NIDDK Awardees
We are proud of the scientific contributions that all of our scientists and grantees have made and continue to make.
2020s
Dr. Gary Ruvkun
2024—Dr. Gary Ruvkun, an NIDDK grantee, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with NIH grantee Dr. Victor Ambros for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a new principle of gene regulation that is essential in multicellular organisms, including humans.
Drs. Joel Habener and Svetlana Mojsov
2024—NIDDK grantees Drs. Joel Habener and Svetlana Mojsov were honored with the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award along with another scientist for their role in the discovery and development of GLP-1-based drugs that have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and have the potential to dramatically enhance health.
2010s
Dr. Adriaan Bax
2018—Dr. Adriaan “Ad” Bax, a section chief in NIDDK’s Laboratory of Chemical Physics, received the Robert A. Welch Award in Chemistry for contributions to transforming NMR spectroscopy for the study of the structure and dynamics of biological macromolecules.
Dr. Gregg L. Semenza
2016—NIDDK grantee Dr. Gregg L. Semenza shared the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award with NIH grantee Dr. William G. Kaelin Jr. and another scientist for their discovery of the pathway by which cells from humans and most animals sense and adapt to changes in oxygen availability. And in 2019, the three scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability.
Dr. James Rothman
2013—NIDDK grantee Dr. James Rothman shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with fellow NIH grantees Drs. Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells.
Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz
2012—Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz, who trained at NIDDK as a clinical associate in the Clinical Endocrinology Branch, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of G-protein-coupled receptors that help the body’s cells sense and respond to chemical signals.
Dr. Thomas E. Starzl
2012—Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, a longtime NIDDK grantee and “the father of modern transplantation,” received the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award along with another scientist for their work on liver transplants, an intervention that has restored normal life to thousands of people with end-stage liver disease.
Dr. Bruce Beutler
2011—NIDDK grantee Dr. Bruce Beutler shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with NIH grantee Dr. Jules Hoffman for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity. NIH grantee Dr. Ralph Steinman also shared the award posthumously for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity.
Dr. Jeffrey Friedman and Dr. Douglas Coleman
2010—NIDDK grantee Dr. Jeffrey Friedman and former grantee Dr. Douglas Coleman won the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for discovering the hormone leptin, which plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure.
2000s
Dr. Oliver Smithies
2007—Institute grantee Dr. Oliver Smithies shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other scientists for discovering principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by using embryonic stem cells.
Dr. Irwin A. Rose and Dr. Avram Hershko
2004—Longtime NIDDK grantees Drs. Irwin A. Rose and Avram Hershko shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with another scientist for discovering ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation inside the cell.
Dr. Richard Axel
2004—Dr. Richard Axel, once an intramural research fellow under NIDDK’s Dr. Gary Felsenfeld, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another scientist for discovering a large family of receptors selectively expressed in cells that detect specific odors.
Dr. Peter Agre
2003—NIDDK grantee Dr. Peter Agre shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with another scientist for studies of channels in cell membranes. Agre discovered aquaporins, proteins that move water molecules through the cell membrane.
1990s
Dr. Ferid Murad
1998—Institute grantee Dr. Ferid Murad shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other scientists for work demonstrating that the gas nitric oxide plays a role as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system.
Dr. Paul D. Boyer
1997—Institute grantee Dr. Paul D. Boyer won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering how the enzyme ATP synthase drives the formation of ATP, the carrier of energy for cells in all living things.
Dr. Martin Rodbell and Dr. Alfred G. Gilman
1994—Drs. Martin Rodbell and Alfred G. Gilman received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering G-proteins, a key component in the signaling system that regulates cellular activity. Dr. Rodbell discovered the signal transmission function of GTP while a researcher at NIDDK, then named NIAMD.
Dr. Edwin G. Krebs and Dr. Edmond H. Fischer
1992—Institute grantees Drs. Edwin G. Krebs and Edmond H. Fischer were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on reversible protein phosphorylation. At the time of the award, the scientists had been receiving continuous NIDDK grant support since 1951 and 1956, respectively.
Dr. E. Donnall Thomas
1990—Institute grantee Dr. E. Donnall Thomas shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another NIH grantee for pioneering transplant therapy. Thomas’ early advances in bone marrow transplantation have aided patients with leukemia and many other diseases.
1980s
Dr. Harold E. Varmus
1989—Former Institute intramural researcher Dr. Harold E. Varmus shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another former NIH scientist. They demonstrated that oncogenes, genes capable of converting normal cells into cancerous ones, can arise from normal cellular genes. Varmus later served as NIH Director from 1993 to 1999.
Dr. Marshall W. Nirenberg
1986—Dr. Marshall W. Nirenberg of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other scientists. Dr. Nirenberg reported his celebrated partial cracking of the genetic code while a scientist at NIAMD, a precursor to NIDDK.
Dr. Michael S. Brown
1985—Former Institute intramural researcher Dr. Michael S. Brown shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another former NIH scientist for studies on cholesterol metabolism regulation that have led to new treatments for atherosclerosis.
Dr. Herbert A. Hauptman
1985—Institute grantee Dr. Herbert A. Hauptman shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with another scientist for creating methods to determine crystal structures. The methods advanced the development of practical instruments for learning the three-dimensional shape of molecules.
Dr. Bruce Merrifield
1984—Institute grantee Dr. R. Bruce Merrifield won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for development of solid-phase peptide synthesis.
Dr. Elizabeth Neufeld
1982—Dr. Elizabeth Neufeld, chief of the then-named NIADDK’s genetics and biochemistry branch, received the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award. She was cited, along with Dr. Roscoe O. Brady of the then-named National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, for their contributions to the understanding and diagnosis of inherited diseases called mucopolysaccharide storage disorders.
Dr. Walter Gilbert
1980—Institute grantee Dr. Walter Gilbert shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with another scientist for their contributions to determining base sequences in DNA.
Dr. Joseph E. Rall
1980—Dr. Joseph E. Rall, director of intramural research at the then-named NIAMDD, became the first person at the NIH to be named the distinguished executive rank in the Senior Executive Service. President Jimmy Carter presented the award in ceremonies at the White House on September 9.
1970s
Dr. Roger C.L. Guillemin and Dr. Andrew V. Schally
1977—Institute grantees Drs. Roger C.L. Guillemin and Andrew V. Schally shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with a third scientist. Guillemin’s and Schally’s prizes were for discoveries related to the brain’s production of peptide hormones.
Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg
1976—Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another scientist for their research on infectious diseases. Dr. Blumberg discovered the hepatitis B virus protein, the “Australia antigen,” in 1963 while at the Institute. This advance became a scientific and clinical landmark in detecting and controlling viral hepatitis and led to the development of preventive measures against hepatitis and liver cancer.
Dr. Christian B. Anfinsen
1972—Dr. Christian B. Anfinsen, chief of the Institute’s Laboratory of Chemical Biology, shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with two other American scientists for demonstrating one of the most important simplifying concepts of molecular biology: that the three-dimensional conformation of a native protein is determined by the chemistry of its amino acid sequence. A significant part of the research cited by the award was performed while Anfinsen was with the NIH.
Dr. Gerald M. Edelman
1972—Institute grantee Dr. Gerald M. Edelman won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for studies of the chemical structure of antibodies that led to a better understanding of the immune system.
Dr. Earl W. Sutherland, Jr.
1971—Institute grantee Dr. Earl W. Sutherland, Jr. won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his findings on the mechanisms of hormone action. His work greatly advanced the field of endocrinology.
1960s
Dr. Charles B. Huggins
1966—Institute grantee Dr. Charles B. Huggins shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries concerning the hormonal treatment of prostate cancer.
Dr. Robert S. Woodward
1965—Institute grantee Dr. Robert S. Woodward won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the art of organic synthesis. Among the many compounds he synthesized were quinine, cholesterol, cortisone, and chlorophyll.
Dr. James D. Watson
1962—Institute grantee Dr. James D. Watson received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with two other scientists for discovering that DNA’s structure is a double helix. This was a landmark finding of the 20th century, and it opened the field of modern genetics.
Dr. John Kendrew
1962—Institute grantee Dr. John Kendrew shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He discovered the molecular structure of myoglobin, a form of the blood protein hemoglobin found in muscle.
1950s
Dr. Arthur Kornberg
1959—Dr. Arthur Kornberg, former chief of the Institute’s enzyme and metabolism section, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with another scientist for synthesizing nucleic acid.
Dr. Dickinson W. Richards
1956—Institute grantee Dr. Dickinson W. Richards, Jr. shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with two other scientists. They developed heart catheterization techniques to study and diagnose circulatory disorders.
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