The Award winner is chosen by an independent selection committee of the world’s top scientists, which features three new members this year: Robert Langer, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, past Award winner Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, and Huda Zoghbi, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine.
Established by Johnson & Johnson in 2004, the Award is named for Dr. Paul Janssen, the founder of Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. Known by colleagues throughout the scientific community as “Dr. Paul,” Janssen was one of the most productive scientists of the 20th century. He was responsible for breakthroughs in several fields of disease, including pain management, psychiatry, infectious disease and gastroenterology, and has more than 100 patents to his name.
“We’re proud to recognize and celebrate those outstanding scientists who are making significant contributions to scientific research and the development of critical new medicines, and who exemplify Dr. Paul’s passion for medical innovation,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., who worked with Janssen while at Janssen Pharmaceutica, N.V. and is now global head, Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson.
In September of this year, the 2009 Award was presented to Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., director, Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Germany, for his pioneering work in applying molecular biology and molecular cloning to the discovery of protein therapeutics for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, including diabetes and cancer. In 2008, the Award was presented to Professor Marc Feldmann, FMedSci, FAA, FRS, and Emeritus Professor Sir Ravinder Maini, FRCP, FMedSci, FRS, of the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, for their role in the discovery of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) as an effective therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions. In 2006, the Award was presented to Craig Mello, Ph.D., of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Mello later went on to win the 2006 Nobel Prize in Medicine in conjunction with Andrew Z. Fire of Stanford University for their role in the discovery of RNA interference.
“Scientists make a significant and lasting contribution to the advancement of health and wellbeing across the globe,” said Harlan Weisman, M.D., chief science and technology officer, Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Johnson & Johnson. “In acknowledging and rewarding those contributions, The Dr. Paul Janssen Award honors Dr. Paul’s legacy as a physician-scientist who helped stamp out diseases in emerging and developed nations, including infectious and digestive diseases, mental illness and many others.”
Award Criteria
The selection committee will choose a scientist, or a group of scientists, in basic or clinical research, who:
- Has made a significant contribution to research that has impacted, or has strong potential to impact, human health through the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease.
- Exhibits the standards of innovation, insight, and leadership that Dr. Janssen exemplified during his career.
- Provides a living example that the study of science and technology can enable or has the potential to enable extended, healthy, productive life.
- Displays a set of ethical values consistent with the Johnson & Johnson Credo and those values that guide Johnson & Johnson.
The Award can be given to a clinical or basic research scientist in academia, government, industry, private research institution, medical or clinical practice. It will typically recognize an individual scientist but can be shared in circumstances in which the contributions of the nominees are viewed as being of similar importance.