ASHG Announces 2024 Professional Award Winners

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 10:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

Media Contact: Kara Flynn, (202) 257-8424, press@ashg.org

Rockville, Md. – The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) congratulates the recipients of the ASHG 2024 professional awards, honoring outstanding scientific achievements in genetics and genomics education, mentoring and application of research for the common good. This year, eight recipients are recognized including two individual honors for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“This year’s ASHG awardees are highly gifted researchers with diverse skills across the field of human genetics and genomics and model the way for the next generation of scientists,” said ASHG President, Bruce D. Gelb, MD. “Their dedication, innovation, and pursuit of science are what we can all strive towards. We congratulate all the winners on their outstanding achievements.”

ASHG will recognize this year’s award winners during awards ceremonies at its annual meeting on November 6-8, 2024 in Denver, Colo. Awardee profiles are also highlighted on the ASHG website. This year’s honorees are:

ASHG Lifetime Achievement Award: Two Awardees

The ASHG Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes substantial and far-reaching scientific contributions to human genetics. This year, two ASHG members are recognized: Dr. Lupski and Dr. Pericak-Vance.

James R. Lupski, MD, PhD, DSc

Dr. Lupski is the Cullen Endowed Chair in Genetics & Genomics and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas. He is recognized for groundbreaking contributions to foundational discoveries of mechanisms for Structural Variant mutagenesis and truly novel approaches for explaining gene dosage effects and genetic conditions using the emerging human genome sequence. Learn more about Dr. Lupski’s work.

Margaret A. Pericak-Vance, PhD

Dr. Pericak-Vance is Director of the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami. She is board certified in Medical Genetics and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Her research focuses on mapping Mendelian and complex genetic disorders. She led the multidisciplinary team that identified APOE-4 as a common genetic risk variant for Alzheimer disease. She has received numerous awards including the “Louis D” Scientific Prize from the Institut de France’s Academie des Sciences for her Alzheimer disease research. Learn more about Dr. Pericak-Vance’s work.

ASHG Leadership Award

Cynthia Morton, PhD

The ASHG Leadership Award recognizes leadership and vision in advancing the ASHG mission through promotion of genetics and genomics knowledge into the broader scientific community. Dr. Morton is the William Lambert Richardson Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, and the Kenneth J. Ryan, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Cytogenetics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She is recognized for her trailblazing research leading to identification of HMGA2, the first gene implicated in uterine fibroids. Her research has focused on finding genes predisposing women to develop uterine fibroids as well as genes involved in human development and deafness. Learn more about Dr. Morton’s work.

ASHG Scientific Achievement Award

Nadav Ahituv, PhD

The ASHG Scientific Achievement Award recognizes genetics and genomics researchers who have made significant scientific contributions during the past decade. Dr. Ahituv is a professor in the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and the director of the Institute for Human Genetics at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ahituv is recognized for his extensive collaborative research that has led to scientific advances in genomic technologies and gene therapy that have the potential to revolutionize human genetics and the treatment of genetic and genomic disorders. Learn more about Dr. Ahituv’s work.

ASHG Early Career Award

Loïc Yengo, PhD

The ASHG Early Career Award recognizes early career independent investigators whose work has had a significant impact on the field of human genetics. Dr. Yengo is an associate professor and director of the Statistical Genomics Laboratory at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. Yengo is recognized for his innovative ideas and impactful research including notable contributions to the discovery of genes responsible for inter-individual variation in complex traits such as human height and risk of common disease. Learn more about Dr. Yengo’s work.

ASHG Advocacy Award

: Vence L. Bonham, Jr., JD Vence L. Bonham, Jr., JD

The ASHG Advocacy Award honors excellence and achievement in promoting the science of human genetics and its application for the common good. Mr. Bonham is the acting deputy director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Mr. Bonham is recognized for his work to advance health equity and workforce diversity in the field of genetics and genomics. Learn more about Mr. Bonham’s work.

ASHG Education Award

Ada Hamosh, MD, MPH

The ASHG Education Award recognizes outstanding contributions to human genetics education. Dr. Hamosh is the Frank V. Sutland Professor of Genetics in the Departments of Genetic Medicine and Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. Dr. Hamosh is recognized for the creation of widely used educational resources for geneticists, physicians and patients around the world. Learn more about Dr. Hamosh’s work.

ASHG Mentorship Award

Gail Jarvik, MD, PhD

The ASHG Mentorship Award recognizes ASHG members who have shown a sustained pattern of exemplary mentorship at the graduate student, postdoctoral, residency, or fellowship level. Dr. Jarvik is the Arno G. Motulsky Endowed Chair in Medicine, Joint Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences and Division Head, Division of Medical Genetics, at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. In addition to her many scientific accolades, Dr. Jarvik is recognized for demonstrating how to be a collegial collaborator who consistently advocates for others. She has created a positive culture, mentoring 30 pre-doctoral trainees across six departments, including a number of well-respected scientists from around the country. Learn more about Dr. Jarvik’s work.

Press registration for the ASHG 2024 Annual Meeting on, November 5-9 in Denver, Colo. is now open. Please visit ASHG’s website for more information on the Meeting.

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About the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)

Founded in 1948, the American Society of Human Genetics is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide. Its community of nearly 8,000 members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses, and others with an interest in human genetics. The Society serves scientists, health professionals, and the public by providing forums to: (1) share research results through the ASHG Annual Meeting and in The American Journal of Human Genetics and Human Genetics and Genomics Advances; (2) advance genetic research by advocating for research support; (3) educate current and future genetics professionals, health care providers, advocates, policymakers, educators, students, and the public about all aspects of human genetics; and (4) promote genetic services and support responsible social and scientific policies. For more information, visit: http://wptest.ashg.org.