ISSCR-University of Pittsburgh Outstanding Young Investigator Award

The ISSCR-University of Pittsburgh Outstanding Young Investigator Award recognizes the exceptional achievements of an investigator in the early part of his or her independent career in stem cell research who will be honored with the award at the ISSCR 11th Annual Meeting in Boston in June 2013. 

2013 Winner

The ISSCR announces that Marius Wernig, MD, PhD is the recipient of the fifth annual ISSCR-University of Pittsburgh Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 2013. He is recognized for his research demonstrating that previously specified cells have the capacity to be reprogrammed directly to other, distantly related cell types, a discovery that has transformed the field of cellular reprogramming. Dr. Wernig is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University in California, USA, and he will receive his award and present his latest research at the ISSCR 11th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, during Plenary VI on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Criteria:

• Nominees must be five or fewer years out from their first full-time assistant professorship or equivalent position in an academic, industrial or clinical research setting.**
• Nominees must be an ISSCR member in good standing.
• Nominees must be independent investigators conducting original research in basic science or clinical development and translation in the field of stem cell research.
• Nominees must be nominated by two (or more) ISSCR members in good standing.
• Nominees must be available to attend the ISSCR Annual Meeting if they are selected as the award recipient.

Award:

• $7,500 USD personal award plus a complimentary registration to the ISSCR Annual Meeting where they will be honored.
• The award recipient will be honored during a plenary session at the ISSCR Annual Meeting. An ISSCR leader or the recipient’s mentor will have the opportunity to make a formal presentation and reflect on the accomplishments of the recipient. The award recipient will have the opportunity to give a featured presentation.

Nomination Process:

Nominations must be submitted by two or more ISSCR Members in good standing. A single nomination letter signed by two ISSCR Members in good standing is sufficient. Two independent nomination letters may be submitted if preferred. Nomination letters (up to two pages) should provide:

• a statement of up to 100 words highlighting the most important accomplishment of the nominee
• an overview of the nominee’s contributions to the field of stem cell research
• address the nominee’s status as an independent investigator

A copy of the nominee’s CV and listing of up to five of their most relevant publications must also accompany the nomination letter. Include electronic version of these publications where possible.

**Assessment of ‘equivalent position’ is at the discretion of the award selection committee. Comparable titles in the international academic community might include but are not limited to Lecturer, Senior Scientist or Team Leader. Position titles in other research settings such as industry are recognized to be diverse.

Past Winners

	2012 Cédric Blanpain, MD, PhD Université Libre De Bruxelles, Belgium
	2011 Robert Blelloch, MD, PhD University of California, San Francisco, USA
	2010 Joanna Wysocka, PhD Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
	2009 Konrad Hochedlinger, PhD Harvard University Massachusetts General Hospital, USA