Dr. Samie Jaffrey, professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell, has won the 2014 ASBMB Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The award recognizes outstanding research contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology by a scientist with no more than 15 years of postdoctoral experience. The award consists of a plaque, $5,000, transportation and expenses to present a lecture at the society's annual meeting, scheduled for April 26-30, 2014 in San Diego.
"I am honored to receive this recognition for work done by me and my research team," Dr. Jaffrey said. "It would not have been possible without the outstanding graduate students and postdocs who have worked in my lab. I also feel honored to be included among the prominent scientists who have received this award in the past."
"We are extremely proud of Dr. Jaffrey's research contributions, and he is very deserving of this ASBMB Young Investigator Award," said Dr. Lorraine Gudas, chair of the Department of Pharmacology, the Revlon Pharmaceutical Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, professor of pharmacology, professor of pharmacology in medicine, professor of pharmacology in urology and professor of pharmacology in complementary and integrative medicine at Weill Cornell. Dr. Gudas nominated Dr. Jaffrey for the award.
Dr. Jaffrey's research is focused on identifying the roles of RNA regulation in neuronal growth, plasticity and development. To gain that insight, he has developed a tool that images RNA and its functions in cells by causing them to emit a green fluorescent light. More information about Jaffrey's research group at Weill Cornell can be found at http://www.jaffreylab.org.
"These tools are allowing us to understand the inner workings of the cell with a precision that was not previously available, which will provide new insights into cancer and neurological diseases," said Dr. Jaffrey, who will lecture on the topic during the society's annual meeting next year. "I am excited to share my laboratory's work at the annual ASBMB meeting."
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a nonprofit scientific and education organization whose mission is to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology through publication of scientific and education journals, meetings, advocacy, research support and science education.
This is the second major award presented to Dr. Jaffrey in the last three months. In June, Dr. Jaffrey won a Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists from the New York Academy of Sciences. The award showcases scientists who are 42 or younger and work in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut. That award carries a $50,000 unrestricted cash prize made possible by the Blavatnik Family Foundation.