image: Jeremy D. Walston, MD, of Johns Hopkins University
to receive AFAR 2024 Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction
Credit: AFAR
New York, NY – The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), is pleased to recognize the exemplary contributions of Jeremy D. Walston, MD, to the field of aging research through the 2024 Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction. This award is named in honor of AFAR’s founder and recognizes exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging. Established in 1982, the award is a framed citation and carries a cash prize of $5,000.
Dr. Walston, the Raymond and Anna Lublin Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), holds multiple leadership roles at JHU, including Director of the Human Aging Project, Co-Director of the Biology of Healthy Aging Program, and Multiple Principal Investigator of the AI and Technology Collaboratory for Aging. He also serves as Chair of the Research and Dissemination Core of the Clin-STAR Coordinating Center, a National Institute on Aging (NIA) initiative managed by AFAR. Dr. Walston’s research, which bridges clinical and basic science, is centered on frailty, resilience, and the interface of mitochondrial biology with chronic inflammation and age-related changes. His physical frailty measurement tool has become a gold standard in thousands of studies and is increasingly applied in clinical practice to improve risk assessment and care planning for older adults.
"Dr. Walston’s pioneering work has not only advanced geriatric medicine but has also inspired research across diverse specialties," said Stephanie Lederman, EdM, Executive Director of AFAR. "His impact on gerontology, research education, and clinical practice makes him an exceptional recipient of the Irving S. Wright Award."
AFAR’s Scientific Awards of Distinction, which also include the Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research, the Terrie Fox Wetle Rising Star Award in Health Services and Aging Research, and the George M. Martin Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award, are judged by a panel of leading aging researchers.
“It is an honor to receive this award, named for a pioneering geriatrician who helped shape the field of aging research,” said Dr. Walston. “I am deeply committed to helping us all live healthier, longer lives and humbled to join the distinguished ranks of past awardees.”
Dr. Walston will accept the award at AFAR’s ceremony during the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Seattle, WA, on Friday, November 14, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm PT. He will also present a lecture on his research titled “Physical Frailty in Older Adults: What Drives and Prevents It?”
Learn more about AFAR’s Scientific Awards of Distinction here.
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About AFAR - The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is a national non-profit organization that supports and advances pioneering biomedical research that is revolutionizing how we live healthier and longer. For more than four decades, AFAR has served as the field’s talent incubator, providing $212,500,000 to 4,460 investigators at premier research institutions to date—and growing. In 2024, AFAR expects to provide approximately $12,270,00 to 60 investigators. A trusted leader and strategist, AFAR also works with public and private funders to steer high quality grant programs and inter-disciplinary research networks. AFAR-funded researchers are finding that modifying basic cellular processes can delay—or even prevent—many chronic diseases, often at the same time. They are discovering that it is never too late—or too early—to improve health. This groundbreaking science is paving the way for innovative new therapies that promise to improve and extend our quality of life—at any age. Learn more at www.afar.org