Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research

Prestigious award in medical research

The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research is a prestigious award given annually to scientists who have made significant contributions to the understanding of basic biological processes. It is one of the four awards presented by the Lasker Foundation, and it is often regarded as a precursor to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

History

The award was established in 1946 by Albert Lasker and his wife Mary Woodard Lasker, who were prominent figures in the field of medical research advocacy. The Lasker Awards were created to recognize the contributions of scientists, clinicians, and public servants who have made major advances in medical science.

Criteria

The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research is awarded to individuals who have made fundamental discoveries that open new fields of biomedical science. The award recognizes work that has provided new insights into biological processes and has the potential to improve human health.

Notable Recipients

Many recipients of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize. Some notable recipients include:

• Selman Waksman, who was awarded for his discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis.
• Marshall Nirenberg, who was recognized for his work on the genetic code and its function in protein synthesis.
• Rita Levi-Montalcini, who was honored for her discovery of nerve growth factor.
• Aaron Ciechanover, who received the award for his role in the discovery of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.

Impact

The Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research has had a significant impact on the field of biomedical research. It has helped to highlight groundbreaking discoveries and has encouraged further research and innovation. The award has also played a role in raising public awareness of the importance of medical research.

Related pages

• Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award
• Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award
• Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Gallery

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  Selman Waksman
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  Marshall Nirenberg
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  Rita Levi-Montalcini
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  Aaron Ciechanover

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  Selman Waksman, recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
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  Marshall Nirenberg, recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
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  Rita Levi-Montalcini, recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research
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  Aaron Ciechanover, recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research