annual report 2011 - Office for Research - Northwestern University

4 Annual Report 2011 | Vice President’s Letter
Faculty Excellence
None of our research would be possible, of course, without the inspiration and guidance
provided by Northwestern’s world-class faculty. This excellence is recognized not only within the
Northwestern community but also by professional peers. One shining example is Tobin Marks,
chemistry and materials science and engineering, a world leader in the �elds of organometallic
chemistry, chemical catalysis, materials science, organic electronics, solar energy, photovoltaics,
and nanotechnology. The depth and breadth of his work as well as his innovation have been
recognized in the last year alone by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, the American
Chemical Society, and the Indian Academy of Sciences. In particular, the Dreyfus Prize in the
Chemical Sciences is a singular recognition given biennially by the Dreyfus Foundation and this
year conferred in catalysis. Recognizing exceptional and original research in a selected area of
chemistry that has advanced the �eld in major ways, the prize is considered one of the most
signi�cant US awards for chemical sciences. Our heartfelt congratulations to Tobin.
Another major award was recently conferred on Carla Pugh, surgery. She received a Presidential
Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for her novel research to develop the
physical tests that measure medical students’ and physicians’ ability to perform physical exams.
The PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the US government on science and engineering
professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Last year’s PECASE
awardees also included Malcolm MacIver, mechanical and biomedical engineering, and Emily
Weiss, chemistry. You can read more about Pugh’s work on page 48.
More evidence of excellence is the award given to Thomas J. Hope, cell and molecular biology,
to develop a new concept for a mucosal antibody-based HIV vaccine. A $5.5 million grant was
given under the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD), a program supported by the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The proposed vaccine potentially could prevent humans from
contracting the virus by altering the virus’s ability to reach those cells that typically harbor it.
Hope currently leads a team of experts from Northwestern, Harvard University, the University of
North Carolina, and the US Military HIV Research Program. This diverse team will continue to aid
him in his goal—and further humanity’s progress toward limiting the spread of this disease. Read
more about his research on page 36.
Another award, the prestigious Grand Challenges in Global Health Explorations Grant, was given
by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Linda J. Broadbelt and Keith E. J. Tyo, both chemical
and biological engineering, for an innovative project that seeks to signi�cantly decrease the
price of drugs that treat HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. The two are working to develop novel
biosynthetic processes for making important drugs that are too expensive to be purchased in
resource-poor countries. More e�cient biosynthetic production could dramatically expand the
use of these drugs in poor countries and reduce the mortality and spread of diseases. Their work is
a good example of synthetic biology put to society-changing use.
The above is but a sampling of the most recent major awards. You can read the complete list of
last year’s faculty recognition and honors beginning on page 10.