Contact: Ellen Bank
843.792.2626
April 12, 2002
CHARLESTON, SC -- Dr. Roger Markwald of the
Medical University of South Carolina has been awarded the 2002
GovernorÕs Award for Excellence in Science. He was recognized
during a special ceremony at the South Carolina Academy of Science
meeting on April 12 in Aiken.
Markwald is considered around the world by those in the field to
be the major leader in understanding the embryonic development of the
heart.
Each year the GovernorÕs office, the South Carolina Commission
on Higher Education and the South Carolina Academy of Science present
two awards for excellence in science, one for scientific research and
the other for scientific awareness. MarkwaldÕs award was in the
category of scientific research. Previous MUSC winners of the
GovernorÕs Award for Excellence in Science are Harry S. Margolius,
M.D, Ph.D., Makio Ogawa, M.D., Ph.D., Maria G. Buse, M.D., and George
E. Tempel, Ph.D.
Since 1992 Markwald has served as professor and chairman of the
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy and director of the
Cardiovascular Developmental Biology Program at MUSC.
Markwald has built and maintained a world-class research
program at the Medical University. He has received total research
support in the amount of $41 million and is a recipient of a National
Institutes of Health (NIH) MERIT award, the highest distinction one can
receive for research funding from NIH.
Among his research endeavors is a collaborative project between
MUSC and USC to develop a multi-disciplinary center to promote
understanding of the cellular and molecular events leading to
cardiovascular disease. By combining strengths and sharing resources,
the two South Carolina institutions will work together on research
projects which will ultimately improve the understanding and treatment
of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause
of illness and death in the U.S., and takes a disproportionate toll on
South Carolinians.
The GovernorÕs Award for Excellence in Scientific Research
proclamation he received at FridayÕs ceremony recognizes Markwald for
placing ÒSouth Carolina Ôon the mapÕ of cardiovascular development
research.Ó
Editor-in-chief of Anatomical Record, Markwald is a co-author of
Developmental Mechanisms of Heart Disease and Living Morphogenesis of
the Heart. He is a past president of the American Association of
Anatomists and the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Neuroanatomy
Chairmen.
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