In recognition of a lifetime of achievement in lupus research, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) presented David Isenberg, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.A.M.S., the prestigious 2010 Evelyn V. Hess, M.D., M.A.C.P., M.A.C.R., Research Award during a reception held last night in his honor and hosted by the LFA's National Board of Directors. Dr. Isenberg is the Arthritis Research Campaign's (ARC's) Diamond Jubilee Professor of Rheumatology at University College London.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Isenberg has cared for more than 500 people with lupus at the Lupus Clinic in the University College Hospital in London. As chair of the British Isles Assessment Group, Dr. Isenberg was responsible for developing a clinical disease activity index used around the world for people with lupus. He was elected to fellowships at both the Royal College of Physicians and the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Dr. Isenberg is widely recognized for his basic and clinical research. He has been published in over 400 original articles, over 200 reviews and chapters, and has written and/or edited 17 books. Dr. Isenberg served as chair of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics group (SLICC) from 1998 to 2003, and remains a very active member of this group. From 2004 to 2006, Dr. Isenberg also served as the president of the British Society for Rheumatology.

The LFA established this annual award in 2005 to honor Dr. Evelyn V. Hess for her outstanding contributions to lupus research over the course of her long and distinguished career.

The LFA also presented Sasha Bernatsky, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor at McGill University, with the 2010 Mary Betty Stevens, M.D., Young Investigator Prize. The Mary Betty Stevens, M.D., Young Investigator Prize is awarded annually in recognition of the exceptional achievements of an investigator in the early part of his or her career in lupus research, and as a tribute to Dr. Stevens' significant contributions to lupus research.

Dr. Bernatsky has focused much of her research on cancer, mortality, and other outcomes in people with lupus. Her publication list includes 81 peer-reviewed papers and 9 invited reviews. She is a Scholar of the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN), and a member of many research networks including CAN, CaNIOS, and the international research network SLICC.

Source:
LFA National Research Program