Jonathan G. Seidman
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) today announced that Christine Seidman and Jonathan Seidman are the recipients of the 2026 David and Beatrix Hamburg Award for Advances in Biomedical Research and Clinical Medicine for their fundamental contributions over the past three decades in the field of cardiovascular genetics that have advanced clinical management of genetic heart diseases. The award, which recognizes their achievements with a medal and $50,000, will be presented at the NAM’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 18. Elected to the NAM in 1999, Christine Seidman is the Thomas W. Smith Professor of Medicine and Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham Hospital. Elected to the NAM in 2007, Jonathan Seidman is the Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Professor of Cardiovascular Genetics, Harvard Medical School.
Causes and mechanisms for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — affecting potentially 1 in 200 to 1 in 500 people worldwide — remained unknown until the Seidmans combined clinical analyses of affected families with genome-wide linkage analyses and sequencing to discover the genetic mutations. The identification of disease-causing mutations enabled gene-based diagnosis of patients and relatives at risk for developing cardiomyopathy. Genetic discoveries also allowed the development of models and mechanistic studies. Insights from these fundamental findings led to rapid advances in modern clinical management, including genetic therapies.
In addition to their pioneering work to understand the biology of HCM they subsequently discovered specific suppressors of disease manifestations that have directly led to substantial reduction in symptoms for the most severely affected patients. The class of drugs that the Seidmans’ work has brought to the clinic has improved the lives of thousands of patients. In their lab at Harvard Medical School, the Seidmans have also trained many investigators in cardiac and vascular biology who have gone on to make major contributions to cardiovascular research.
Christine Seidman
“Christine and Jonathan Seidman’s seminal discoveries in cardiovascular genetics have not only enabled the identification of genetic risk and vast improvement of care for people with heart muscle diseases but also established a foundation for developing genetic therapies,” said NAM President Monica M. Bertagnolli. “The Seidmans’ groundbreaking research, coupled with their dedication to training and mentorship of the next generation of investigators in their lab, make them most deserving of this prestigious recognition.”
Created in 2021, this award is named for David Hamburg, who was president of the Institute of Medicine from 1975-1980, and Beatrix Hamburg, an NAM member and expert in child and adolescent behavioral health. The award is funded by an endowment established in 2004 in honor of the Hamburgs’ life and legacy.
The David and Beatrix Hamburg Award for Advances in Biomedical Research and Clinical Medicine recognizes an exceptional biomedical research discovery, translation, or public health intervention by one or more scientists that has fundamentally enriched the understanding of biology and disease, leading to a significant improvement in human health and social well-being and reduction in global health inequities. Nominees are eligible for consideration without regard to education or profession, and award recipients are selected by a committee of experts convened by the National Academy of Medicine. The selection committee is chaired by Eric N. Olson, professor and chairman, department of molecular biology; director, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine; and the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science and Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
