News Release

APS announces the winners of its 2004 postdoctoral fellowship in physiological genomics

Grant and Award Announcement

American Physiological Society

August 11, 2004 - Bethesda, Md. - The American Physiological Society (APS) has announced the winners of its 2004 Postdoctoral Fellowships in Physiological Genomics. The two-year award will provide funds totaling $73,000 to each of the two winning scientists including stipend and a mini research grant for each year. Winners of the 2004 APS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physiological Genomics are:

Matthew R. Jones, Ph.D. – Harvard School of Public Health

Dr. Jones' research centers on determining how immune cells and lung cells communicate with each other to fight off infection and protect the lungs. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an intercellular mediator that is essential to overcoming pneumonia infections. With APS funding, he and his colleagues will investigate how IL-6 is made and how it directs gene expression, immunity, and physiology in the lungs.

Takuya Sakaguchi, Ph.D. – University of California, San Francisco

Dr. Sakaguchi's research focus is the molecular mechanism underlying liver formation (organogenesis). Though the liver is one of the major digestive organs vital to human physiology, the mechanism underlying liver organogenesis is largely unknown. He is now using a forward genetic approach in zebrafish to identify new factors that are key to liver organogenesis. This study will shed new light on liver development and will likely contribute to the future of liver regeneration technology.

The aim of the APS Postdoctoral Fellowship is to advance the study of physiological genomics by furthering understanding of the human genome in the context of the whole body. The Fellowship was established to provide training that enables outstanding young scientists to combine the tools of cellular and molecular biology in the setting of the whole animal. Through these fellowships, awarded annually since 1995, APS has contributed more than $1 million to physiological genomics research.

For more information about APS and its Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physiological Genomics go to http://www.the-aps.org/awards/student.htm#Postdoc or contact Stacy Brooks at 301-634-7253 or sbrooks@the-aps.org.

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The American Physiological Society is a non-profit, professional society that seeks to integrate the life sciences from molecule to organism. The Society is dedicated to fostering research, education and the dissemination of information about the function of the body and its organ systems. Through its journals, meetings and professional development awards, APS plays an essential role in the advancement of knowledge toward the understanding of basic biological function in living organisms. In May 2004, APS won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).

Founded in 1887, APS membership now includes more than 10,000 professionals in science and medicine.


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