News Release

Thursday, July 9, 2009

A Statement from the Acting NIH Director, Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., Regarding the 2008 NIH-Supported Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Recipients

"These 12 NIH-supported PECASE winners are a source of great pride for the agency. Early in their research careers, these individuals have already shown exceptional potential for scientific leadership. We can only look forward to greater discovery and contribution by these gifted biomedical researchers."

Eleven NIH grantees and one intramural scientist have been selected by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to be among this year's 100 researchers to receive this Presidential award, the nation’s highest honor for scientists at the outset of their professional careers. Since the program began in 1996, NIH has now funded a total of 153 PECASE recipients. A complete list of NIH-supported PECASE recipients and program information is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/pecase.htm. Awardees will be honored by President Barack Obama at a White House Ceremony later this year.

The White House announcement is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/PRESIDENT-HONORS-OUTSTANDING-EARLY-CAREER-SCIENTISTS.

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available athttp://www.nih.gov/icd/od.

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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