Jackson Laboratory Researcher, David Serreze PhD, Honored for Diabetes Research
JAX® NOTES Issue 507, Fall 2007
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world's largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research, recently awarded the 2007 Gerold & Kayla Grodsky Basic Research Scientist Award to Jackson Laboratory Senior Staff Scientist David Serreze PhD.
JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes, a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since its inception, JDRF has provided more than $1 billion to diabetes research worldwide.
The Gerold & Kayla Grodsky Award, among JDRF's most prestigious awards, is presented annually to a basic research scientist who has made outstanding contributions to diabetes research. JDRF established the award in 1993 to honor the contributions of Dr. Grodsky's four decades of diabetes research at University of California San Francisco. A gift to JDRF from the Grodskys has made it possible to present this monetary award to a diabetes researcher each year. Dr. Richard Insel, Executive Vice President of Research at JDRF, commented: "JDRF is in the business of finding a cure for type 1 diabetes. As such, we work with world-class researchers who share our mission and are making significant progress towards that goal. After careful consideration of many excellent candidates, we are thrilled to acknowledge Dr. Serreze for his outstanding work in accelerating the pace of diabetes research."
The award recognizes Dr. Serreze's leadership and innovation in the emerging field of diabetic immunology and reflects his expert advice and service on the JDRF Medical Science Review Committee. Dr. Serreze, who is also a two-time recipient of JDRF's Mary Jane Kugal Research Award, remarked "I'm honored and humbled to receive the Grodsky award from the JDRF. Type 1 diabetes is a terrible disease, but with the support of the JDRF family, I hope that work from my laboratory may play some small part in leading to cures for type 1 diabetes."
Dr. Serreze has been a researcher at The Jackson Laboratory since 1985. He is also adjunct research professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Maine. He is an author of more than 100 research papers.
This article was adapted from a May 18, 2007, Jackson Laboratory press release.
