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News & Views2023-08-07T09:19:52-04:00

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Classic Lasker: Nancy Brinker

MARCH. 19, 2024
Nancy Brinker won the 2005 Public Service Lasker Award for increasing public awareness of breast cancer. In this interview, she talks about building the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

In Memoriam: Roger Guillemin

MARCH 1, 2024
Roger Guillemin, whose pioneering studies in the field of neuroendocrinology were recognized with a 1975 Lasker Basic Research Award, has passed away at age 100.

In Memoriam: Michael Grunstein

MARCH 1, 2024
Michael Grunstein, who helped demonstrate how modifications to histone proteins influence the expression of genes, has passed away at age 77.

February 2024 Newsletter

FEB. 6, 2024
Discover the 2024 Lasker Essay topic, read about Lasker Laureate Joan Steitz, and ask a scientist your question.

Ask a Scientist: Leslie Vosshall on Finding a Lab

JAN. 12, 2024
“The best way to not get into a bad situation is don’t get into the bad situation.” Leslie Vosshall, Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer of HHMI, advises students to pick labs carefully. Do research on the lab environment before making a commitment.

In Memoriam: Roy Calne

JAN. 8, 2024
Roy Calne, whose role in developing liver transplantation brought about a revolution in organ transplantation, has passed away at the age of 93.

Ask a Scientist: What about instinct?

JAN. 4, 2024
“Every experiment can be done, but only some of them should be done.” –Leslie Vosshall, Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer of HHMI.

November 2023 Newsletter

NOV. 14, 2023
Explore the science of cell signaling, meet the 2023 Clinical Research Scholars, and view the Lasker Lessons in Leadership interview of Michelle Monje-Deisseroth and Karl Deisseroth.

October 2023 Newsletter

OCT. 18, 2023
Delve into the science of cell signaling and listen to Lasker Laureate Evelyn Witkin discuss her two passions: bacterial genetics and Victorian poetry.

Classic Lasker: Evelyn Witkin

OCT. 18, 2023
Evelyn Witkin discovered the DNA-damage response, a fundamental mechanism that protects the genomes of all living organisms. Listen as she talks about her Award-winning work and what it was like to be at Cold Spring Harbor in the 1950s.

2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine

OCT. 2, 2023
Congratulations to the Lasker Laureates who were recognized with a 2023 Nobel Prize for the development of effective mRNA vaccines against Covid-19.

September 2023 Newsletter

SEPT. 21, 2023
Announcing the 2023 Lasker Awards in Basic Research, Clinical Research, and Special Achievement. Meet the winners and read about their accomplishments.

In Memoriam: Furid Murad

SEPT. 8, 2023
Ferid Murad, whose discoveries concerning the role that nitric oxide plays in the cardiovascular system earned him a 1996 Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, has passed away at the age of 86.

July 2023 Newsletter

July 17, 2023
Congratulations to the five winners of the 2023 Essay Contest, read their essays and watch short interviews!

In Memoriam: Evelyn Witkin

JUL. 12, 2023
Evelyn Witkin, a towering figure in genetics, whose discoveries provided the basis for understanding the DNA damage response, has passed away at 102.

June 2023 Newsletter

JUN. 12, 2023
Meet Roy Calne, who made organ transplantation a reality when others deemed it an impossible dream. And watch a new series of whiteboard animation videos celebrating cancer breakthroughs.

In Memoriam: Donald Brown

JUN. 8, 2023
Donald Brown, a biologist who provided insights into gene amplification and the ways that cells manufacture RNAs, has passed away at the age of 91.

May 2023 Newsletter

MAY 17, 2023
Meet fearless biochemist James Rothman and listen to a new episode of our podcast Classic Lasker featuring David Cushman, designer of the ACE inhibitors.

The Protein Trafficking Engineer

MAY 17, 2023
Meet 2002 Lasker Laureate James Rothman, whose discoveries helped elucidate the universal molecular machinery that orchestrates the budding and fusion of membrane vesicles.

Classic Lasker: David Cushman

May 17, 2023
Listen as David Cushman tells the story of bringing captopril, the first orally active ACE inhibitor and one of the first medications developed through rational design, to the world.

April 2023 Newsletter

APR. 18, 2023
Meet awe-inspiring developmental biologist Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, listen to our new episode of our podcast Classic Lasker featuring Oliver Smithies, and catch up with the 2022 Lasker Annual Report.

I Dreamt of Fruit Flies

APR. 18, 2023
Meet Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, the 1991 Lasker Laureate who charted new paths in developmental biology.

Classic Lasker: Oliver Smithies

APR. 18, 2023
Oliver Smithies gene targeting technology revolutionized the study of human health and disease. Listen as this Lasker Laureate tells the story of how he turned his failure into a resounding success that forever changed biomedical research.

March 2023 Newsletter

MAR. 14, 2023
Meet pioneer scientist Rosalyn Yalow and check out the new episode of our podcast Classic Lasker, featuring Willem Kolff. And don't forget that the 2023 Lasker Essay Contest closes on March 31 at 2pm Eastern Time.

Classic Lasker: Willem J. Kolff

MAR 14, 2023
Willem Kolff wanted to save as many people as he could from renal failure. Listen as this Lasker Laureate tells the story of how he developed renal hemodialysis, artificial kidneys, and more.

A “Woman of Firsts” Who Transformed Medical Testing

MAR. 14, 2023
Meet Rosalyn Yalow, the first woman and the first nuclear physicist to win a Lasker Basic Medical Research Award. She developed the technique of radioimmunoassay, one of the most important clinically applied basic research advances of the past 50 years.

In Memoriam: Paul Berg

FEB. 20, 2023
Paul Berg, whose role in launching the recombinant DNA revolution was recognized with a 1980 Lasker Award, has passed away at age 96.

In Memoriam: Emil Gotschlich

FEB. 20, 2023
Emil Gotschlich, whose vaccine against bacterial meningitis has protected millions of lives, has passed away at age 88.

February 2023 Newsletter

FEB. 8, 2023
Discover how to compete in the 2023 Lasker Essay. And read about Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein's extraordinary and enduring scientific partnership.

In Memoriam: David Allis

JAN. 20, 2023
David Allis, whose work underpinned a new understanding of the role of histone proteins in gene expression, has passed away at 71.

In Memoriam: Dieter Oesterhelt

DEC. 2, 2022
Dieter Oesterhelt, whose discovery of the first bacteriorhodopsin helped launch a new field of medical research, has passed away at the age of 82.

November 2022 Newsletter

NOV. 15, 2022
Read about Lasker-winning research that has improved the health of mothers and their children, listen to our podcast Classic Lasker featuring Robert Edwards, and view the 2022 Lasker Public Lecture with Dennis Lo.

Classic Lasker: Robert G. Edwards

NOV. 15, 2022
Millions of babies have been conceived through IVF, but developing the technology took decades. Robert Edwards guides us through the seminal research.

October 2022 Newsletter

OCT. 26, 2022
Read about Lasker scientists who developed vaccines against infectious diseases, listen to our podcast featuring James Darnell, and view the latest video shorts from our series Ask a Scientist. The Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Lasker Awards.

Shots Heard Around the World

OCT. 26, 2022
Learn about the Lasker Laureates who developed vaccines that benefit billions of people, sparing much of the world's population from a rogue's gallery of illnesses.

Classic Lasker: James Darnell Jr. 

OCT. 26, 2022
Lasker Laureate James Darnell details the discovery of RNA processing—just one of the fields that he broke open during his career. 

September 2022 Newsletter

SEPT. 28, 2022
Announcing the 2022 Lasker Awards in Basic Research, Clinical Research, and Public Service. Meet the winners and read about their accomplishments.

Ask a Scientist: Albert Reece on giving back

SEPT 27, 2022
Albert Reece, maternal fetal medicine specialist and Executive Vice President and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shares the many ways in which he contributes to his community.

July 2022 Newsletter

July 13, 2022
Congratulations to the six winners of the 2022 Essay Contest, read their essays! Watch more videos from our series Ask a Scientist.

June 2022 Newsletter

June 14, 2022
Read about the Lasker Public Service Awards, listen to our podcast Classic Lasker featuring William Foege, and view short videos from our new series Ask a Scientist.

Classic Lasker: William Foege

June 14, 2022
William Foege helped eradicate smallpox, served as the CDC director, and trained young public health professionals. Listen as Foege shares the trials and triumphs of his career.

In Memoriam: John Edward Porter

JUNE 8, 2022
John Edward Porter, whose legislative efforts to increase support for medical research was recognized with a Lasker Award has passed away at 87.

May 2022 Newsletter

May 10, 2022
Read about Marc Feldmann's contributions to the fight against rheumatoid arthritis, watch Katalin Karikó discuss the development of mRNA therapies, and listen to the third episode of our podcast Classic Lasker, featuring Ralph Steinman.

Classic Lasker: Ralph Steinman

May 10, 2022
Ralph Steinman eloquently explains the role of dendritic cells and what it felt like to receive the Lasker award.

Katalin Karikó: Developing mRNA for Therapy

MAY 5, 2022
In the 2022 Lasker-APSA Lecture, Katalin Karikó traces the history of messenger RNA, from its discovery in the early 1960s, through the modifications that enabled it to be used to rapidly deploy effective Covid-19 vaccines, and then looks forward toward the development of new mRNA therapies.

April 2022 Newsletter

APRIL 6, 2022
Read about Matthew Meselson's lifelong accomplishments in science and public service and check out the second episode of our podcast Classic Lasker, featuring Janet Rowley.

Matthew Meselson: A Double Life

APR. 6, 2022
Read about Matthew Meselson, who was recognized with a Lasker Award for his extraordinary contributions to two different areas of the scientific enterprise: molecular biology and public policy.

Classic Lasker: Janet Rowley

APR. 6, 2022
Janet Rowley had to wait nine months to start medical school because the quota for women had been filled. She went on to win a Lasker Award for transforming our understanding of the genetics of cancer, making it possible to diagnose cancer at the molecular level. Listen to her story.

March 2022 Newsletter

MAR. 14, 2022
Meet groundbreaking scientist and humanitarian Mary Claire King and check out the first episode of our podcast Classic Lasker, featuring Paul Zamecnik. And don't forget that the 2022 Lasker Essay Contest closes on March 30 at 2pm Eastern Time.

In Memoriam: Donald Pinkel

MAR. 13, 2022
Donald Pinkel, who was recognized with a 1972 Lasker Award for developing a cure for acute lymphocytic leukemia, has passed away.

Classic Lasker: Paul Zamecnik

MAR. 9, 2021
Listen as 1996 Lasker Award winner Paul Zamecnik tells us how he got into basic research as WWII was imminent, about not winning the Nobel prize, and his chance encounters that would set him on his scientific path.  

February 2022 Newsletter

FEB. 9, 2022
Discover the 2022 Lasker Essay topic, read about three scientists that went against the grain, and catch up with the 2021 Lasker Annual report.

Toppling Dogma

FEB. 8, 2022
Meet three Lasker Laureates who shattered conventional wisdom.

November 2021 Newsletter

NOV. 10, 2021
Read about the United States biomedical research enterprise, meet the 2021 Clinical Research Scholars, check your eligibility to enter next year's Essay Contest, and submit a nomination for the 2022 Lasker Awards.

In Memoriam: Aaron Beck

NOV. 8, 2021
Aaron Beck, who developed cognitive therapy to treat depression, anxiety, and other disorders, has passed away at 100.

October 2021 Newsletter

OCT. 20, 2021
Read about the health effects of natural disasters, see how wildfires impact redwood forest ecology, get the tools to advocate for medical research, and join Karl Deisseroth for a tour of optogenetics.

September 2021 Newsletter

SEPT. 24, 2021
Read about the 2021 Lasker Awards in Basic Research, Clinical Research, and Special Achievement.

July 2021 Newsletter

JULY 13, 2021
Read the five winning entries of the 2021 Essay Contest and meet their authors. Learn about the health issues resulting from 'long Covid' in an opinion piece from Lasker President Claire Pomeroy.

The 2021 Lasker Essay Contest

JULY 13, 2021
We asked early-career medical professionals and research scientists about lessons learned from the pandemic. The Foundation received hundreds of thoughtful entries. Read the winning essays.

In Memoriam: Purnell W. Choppin

JULY 6, 2021
Purnell W. Choppin, a renowned virologist and a longtime member of the Lasker Board of Directors, has passed away at 91.

June 2021 Newsletter

JUNE 15, 2021
Learn about some of the wide-ranging discoveries made in the field of neuroscience. And read our disease fact sheets that illustrate the impact of research investment on alleviating disease burden.

Exploring the Nervous System

JUNE 15, 2021
Lasker Laureates have helped map the wiring of the brain, decipher the chemical communication between neurons, create innovative therapies for Parkinson's disease, and restore hearing to the deaf.

May 2021 Newsletter

MAY 12, 2021
Learn about revolutionary contributions made by Lasker Laureates in understanding and treating cardiovascular disease. And read an opinion piece on the importance of supporting the Biden Administration's revamped Cancer Moonshot.

April 2021 Newsletter

APRIL 14, 2021
Read about the role that Lasker Laureates have played in understanding and treating cancer. Listen as Cynthia Kenyon shares how following one’s interests can lead to unexpectedly fruitful results. And watch Max Cooper discuss the evolution of alternate adaptive immune systems.

Deciphering Cancer

APRIL 14, 2021
Lasker laureates shed light on "The Big C": from developing a theory of cancer to deploying immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapies.

Celebrating 100th Birthday

MARCH 7, 2021
What makes a great scientist? Lasker Laureate Evelyn Witkin says it is a combination of luck, an instinct for pursuing odd findings, and open-mindedness.

March 2021 Newsletter

MARCH 9, 2021
Learn about the path scientists took to understanding DNA. Also, follow Paul Nurse’s quest to decipher the molecular changes during the cell cycle.

February 2021 Newsletter

FEB. 18, 2021
The 2021 Essay Contest is open for submissions. And the Lasker Foundation launches a new podcast, Dial an Idol.

A Podcast from the Lasker Foundation

FEB. 17, 2021
On Dial an Idol, emerging researchers and physicians call their scientific heroes for guidance. They get advice that’s useful whether you want to be a scientist or anything else.

In Memoriam: Emil Freireich

FEB. 2, 2021
Emil Freireich, who was recognized with a 1972 Lasker Award for developing combination chemotherapy as a treatment for childhood leukemia, has passed away at 93.

November 2020 Newsletter

NOV. 12, 2020
Meet the newest Lasker Clinical Research Scholars, explore the interactions between macrophages and T Cells with Emil Unanue, and learn how to submit a nomination for the 2021 Lasker Awards.

Before Virus, After Virus: A Reckoning

OCT. 14, 2020
Siddhartha Mukherjee reflects on the historic contributions that have been made to our understanding of immunology and virology, and considers future directions in medical and basic research brought to the forefront by the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine

OCT. 6, 2020
Congratulations to the three Lasker Laureates who were recognized with a 2020 Nobel Prize for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus.

September 2020 Newsletter

SEPT. 25, 2020
In this issue we celebrate 75 years of Lasker Awards recognizing advances against infectious disease. And we profile a geneticist extraordinaire who challenged dogma and changed the way we think about genes.

July 2020 Newsletter

JULY 10, 2020
We highlight past "The Art of Science" essays by Chair of the Lasker Medical Research Jury, Joseph Goldstein. And we invite you to read the winning entries in the 2020 Lasker Essay Contest.

June 2020 Newsletter

JUNE 30, 2020
In this issue, we speak with Leroy Hood and Solomon Snyder. We also feature the final three chapters of our video interview with Nancy Wexler.

In Memoriam: Dale Kaiser

JUNE 29, 2020
Pioneering molecular geneticist Dale Kaiser passes away at 92. Kaiser was honored with a 1980 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award.

An Interview with Nancy Wexler

JUNE 7, 2020
In these three final chapters, Wexler discusses the ethical implications of genetic research, her experience winning the 1993 Lasker Award, and the future of Huntington’s disease research.

In Memoriam: Raymond Erikson

MAY 31, 2020
Raymond Erikson, who was honored with a 1982 Lasker Award for insights into oncogenes, has passed away at the age of 84.

May 2020 Newsletter

MAY 5, 2020
In this issue, we speak with James P. Allison and Stanley N. Cohen. We also feature the third and forth chapters of our video interview with Nancy Wexler.

April 2020 Newsletter

APRIL 7, 2020
In this issue, we speak with Phillip Sharp, Alfred Sommer, and Evelyn Witkin. We also feature the second chapter of our video interview with Nancy Wexler.

March 2020 Newsletter

MARCH 10, 2020
To celebrate Lasker’s 75th anniversary, we will be publishing profiles of our Laureates every month. In this issue, we speak with J. Michael Bishop, Harold Varmus, and Eric Kandel. We also feature the first chapter of a multipart interview with Nancy Wexler.

In Memoriam: Philip Leder

FEB. 24, 2020
Philip Leder, who was honored with a 1987 Lasker Award for his studies of the genetics of antibody diversity, has passed away at 85.

In Memoriam: Michael Berridge

FEB. 13, 2020
Michael Berridge, whose landmark discoveries concerning the mechanism of cellular signaling earned him a 1989 Lasker Award, has passed away.

In Memoriam: Harry Rubin

FEB. 11, 2020
Harry Rubin, whose explorations of how normal cells become cancer cells transformed cancer research, has died at 93.

February 2020 Newsletter

FEB. 10, 2020
The 2020 Lasker Essay Contest is now open! We also talk with Lasker Laureates and past Essay contest winners about the importance of mentorship.

What a Difference a Mentor Can Make

FEB. 10, 2020
We speak with Lasker Laureates and other eminent scientists about the importance of offering mentees support in their careers and lives.

In Memoriam: Stanley Cohen

FEB. 7, 2020
Stanley Cohen, whose discovery of the epidermal growth factor receptor was recognized with a 1986 Lasker Award, has died at 97.

Emery Brown: Anesthesia and the Brain

JAN. 6, 2020
In a two-part seminar, Uri Hasson explores how brain activity is shared between listeners of the same story, and how those shared neural responses are coupled to and shaped by the neural activity in the storyteller’s brain.

Uri Hasson: Time Regained

JAN. 6, 2020
In a two-part seminar, Uri Hasson explores how brain activity is shared between listeners of the same story, and how those shared neural responses are coupled to and shaped by the neural activity in the storyteller’s brain.

In Memoriam: John B. Robbins

DEC. 4, 2019
John B. Robbins, who contributed to the development of a vaccine for bacterial meningitis, has passed away at age 86.

Wendy Chung: My life as a Zebra Hunter

NOV. 19, 2019
The November 7, 2019 installment of Lasker Lessons in Leadership featured a talk from Wendy Chung, Kennedy Family Professor of Pediatrics in Medicine at Columbia University.

November 2019 Newsletter

NOV. 11, 2019
We speak with Lasker Clinical Scholar Anish Thomas about receiving his PECASE award and explore initiatives to introduce the next generation of scientists to convergence research.

2019 Young Scientist Seminars: Watch the Videos

OCT. 18, 2019
The Lasker Foundation is proud to sponsor the annual Young Scientist Series competition with iBiology and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. Watch the winners' videos.

October 2019 Newsletter

OCT. 15, 2019
We explore how convergence science is transforming biomedicine and talk with Lasker Laureate Ron Vale about iBiology's new online textbook, The Explorer's Guide to Biology.

Bioimage Analysis Course

SEPT. 30, 2019
A multi-part introduction to bioimage analysis that provides an overview of the practice and principles of microscopy digital image handling. Follow the life cycle of an image data set, from acquisition to analysis.

Announcing the 2019 Lasker Award Winners

SEPT. 11, 2019
Cooper and Miller for the discovery of B and T cells; Shepard, Salmon, and Ullrich for the invention of a targeted antibody therapy for breast cancer; and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for providing sustained access to childhood vaccines around the globe.

The Art of Science

SEPT. 8, 2019
Joseph Goldstein explores the deep relationship between art and science in a series of essays that accompany the annual Lasker Awards.

Race Shouldn’t be a Factor in Cancer Care

AUG. 14, 2019
In an opinion piece for Fox News, Lasker President Dr. Claire Pomeroy discusses how addressing social determinants of health should be a central tenet of successful oncology.

July 2019 Newsletter

JULY 9, 2019
Announcing the 2019 Essay Contest winners! In this issue, we also speak with educators about innovative ways to make science classes more captivating for students.

June 2019 Newsletter

JUNE 17, 2019
Finding solutions to the leaking pipeline and changing culture to support women in science

Stopping the Leaks

JUNE 17, 2019
In May’s newsletter, we discussed the obstacles women scientists face in their careers. This month, we explore initiatives to improve gender equity and promote diversity in science.

The Leaking Pipeline

MAY 15, 2019
We talked with scientists Carol Greider, Nancy Hopkins, Joan Steitz, and Elizabeth McCullagh about the past and ongoing challenges for women forging a career in academic research.

Jeannie Lee: X Chromosome Inactivation

MAY 8, 2019
In a three-part seminar, Jeannie Lee explores the physiological importance of X chromosome inactivation and how it provides a research model to study gene silencing.

Follow Your Gut, and Other Career Advice

APRIL 8, 2019
As the Lasker Lessons in Leadership series hosts its tenth speaker, the NIH Oxford-Cambridge students reflect on how hearing from top scientists has shaped their careers.

In Memoriam: Sydney Brenner

APRIL 5, 2019
Sydney Brenner, whose pioneering insights expanded the frontiers of molecular biology, has passed away at age 92.

David Rubenstein Interviews Anthony Fauci

MARCH 21, 2019
The March 12, 2019 installment of Lasker Lessons in Leadership featured an interview with Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Loneliness is Harmful to our Nation’s Health

MARCH 20, 2019
While chronic loneliness has serious health implications, these can be addressed by both practical and policy approaches. Read the opinion piece by Lasker Foundation president Claire Pomeroy in Scientific American.

Supporting Clinician-Scientists

MARCH 12, 2019
Now in its eighth year, a program created by the NIH and Lasker Foundation allows early-career clinician-scientists to live the dream of being able to focus on research.

Showing Science Love on Social Media

FEB. 12, 2019
The 2018 Lasker Essay Contest winner envisions a movement in which cancer patients share their stories to improve the public’s trust in science.

Ruth Lehmann: Germ Cell Development

JAN. 29, 2019
In a two-part seminar, Ruth Lehmann discusses germ cells, which give rise to egg and sperm, are critical to the survival of a species

Raising the Bar

DEC. 14, 2018
Ruth Lehmann from New York University entered a bar, walked to the front of the room, and began to speak about germ cells for this year's Lasker Public Lecture in honor of Al Sommer.

David Weatherall Passes Away at 85

DEC. 10, 2018
David Weatherall, whose pioneering discoveries concerning genetic diseases of the blood were recognized with a Lasker Special Achievement Award, has passed away at 85.

2018 November Newsletter

NOV. 9, 2018
Learn about the external forces that shape our current knowledge and pursuit of science.

An Interrupted Discovery

NOV. 9, 2018
One researcher knew that insulin could treat diabetes in animals, but his research stopped abruptly before he could develop the treatment for humans. What happened?

Friedman: Lessons from Science History

OCT. 31, 2018
Jeffrey Friedman, Marilyn M. Simpson Professor at The Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, delivered a 2018 Lasker Lecture on October 30 at the University of Chicago. Friedman spoke about his exploration of the history of the discovery of insulin, and how World War I delayed the development of a first treatment for diabetes.

Robert Singer: RNA Localization

SEPT. 29, 2018
Robert Singer speaks about his lab's study of single mRNAs within living cells, and what these studies reveal about gene expression, translation, and the dynamics of RNA degradation.

Announcing the 2018 Lasker Award winners

SEPT. 11, 2018
David Allis and Michael Grunstein for discoveries elucidating histone modification and gene expression; John Glen for the discovery and development of propofol; and Joan Argetsinger Steitz for pioneering discoveries in RNA biology and for four decades of leadership in biomedical science

What Makes a Piece of Art or Science a Masterpiece?

SEPT 08, 2018
Critics of art and philosophers of science and have long wrestled with the question of what elevates a piece of art or a set of experiments to masterpiece status. Masterpieces of art and science are like hooks that capture our imagination.

Elaine Fuchs: Stem Cell Biology

JULY 6, 2018
In a three-part talk, Elaine Fuchs offers an overview of stem cell biology and its implications for research, disease, and therapeutic approaches to patient care.

Winners of the 2018 Essay Contest

JUNE 27, 2018
Join us in congratulating the 2018 first, second, and third place Lasker Essay Contest winners, and learn more about their essays, their experiences with the contest, and their thoughts about building public trust in science.

Abigail Cline: Ready for a Challenge

JUNE 26, 2018
The 2017 essay contest asked how to make biomedical research part of the daily global dialogue. Learn how the first place winner has been implementing her ideas.

Summer 2018 Newsletter

2018 Summer
Meet the winners of the 2018 Essay Contest and learn how they answered the question, “How can social media help build trust in science and the research enterprise?” We also check in with the 2017 Essay Contest winner, Abigail Cline.

Finding Common Ground

APRIL 25, 2018
Julie Gerberding from Merck & Co., Inc. details the intricacies of partnerships between academia, government, and industry for successfully managing disease in the developing world.

Focusing on Neglected Patients

APRIL 25, 2018
Rachel Cohen at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative explains how her organization develops and implements new therapies for diseases affecting neglected patients.

Preventing Disease Pandemics

APRIL 25, 2018
Lasker Laureate Alfred Sommer discusses recent “near-miss” epidemics and the tactics that prevented those diseases from spreading worldwide.

Stopping Smallpox in its Tracks

APRIL 25, 2018
The eradication of smallpox is one of epidemiology’s most celebrated successes, made possible by Lasker Laureate William Foege’s “surveillance and containment” strategy.

The Web of Global Health

APRIL 25, 2018
Anne Schuchat from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explores the cooperation required to contain epidemics and her hopes for new tools to help prevent disease.

Spring 2018 Newsletter

2018 Spring
Get a global view on global health—Learn about Lasker Laureate William Foege’s “surveillance and containment” strategy to eradicate smallpox, hear from Lasker Laureate Alfred Sommer about recent “near-miss” epidemics, and read about how government, non-profit, and industry sectors all play a role in global health.

In Memoriam: Günter Blobel

FEB. 21, 2018
Günter Blobel, whose fruitful pursuit of the signal hypothesis yielded a 1993 Lasker Award in Basic Medical Research, has passed away at 81.

Interview with 2017 Lasker Awards Winners

JAN. 29, 2018
Before the Lasker Awards ceremony, Tammy Tran got the chance to speak to the 2017 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award winners, Douglas R. Lowy and John T. Schiller.

The Vision Thief

DEC. 15, 2017
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness throughout the world. Read about the Lasker/IRRF initiative aiming to accelerate discovery of novel ways to treat and prevent this condition.

In Utero Gene Therapy

DEC. 4, 2017
Lasker Laureate Yuet Wai Kan discusses major challenges in the development of novel therapies employing stem cells for the treatment of sickle cell disease and thalassemia.

The Inventor of the Pap Test

DEC. 4, 2017
Follow Lasker Laureate George Papanicolaou's path from studying music and humanities to developing a diagnostic method for detecting cervical cancer.

Fall 2017 Newsletter

2017 Fall
From the development of the Pap smear in the 1940s to new non-invasive prenatal testing techniques, Lasker Laureates have played an important role in improving diagnostic technology, sometimes unexpectedly. Read an interview with leading scientists from academia, industry, and government on new developments, and learn about historic milestones that have changed the way diseases are diagnosed and treated.

International Medicine and Global Health

DEC. 1, 2017
The November 30, 2017 Lasker Lessons in Leadership lecture was given by Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a Rear Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service.

Paul Turner: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Viruses

OCT. 26, 2017
Public Lecture. Are viruses alive? How, when, and why do viruses jump to new species and what are the implications for human health? Can viruses be harnessed as cures for dangerous bacterial infections and other diseases? A talk by Paul Turner, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University.

2017 Young Scientist Seminars: Meet the Winners

OCT. 6, 2017
The Young Scientist Seminars (YSS) nurture science communication skills of talented PhD students and postdocs. The Lasker Foundation is proud to sponsor the annual YSS competition with iBiology and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science.

Announcing the 2017 Lasker Award Winners

SEPT. 15, 2017
Michael Hall for nutrient-activated TOR proteins that regulate cell growth; Douglas Lowy and John Schiller for HPV vaccines that prevent cancer; Planned Parenthood for essential health services and reproductive care.

Michael Hall: The Story of TOR

SEPT. 4, 2017
Michael Hall discusses research into nutrient-activated proteins that regulate cell growth, for which he was recognized with a 2017 Lasker Award.

Paul Turner: Virus Ecology and Evolution

AUG. 23, 2017
Paul Turner describes the fundamental biology of viruses, how they interact with their host organisms, how they might have originally evolved long ago, and discusses using phage therapy to treat bacterial infections.

The War on Drugs and the War on Pain

AUG. 16, 2017
Op-ed: Lasker President Claire Pomeroy cautions against making patients suffering from severe pain the collateral damage in the war on drugs.

Securing the Future of the Biomedical Workforce

JULY 13, 2017
Young scientists face many career challenges today. We explore these issues in our summer newsletter through interviews with early-career scholars and with established leaders in the biomedical field.

Being a Physician-Scientist Today

JULY 12, 2017
Beth Kozel, a Lasker/NIH Clinical Research Scholar, talks about the challenges and rewards of being a physician-scientist.

Q&A with the Winner of the 2016 Lasker Essay Contest

JUNE 27, 2017
David Ottenheimer shares with Lasker what inspired him to pursue a career in the field of psychiatric illness, the role of researchers in science communication, and how he sees his future as a young scientist.

Summer 2017 Newsletter

2017 Summer
Get advice on how to succeed in science from three accomplished women in science—Lasker Laureate Elizabeth Neufeld, president emerita of Princeton University Shirley Tilghman, and Lasker/NIH Clinical Research Scholar Beth Kozel. We also talk to the 2016 Lasker Essay Contest winner about his future as a young scientist.

Astrocytes and Glaucoma

MAY 23, 2017
The IRRF initiative has produced five review articles published in a special issue of Experimental Eye Research discussing the big questions in the Glaucoma field and identifying topics and experiments that should be addressed within the next five years.

Lasker Lecture at Duke University: William Kaelin, Jr.

APRIL 28, 2017
William Kaelin, Jr. spoke about oxygen sensing to medical school students, researchers, and faculty members at Duke University in the afternoon of April 12. That morning, he talked with high school students about pursuing scientific research.

Amblyopia: Challenges and Opportunities

APRIL 20, 2017
The fourth report from the Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation and the International Retinal Research Foundation's collaboration provides new insights and innovative approaches to better diagnose, treat, and prevent amblyopia.

21st-Century Healthcare: Big Data Medicine

APRIL 10, 2017
Precision medicine and systems medicine approaches explore the possibility of integrating big data into medical practice to provide more effective therapies and disease prevention strategies.

Susumu Tonegawa on Heading World-Class Brain Research Institutes

APRIL 10, 2017
Susumu Tonegawa, Lasker laureate, director of the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan, and former director of MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, shares his thoughts on what makes the RIKEN Institute special and why collaboration occurs naturally at the Picower Institute.

Spring 2017 Newsletter

2017 Spring
Learn about 21st-century healthcare—precision medicine and systems medicine—and how the Lasker Laureates who discovered the genetic basis of antibody diversity are leading the way. Read exclusive interviews with Leroy Hood, Susumu Tonegawa, and Philip Leder

Thomas Starzl Passes Away at 90

MARCH 5, 2017
Thomas Starzl, an innovative and determined surgeon who performed the first successful human liver transplant, has died at age 90.

In Memoriam: Oliver Smithies

JAN. 12, 2017
Oliver Smithies, whose research into gene targeting paved the way for the development of a powerful technology to create animal models of human diseases, has died at 91.

Peter Nowell Remembered

JAN. 11, 2017
Peter Nowell, whose investigations of a chromosomal abnormality changed the course of cancer research, has died at age 88.

Catalyst for the National Cancer Act: Mary Lasker

DEC. 15, 2016
From the community: High-School Senior, aspiring scientists and student cancer researcher, Langley Grace Wallace, writes about Mary Lasker's role as a catalyst for the National Cancer Act of 1971 and her impact on the nation's elite scientists.

The Rule of Three for Prizes in Science and the Bold Triptychs of Francis Bacon

NOV. 22, 2016
Scientific awards afford a special opportunity to enlighten the general public on how scientific discoveries arise. Like a Francis Bacon triptych, a prizeworthy scientific discovery has its greatest impact in capturing the public’s imagination when the story of its origin can be traced to its fundamental roots and told in an engaging way

The Hunt for the Huntington’s Gene: A Conversation with Nancy Wexler

NOV. 15, 2016
Nancy Wexler’s journey to find the gene that causes Huntington’s disease began in 1968 when her mother was diagnosed with the condition. It took years of fundraising, collaboration, and conferences, and months spent in the stilt villages of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela collecting samples, to find the answer.

2016 Young Scientist Seminars: Watch the Videos

OCT. 12, 2016
The Young Scientist Seminars is a new video series from iBiology featuring talented PhD students and postdocs giving talks about their research and discoveries. The Lasker Foundation is pleased to partner with iBiology on this initiative.

See the 2016 Lasker Awards

OCT. 6, 2016
Watch the 2016 laureates deliver their acceptance remarks, view comments by Lasker Jury members, and the keynote address by Sean Carroll.

Fall 2016 Newsletter

2016 Fall
Join the discussion about science funding. We explore the role of science philanthropy and government in funding basic research, talk to former HHMI president Robert Tijan about funding people versus projects, and learn how Lasker Laureate Nancy Wexler persevered in her hunt for the Huntington’s gene before there was funding for that type of research.

Bruce Alberts Remembers Daniel Koshland

SEPT. 15, 2016
Bruce Alberts, winner of the 2016 Lasker~Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science, talks about his life in science, and his colleague and friend Daniel Koshland.

Harold Varmus: Understanding Cancer

AUG. 12, 2016
Public Lecture. What are the molecular mechanisms by which cancer develops? How can cancer be prevented and treated, and are new approaches being developed to promising new therapies? A talk by Lasker laureate Harold Varmus, a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Remembering a Great Cancer Biologist

JULY 13, 2016
Alfred Knudson, a 1998 Lasker Laureate whose two-hit hypothesis explained that malignancies can occur because of a loss or inactivation of both copies of a gene that normally functions to inhibit cell growth, which we now call a tumor suppressor gene, has passed away at age 93.

Winners of the 2016 Essay Contest

JUNE 6, 2016
The Lasker Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the 2016 Lasker Essay Contest! Participants in this year's contest were asked to consider which fundamental discoveries in basic medical research have not been clinically explored and translated into better human health.

Advancing Cancer Research from the Lab to Therapies

APRIL 28, 2016
Newsletter Spring 2016. The 2009 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Mecical Research Award winners developed one of the first successful targeted molecular therapy drugs that converted chronic myeloid leukemia from a fatal cancer to a manageable chronic condition. What lessons can be learned from that exemplary academia-industry partnership?

Lasker Archives: When Cancer Drugs Were Still a Distant Dream

APRIL 28, 2016
Newsletter Spring 2016. In 1982, five scientists received the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for work that revolutionized our understanding of cancer. Read an excerpt from J. Michael Bishop's inspirational — and revealing — acceptance speech.

Q&A with David Hill, Winner of 2015 Essay Contest

APRIL 28, 2016
Newsletter Spring 2016. David Hill shares with Lasker what inspired him to pursue a career in the field of human microbiome, how he prepared for the essay contest, and how he envisions his future as a young scientist.

The Promise of the Cancer Moonshot

APRIL 28, 2016
Newsletter Spring 2016. One of the monumental achievements of Mary Lasker’s advocacy in support of biomedical research was the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971. What has been accomplished in cancer research since then, and how will the National Cancer Moonshot build on its legacy?

Spring 2016 Newsletter

2016 Spring
Read about the evolution of cancer research, why we need more PhDs, and check-in with our 2015 Lasker Essay Contest winner.

Richard Nixon’s War on Cancer – the Other Cancer Moonshot

FEB. 23, 2016
Lasker President Claire Pomeroy talks to BBC Radio 4 about the role Mary Lasker played in mobilizing public support to bring pressure on Congress and President Nixon to support cancer research. Part 1 of a BBC Radio 4 series focused on discussions related to President Obama's Cancer Moonshot.

Ron Vale: Molecular Motor Proteins

FEB. 18, 2016
Ron Vale discusses molecular motor proteins: their roles in the cell, their movement, regulation, and the research approaches that the Vale Lab has used to elucidate their function.

Remembering Robin Chandler Duke

FEB. 15, 2016
Robin Chandler Duke was a tireless advocate of family planning, world population stabilization and women's reproductive rights. In 1991, she received Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for her work. Ms. Duke died on Saturday, February 6, at 92.

Alfred Gilman Remembered

DEC. 24, 2015
Alfred Gilman, a 1989 Lasker Laureate whose investigations of G-proteins revealed processes by which cells communicate with one another and make sense of their environment, has died.

Conversations in science with Paul Nurse and Dan Rather

NOV. 24, 2015
iBiology partnership. Geneticist Paul Nurse, a Lasker Laureate and Nobel Prize winner, speaks with Dan Rather about the importance of science for culture and civilization, how to inspire young minds to be interested in discovery, and what it means to be brilliant.

The Lasker Awards at 70

SEPT. 15, 2015
Lasker President Claire Pomeroy discusses the history of the Lasker Awards and their importance in highlighting the contributions of hundreds of scientists involved in research and public service.

A Well-Hung Horse: Sired by Knowledge and Imagination

SEPT. 8, 2015
For more than a century, historians of science have been pondering which is more important in the creative process: knowledge or imagination. The most original scientists (and artists) in our day discover newness by blending existing knowledge with imaginative thinking.

Gregory Petsko: The Coming Epidemic of Neurodegenerative Diseases

AUG. 26, 2015
Public Lecture. What are the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's, and are there promising new therapies? A talk by Gregory Petsko, a professor of neurology and neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Pioneer Mapmaker of Brain Function Dies

AUG. 5, 2015
Louis Sokoloff, who deployed PET scan technology to create vivid maps of brain function and won a 1981 Clinical Medical Research Award, has passed away.

Dan Littman: The Art of Scientific Publishing

AUG. 4, 2015
Lessons in Leadership. What does it take to turn good research into a successful publication in today's competitive academic environment? Dan Littman, Professor of Molecular Immunology at New York University, shared insights.

Winners of 2015 Essay Contest: The “Research Challenge”

JULY 31, 2015
The Lasker Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Lasker Essay Contest! Participants in this year's contest were asked to consider the most important fundamental mystery in biology today that, if unlocked by basic research, would yield the greatest dividends for human health.

Empress of All Maladies: Mary Lasker

MARCH 20, 2015
Who was Mary Lasker? What motivated her to dedicate her life to the cause of ensuring sustained and substantial public funding for medical research?

Measles and the Tragic Seduction of Pseudoscience

FEB. 6, 2015
The MMR vaccine developed by Lasker Laureate Maurice Hilleman was a gift that has saved many millions of lives. Now it is up to us to ensure that all children have access to life-saving science, argues Lasker Foundation President Claire Pomeroy in an editorial on Fox News

Will Support for Biomedical Research be Dead on Arrival?

JAN. 29, 2015
What are we to think when we read that NIH funding for medical research has lost nearly one quarter of its purchasing power in the last decade? Lasker President Claire Pomeroy discusses how loss of funding for medical research affects our ability to cope with crises such as Ebola.

2014 Essay Contest Winner: Q&A with Peter Soh

JAN. 14, 2015
We asked our 2014 essay contest winner, Peter Soh, to share his thoughts about how this award has affected his professional development and his views on communicating medical and science issues with the public.

Restoring Vision to the Blind

JAN. 7, 2015
The third report from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and the International Retinal Research Foundation's 10-year collaboration, recently published in the ARVO journal Translational Vision Science & Technology (TVST), explores which approaches to restoring sight are most promising and most likely to benefit the greatest number of blind individuals who have lost vision as a result of retinal degenerative disease.

Solving the Cholesterol Conundrum

OCT. 10, 2014
Emily Hoelzli and Angela Troia, the Lasker Foundation's 2014 summer interns, discuss the discovery of LDL receptors by Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein and the development of statins to lower blood cholesterol by Akira Endo.

Spotting the Next Big Thing in Art and Science

SEPT. 9, 2014
Lasker Jury Chair Joseph Goldstein writes about the essence of creativity making parallels between art and science. He begins by quoting Oscar Wilde, who has famously proclaimed that the most creative individuals are those who have taught their minds to misbehave.

2014 Lasker Awards winners

SEPT. 8, 2014
The Lasker Awards honor extraordinary individuals who have made fundamental biological discoveries, developed therapies to dramatically improve patient care, and provided mentorship and leadership to pave the way for the next generation of scientists.

Conversations with Lasker Giants

SEPT. 2, 2014
For the last five years, the Lasker Foundation has had the privilege to partner with the Journal of Clinical Investigation. During this time, JCI has produced profiles of Lasker award winners, and several Lasker Laureates have been featured in their video series, Giants of Medicine.

To Improve Americans’ Health, Let More Women Lead in Medicine

JUNE 23, 2014
The US needs more physicians, researchers, educators, and leaders. A solution is within reach — women are ready, capable, and willing to extend a healing hand, yet they are discouraged by systematic underrepresentation at leadership levels in medicine, argues Claire Pomeroy, President of the Albert & Mary Lasker Foundation, in The Hill.

2014 Essay Contest: Supporting Medical Research

JUNE 10, 2014
This summer, the Lasker Foundation asked the people whose future professional lives will be devoted to health and the development of new disease therapies and cures to propose innovative ways to build support and ensure funding for medical research.

The Physician’s Call to Justice

JUNE 10, 2014
Commencement address to the 2014 graduating class of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences: "The Physician's Call to Justice: Healing Patients, Healing the World."

Panel Discussion: Public Outreach of the Physician-Scientist

JUNE 9, 2014
Panelists Bechara Choucair, Niranjan Karnik, and Claire Pomeroy joined moderator and APSA Board of Directors member Shwayta Kukreti for a panel discussion of Public Outreach of the Physician-Scientist at the 10th APSA Annual Meeting/2014 Joint Meeting of the ASCI and AAP.

Thomas Südhof: The Molecular Basis of Synapse Formation

MARCH 23, 2014
University Lecture. Thomas Südhof, a professor of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford University School of Medicine and recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, discusses the mechanism of neurotransmitter release.

Paradigm Shifts in Science: Insights from the Arts

SEPT. 9, 2012
Explosive revelations or slowly forming ideas — how do paradigm shifts in science happen? Jury Chair Joseph Goldstein discusses these questions by looking at art pieces that explore the birth of great ideas.

Ron Vale: Molecular Motors and Movement in Biology

SEPT. 12, 2012
iBiology. Lasker Award winner Ron Vale visits a high school class and explains how he became fascinated with molecular motors and how they work. He also describes the experiments that led to his discovery of the motor protein kinesin.

Diabetic Retinopathy: A Path to Progress

MARCH 24, 2012
The Lasker/IRRF Initiative's second report, released in 2012, addresses diabetic retinopathy, the most common and most serious of the ocular complications of diabetes mellitus.

Astrocytes and Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration

OCT. 14, 2010
The first program of the Lasker/International Retinal Research Foundation's Initiative for Innovation in Vision Science, launched in 2009, explored the dual role of astrocytes in glaucoma.

Sydney Brenner: Genes and Brains

NOV. 16, 2009
University Lecture. Dr. Brenner discusses reading the human genome as a means to unveil detailed, intricate paths of evolution.

60 Years of Winged Victories for Biomedical Research

SEPT. 11, 2005
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Lasker Awards. Mary Lasker's establishment of two separate awards reflects her philosophy of medical research: major advances come from both the bench and the bedside.

The Helix and the Centerfold

SEPT. 10, 2003
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the chemical structure of DNA and the creation of a lung-heart machine that allowed open-heart surgeries. The year when these discoveries were made, however, the show was stolen by another event — the first issue of Playboy magazine featuring Marilyn Monroe on its cover.

Synergy and Symbiosis à la Matisse-Picasso

SEPT. 9, 2002
Advances in sciences and the arts often result from synergistic interactions and symbiotic relationships between pairs of individuals. An example of such interaction in the arts is the nature of the Matisse-Picasso relationship. This year's Lasker Awards honor individuals who illustrate such relationships in science.

Laskers for 2001: Knockout Mice and Test-Tube Babies

SEPT. 11, 2001
Conceptual advances in the biomedical sciences are crucially dependent on technological innovation. The 2001 Lasker awards celebrate the development of two technologies — one that has allowed the manipulation of the mouse genome with exquisite precision and a second one that has made in vitro fertilization (IVF) possible.

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