Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research

Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research is a prestigious accolade presented annually by the Lasker Foundation to honor scientists who have made significant contributions to the understanding of biological processes with a high likelihood of advancing the understanding of the cause, prevention, and treatment of disease. The award is one of several Lasker Awards established to recognize outstanding achievements in various fields of medical research. It is often referred to as "America's Nobels" due to its rigorous selection process and the high caliber of its recipients, many of whom go on to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

History

The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research was established in 1946 by Albert Lasker and Mary Lasker, philanthropists and advocates for medical research. The Laskers were instrumental in promoting the importance of medical research and its funding in the United States. Their foundation, the Lasker Foundation, aims to foster the prevention and treatment of disease by supporting biomedical research of the highest caliber. The award for Basic Medical Research was created to highlight and encourage fundamental biological discoveries.

Criteria and Selection Process

Candidates for the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research are selected based on their pioneering research contributions that have opened new areas of biomedical science. Nominations are solicited from previous award recipients and over 400 members of the scientific and medical community. An international jury of distinguished scientists reviews the nominations and selects the awardees. The emphasis is on work that has a profound impact on the understanding of biology and has implications for the treatment of disease.

Award Details

The recipients of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research receive an honorarium, a citation detailing their research contributions, and a statuette, known as "The Lasker." The award ceremony is held in New York City, where the winners are given the opportunity to present their work to a broad audience, including scientists, policymakers, and the media.

Notable Recipients

Over the years, the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research has been bestowed upon many scientists whose work has been foundational in modern biology and medicine. Notable recipients include:

- James Watson and Francis Crick (1959), for their discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. - Barbara McClintock (1981), for her discovery of mobile genetic elements. - Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, and Jack Szostak (2006), for their discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. - Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier (2015), for their work on the development of CRISPR-Cas9, a method for precise gene editing.

Impact

The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research has played a crucial role in recognizing and promoting fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine. By highlighting the importance of basic research, the award has helped to underscore the essential role that understanding fundamental biological processes plays in developing new treatments and cures for diseases. The award has also served to inspire young scientists to pursue careers in biomedical research, furthering the advancement of medical science.

See Also

• Lasker Award
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Biomedical Research
• Scientific Discovery