The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has chosen Nancy L. Pedersen of Sweden's Karolinska Institutet to receive its 2007 Award for the Distinguished Career Contribution to Gerontology. This prize is given annually to an individual whose theoretical contributions have helped bring about a new synthesis and perspective or have yielded original and elegant research designs addressing a significant problem in the literature.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 60th Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 16th - 20th, 2007 in San Francisco, CA. The actual conferral will occur on Sunday the 18th at 11:45 a.m. at the Hilton San Francisco. The convention is organized to foster interdisciplinary interactions among clinical, administrative, and research professionals who specialize in the study of the aging process.
Pedersen has been a pioneer in the application of behavioral genetics approaches to the study of aging. As head of the Swedish Twin Registry, she has played a crucial role in organizing and facilitating several of the best studies in the world that address the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in aging.
To be eligible for the Career Contribution Award, papers must have been published within the past five years by a GSA member in the Behavior and Social Sciences section.
The Gerontological Society of America is the nation's oldest and largest multidisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society - and its 5,000+ members - is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public.