The Lasker Foundation has announced the winners of its 2024 Lasker Awards in biomedical research, with three National Academy of Medicine (NAM) members among the awardees.
Zhijian (James) Chen was honored with the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for “the discovery of the cGAS enzyme that senses foreign and self DNA, solving the mystery of how DNA stimulates immune and inflammatory responses.” Chen was elected to the NAM in 2022 and to the National Academy of Sciences in 2014.
Quarraisha Abdool Karim and Salim S. Abdool Karim were honored with the Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award for “for illuminating key drivers of heterosexual HIV transmission; introducing life-saving approaches to prevent and treat HIV; and statesmanship in public health policy and advocacy.” Quarraisha Abdool Karim was elected to the NAM in 2014, and Salim S. Abdool Karim was elected to the NAM in 2012.
