Arthritis Foundation bestows prestigious national rese...( ATLANTA Dec. 1 2008 The Arthritis Fo...),Health

ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 2008 The Arthritis Foundation announces the 2008 winners of the Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize for research in arthritis. The recipients, Dr. Gerard Karsenty of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Dr. Michel Nussenzweig of Rockefeller University received the award for their continued research advancements in the cure and control of rheumatic diseases.

Dr. Karsenty is recognized for his research in the development and function of the skeletal system. A graduate of the University of Paris, Dr. Karsenty received his postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Benoit de Crombrugghe. Prior to Dr. Karsenty's work, little was known about the molecular basis of mammalian skeletal system development and differentiation. Now, a decade later, the field is burgeoning with a plethora of new transcription factors, coactivators, corepressors, and signaling pathways that explain the development of the osteoblast from the mesenchymal stem cell, both during embryonic development and during postnatal bone formation. Dr. Karsenty is currently the Paul. A. Marks M.D. Professor and Chairman of the Department of Genetics and Development at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.

Dr. Nussenzweig is recognized for his contributions to the fields of B cell development and dendritic cell function. These studies have been crucial in providing insights into the etiology of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and have paved the way to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of these diseases. After completing a medical internship, residency, and infectious disease fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Nussenzweig joined Dr. Philip Leder in the department of genetics at Harvard Medical School for postdoctoral training. Dr. Nussenzweig currently heads the laboratory of Molecular Immunology at Rockefeller University.

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