide, and his leadership and collaboration continue to influence the future of cardiovascular medicine. We are proud to recognize his lifelong dedication, innovation, and lasting impact on our field.”

“I am deeply honored to receive the TCT^® Career Achievement Award and to be recognized among such esteemed colleagues in the field of interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Windecker. “My work is devoted to improving patient care and outcomes. Advancing cardiovascular care is a collective effort, and I am grateful to all the people who supported and inspired me along the way – mentors, mentees, colleagues, and friends worldwide.”

A dedicated leader and collaborator, Dr. Windecker is serving through 2026 as Secretary and Treasurer of the European Society of Cardiology. Previously, as ESC Vice President, he co-chaired the gender policy task force and two cardiovascular roundtables on priorities for device innovation in cardiovascular medicine. He also served as Chairman of the ESC Clinical Practice Guideline Committee overseeing the development of ESC guideline documents and co-chaired the ESC/EACTS guideline on myocardial revascularization in 2014. Additionally, he has served as an associate editor for several esteemed cardiology journals.

“If there’s one thing we can say about Stephan, it’s that he is the ‘prince’ of interventional cardiology,” said Roxana Mehran, MD, TCT^® 2025 Program Director. “A visionary leader, he has set the bar for excellence in the field. Through his brilliance, unwavering integrity, and vast scientific knowledge, he has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering and mentoring the next generation. For the past 20+ years, he has proved to be the best of the best, dedicating his career to advancing both coronary and structural interventions.”

“We are thrilled to honor Stephan with this year’s Career Achievement Award, celebrating his remarkable contributions and lasting impact on the field,” added Juan F. Granada, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRF^® and TCT^® 2025 Program Director. “Throughout his career, Stephan has exemplified excellence in academic work, research, and patient care, holding himself to the highest standards both professionally and personally. He is a role model to us all, embodying exceptional humanistic qualities and seamlessly balancing his pursuits while fostering collaboration and unity.”

Dr. Windecker’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades. The American College of Cardiology honored him with the Simon Dack Award for Outstanding Reviewers in 2020 and the I2-Summit Innovator Award in 2005. He is a Fulbright Scholar and also the recipient of an American Medical Association/Educational Research Fund Award.

His academic journey is equally distinguished. Dr. Windecker is triple-fellowship trained: in interventional cardiology and general cardiology at the University Hospital Bern, and in cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also completed his residency in internal medicine and earned his MD degree. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Saarland School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany.

Previous winners of the TCT^® Career Achievement Award include Geoffrey O. Hartzler, MD; David R. Holmes, MD; Patrick W. Serruys, MD, PhD; John B. Simpson, MD; Antonio Colombo, MD; Julio C. Palmaz, MD; Donald S. Baim, MD; William W. O’Neill, MD; J. Eduardo M.R. Sousa, MD, PhD; Eugene Braunwald, MD; James T. Willerson, MD; Paul Yock, MD; Barry T. Katzen, MD; Seung-Jung Park, MD; Spencer B. King III, MD; Alain G. Cribier, MD;  Eric J. Topol, MD; Renu Virmani, MD; Andreas Gruentzig, MD; Michael J. Mack, MD; John E. Abele; and Runlin Gao, MD; Elazer Edelman, MD, PhD; Bram Zuckerman, MD; Robert O. Bonow, MD, MS; Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD; Stuart J. Pocock, PhD; and Robert A. Harrington, MD.

About CRF^® and TCT^®
The Cardiovascular Research Foundation^® (CRF_^®) is a global leader in interventional cardiovascular medicine, driving innovation, spearheading groundbreaking research, and transforming education in the field. Through its relentless pursuit of excellence, CRF^® not only accelerates medical breakthroughs but also equips healthcare professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to enhance survival rates and elevate the quality of life for millions worldwide. CRF’s centers of excellence include the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics^® (TCT^®) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF^® and the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Anchored in a legacy spanning over three decades, TCT^® is a world-class educational experience featuring disruptive innovation, scientific breakthroughs, expert-led tutorials, hands-on training, and ample opportunities for networking and collaboration.

For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.

Original Source: https://www.crf.org/crf/news-and-events/news/news/3966-tct-2025-career-achievement-award-to-be-presented-to-stephan-windecker-md

Media Contact
Judy Romero
Cardiovascular Research Foundation
jromero@crf.org
Office: 646-434-4608

Source: EurekAlert!

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