From left to right: Robert Yarchoan, M.D., Elaine Jaffe, M.D., Louis Staudt, M.D., Ph.D.
In September 2023, three CCR researchers were honored with Departmental Awards from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These awards celebrate scientists and administrators for their exceptional contributions to the CCR and HHS mission.
Elaine S. Jaffe, M.D., NIH Distinguished Investigator in the Laboratory of Pathology, received the Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service. This award recognizes HHS employees for their achievements and for inspiring others in the field to improve their own performance. Jaffe is being honored for her pioneering advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with hematological neoplasms. She revolutionized the integration of traditional pathological methods with immunologic and genomic approaches, improved diagnosis methods for lymphoma and leukemia, and described multiple new disease entities. Her work has advanced clinical practice and management for numerous patients with blood cancers.
Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, received the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service. This award is the highest honor granted by the Department, and it recognizes employees for their sustained excellence throughout their career at HHS. Since joining NCI in 1988, Staudt revolutionized the molecular diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based on genetic analyses. He created a new taxonomy that resolved seven genetic subtypes of the disease, providing new insights into DLBCL pathogenesis and its response to therapy. He also showed that certain DLBCL patients have exceptional responses to the ibrutinib inhibitor, which improved treatment possibilities for the disease.
Robert Yarchoan, M.D., Chief of the HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, received the HHS Career Achievement Award. This award recognizes HHS employees with ten or more years at HHS for their dedication to the Department. During his time here, Yarchoan has played a major role in developing the first effective drugs for AIDS, developing effective therapies for HIV-associated malignancies and overseeing AIDS research throughout the NCI. His work has led to the saving of millions of life-years, the end of HIV transmission from mother to child at birth and improved therapy for HIV-associated cancers.
Visit the HHS Departmental Awards page for more information on all awardees.