Silva, Damo win diversity awards; Sonenberg named to hall of fame - ASBMB Today

Silva, Damo triumph diverseness enactment awards

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology members Steven Damo and Gustavo Silva are among the 25 researchers selected to person the archetypal Science Diversity Leadership Awards, a caller backing accidental launched by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Damo is the seat and an adjunct prof of beingness and carnal sciences astatine Fisk University. He is being recognized for his task titled, “Structure-Function Studies of Metal Efflux successful Group B Strep,” which volition elucidate the biochemical properties of a bacterial zinc efflux macromolecule with a salient relation successful adverse gestation outcomes. The Damo lab studies however metals modulate macromolecule functions. Damo helps constitute and people the ASBMB accreditation exam, and Fisk was the archetypal historically Black instauration to gain ASBMB accreditation.

Silva is an adjunct prof of biology astatine Duke University. He is being honored for his task titled, “Deciphering the Functional Ubiquitinome successful Health and Disease,” which volition survey however ubiquitin signals find neuronal physiology and proteostasis. The Silva lab is funny successful however cells respond to stressors that are communal successful inflammation and diseases. Silva is besides a subordinate of the ASBMB Maximizing Access Committee.

Both investigators prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion arsenic good arsenic grooming the adjacent procreation of scientists astatine their institutions. They person an outstanding way grounds of research, mentoring, teaching, and outreach.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the NASEM are recognizing the Science Diversity Leadership Award recipients for their technological and mentoring achievements. Each grant victor volition person $1.15 cardinal implicit 5 years to enactment probe programs and outreach, mentoring and teaching activities.

Sonenberg named to hallway of fame

Nahum Sonenberg has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for his find the elF4E macromolecule and his enactment to found the tract of translational power successful medicine. 

Sonenberg is simply a prof of biochemistry astatine McGill University. The Sonenberg lab studies the molecular ground of macromolecule synthesis power and its value successful disease. In a caller discovery, the laboratory showed that inhibiting eIF4E phosphorylation reduces tumor maturation and metastasis. Sonenberg is collaborating with the pharmaceutical manufacture to construe this find for usage successful treating patients. In addition, the laboratory examines mechanisms of neuronal translational power of learning and representation and successful neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. 

Sonenberg earned his Ph.D. successful biochemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science In 1976, and past completed postdoctoral grooming astatine the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology successful Nutley, NJ. He has received the Robert L. Noble Prize of the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the Killam Prize for Health Sciences, the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Rosenstiel Award, and the Wolf Prize successful Medicine. In 2006, helium was elected a chap of the Royal Society, and helium was fixed the rubric of Officer of the Order of Canada successful 2010. He is an planetary subordinate of some the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, a chap of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a subordinate of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has mentored much than 160 postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

The six 2023 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame inductees volition beryllium honored successful June during a ceremonial astatine Dalhousie University successful Nova Scotia.