Hannun receives governor's award in
science
by Cindy AbolePublic Relations
Yusuf A. Hannun, M.D., Ralph F. Hirschmann Chair professor and distinguished university professor of Biomedical Research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received the 2006 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Science May 17 in Columbia. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford presented the award during a reception and luncheon honoring Hannun and other statewide honorees recognized for their achievements and contributions to science this year.
Dr. Yusuf Hannun,
right, accepts the 2006 Governors' Award for Excellence in Science from
Gov. Mark Sanford May 17.Hannun, who follows several MUSC faculty that were recognized with this award, was notified in February. He joins other distinguished fellow faculty members including Harry S. Margollus, M.D., Ph.D., Pharmacology; Makio Ogawa, M.D., Department of Medicine; and Maria G. Buse, M.D., Endocrinology, Diabetes and Medical Genetics. Hannun received a plaque and governor’s citation plus a framed award certificate for the honor.
“It is an honor and privilege to receive this award,” said Hannun. “The award is very gratifying on multiple levels. First, it validates the work that our research group has been doing for many years involving many students, post-doc fellows, plus other collaborators and colleagues. It is this team work that has gotten us to where we are today as a group. It is also important for MUSC that many senior level scientists have been recognized with this excellence in scientific research award. It shows that MUSC is a beacon of the most sophisticated, advanced science in the state. The various awardees come from various scientific disciplines and not just biomedical research.”
An internationally known researcher in the area of sphingolipids, protein kinases, and signal transduction, Hannun joined MUSC in 1998 as chair of the Department of biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He also serves as deputy director of the Hollings Cancer Center.
“Dr. Hannun, by receiving this award, succeeds three other distinguished MUSC scientists,” said John Raymond, M.D., vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost. “His novel contributions to science in the field of lipid biology are matched by his commitment to collaboration and mentorship, university service, and insightful leadership. He is a remarkable individual who has been the driving force of an outstanding group of scientists who have made critical discoveries relevant to aging, cancer, heart disease, and neurological diseases. MUSC is fortunate that he has made so many contributions to science and our state while at MUSC.”
Hannun received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut and completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology and did postgraduate work in chemistry at Duke University where he also held faculty positions. Hannun received numerous national scientific and professional honors and currently holds multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and other resources. He is co-investigator of the five-year, $10.9-million Center for Biomedical Research Excellence in Lipidomics and Pathobiology (COBRE) grant helping scientists gain a better understanding and knowledge of the relationship with fatty molecules and human disease.
“The governor’s award highlights a commitment towards success in research as well as a related award leading to science awareness in the state,” Hannun said. “It exemplifies a very productive coming together of academia, industry, and government. One only wishes that it is compounded and grows beyond this award to other areas of support of research and community for scientists and research, too. It is important to celebrate our institution’s successes because it sends the right signal. It is especially significant when that positiveness transmits to junior faculty, undergraduate and even high school students and extends to our communities so they learn how to appreciate science.”
The award, which is jointly sponsored by the governor’s office and the South Carolina Academy of Science along with other statewide corporations and businesses, was established in 1985 in partnership with the Drug Science Foundation to recognize statewide individual or team achievements in science.
Hannun joined three other scientists-researchers recognized for their contributions: Omar Bagasra, Ph.D., and Rebecca Bullard-Dillard, Ph.D., Claflin University, Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Awareness, and Karen Burg, Ph.D., Clemson University, Governor’s Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research.
Friday, June 2, 2006
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at
792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to
catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island
papers at 849-1778, ext. 201.