Awards - Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research


Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research

Purpose

The Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research provides the opportunity for clinician-investigators who wish to initiate new studies or who are currently conducting promising basic science research in the area of reproductive medicine to continue work on their projects for an additional year. More than one of these awards may be presented annually, as determined by the Board of Trustees.

Eligibility

As this award is intended to support early career development, the applicant must be in the last year of fellowship training or should be junior faculty. If not yet faculty, the individual should have reasonable assurance of such a position within a department of obstetrics and gynecology, as evidenced by a Letter of Endorsement from the department head.

Selection, Presentation, and Terms

Selection of award recipients will be made by a Selection Committee composed of members of the Foundation Board of Trustees.

A one-year scholarship of $50,000 is awarded to the institution in which the award winner is conducting research. The terms of the award mandate that $40,000 of this amount be proffered directly to the Berlex Scholar as a stipend; the remaining $10,000 is designated for laboratory support. It is expected that the candidate will devote a minimum of 50% of his/her time to the research activity. A progress report six months after the receipt of the award and a final year-end report are required.

Application Requirements

Awardees

Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research
Berlex Scholar Award in Clinical Research
Berlex Junior Faculty Development Workshop
Reproductive Scientist Development Program
C.D. Christian Lectureship

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2006 Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science Research Recipient
William H. Catherino, MD
Dept. of Ob/Gyn
Uniformed Services University
Bethesda, MD

It is both an honor and a humbling experience to receive the Berlex Scholar Award in Basic Science. The list of previous awardees is a list of current and future leaders who have made a dramatic impact on our understanding of gynecologic disease. My hope is to add in some small way to the understanding of leiomyoma development.

While leiomyomata are both common and can cause significant morbidity, our understanding of how leiomyomas develop remains limited, as are the therapeutic options. Our previous work demonstrated a molecular link between leiomyomas and keloids that could impact the cellular phenotype through the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFß) signaling pathway. The current work focuses on the impact that TGFß signaling pathway activation has on the production of the excessive extracellular matrix seen in leiomyomas.

By understanding the role that TGFß plays in leiomyoma development and propagation, we may find novel therapies that treat leiomyomas without limiting future fertility options.