News Release

Monday, December 17, 2007

NIDDK's Director Honored by Hematology Society

Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., M.A.C.P., director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, received the American Society of Hematology's Outstanding Service Award on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the group's annual meeting in Atlanta. An estimated 20,000 physicians and scientists attended the meeting.

The Outstanding Service Award recognizes Dr. Rodgers' significant contributions to hematology, particularly in the areas of genetic diseases, molecular genetics of human blood cells (hemoglobins), and human blood cell development (hematopoiesis), according to the society. He is also being honored for efforts to increase the number of minority scholars focusing on hematology and for becoming the first hematologist to direct NIDDK, established in 1950.

"Griff Rodgers is an outstanding physician-scientist and molecular hematologist. He's internationally recognized for contributions to the development of effective therapy for sickle cell anemia and other genetic diseases of hemoglobin, and he is also an accomplished scientific leader and mentor," said NIH Director Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.

"It is an honor to recognize Dr. Rodgers for his strong dedication to improving the understanding and treatment of blood disorders," said ASH President Andrew I. Schafer, M.D., of New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a component of the NIH, conducts and supports research in diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutrition, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. Spanning the full spectrum of medicine and afflicting people of all ages and ethnic groups, these diseases encompass some of the most common, severe, and disabling conditions affecting Americans. For more information about NIDDK and its programs, see www.niddk.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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