Past Gala Awardees
2021 SPEAK UP FOR RESEARCH GALA - HONORED GUESTS
In 2021 the Board of NWABR decided to present its Alvin J. Thompson Award to the entire Biomedical Research community in the Northwest. This Award is being presented in this manner to recognize the pivotal role that Northwest researchers and institutions have played as they have focused their efforts on the Coronavirus pandemic.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, who was herself a researcher in her early career, received this Award on behalf of the community.
The 2021 Gala was recorded and you can view the event with this YouTube link: Gala Recording
2020 SPEAK UP FOR RESEARCH GALA - HONORED GUESTS
- The Alvin J. Thompson Award: in 2020 this award was given to Dr. Carla Greenbaum. This Award reflects the recipients high standing in the life science community with engagement in cutting edge research alongside a commitment to ethical research practices and the advancement of public trust in research. Read more about Carla's work here.
- The Buster and Nancy D. Alvord Award: in 2020 this award was given to Dr. William Hagopian. This Award reflects the recipients' role as an advocate, educator, or donor in support of the local biomedical research community. Read more about Bill's work here.
2019 SPEAK UP FOR RESEARCH Gala - HONORED GUESTS
2019 ALVIN J. THOMPSON AWARD AND 2019 BUSTER AND NANCY D. ALVORD AWARD WINNERS:
The Alvin J. Thompson Award: The 2019 Alvin J. Thompson Award was awarded to the Allen Institute. The Allen Institute was founded Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and visionary philanthropist, just over 15 years ago in Seattle. Originating as the Allen Institute for Brain Science, today the overarching Allen Institute has grown to four divisions, including the Allen Institute for Brain Science, Allen Institute for Cell Science, Allen Institute for Immunology, and The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group. The Institute has three core principles that drive its unique approach to science. These are:
Team Science
Teams at the Allen Institute are composed of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, physicists and computational scientists—each bringing a new perspective to the scientific challenges they face. They operate on open communication, sharing ideas in progress, in programs and working groups that cross disciplines and departments. This continual collaboration ensures that they are leveraging their diverse experience and insight to tackle the world’s most challenging scientific questions.
Big Science
Much of the work at the Allen Institute is focused on generating big data sets. The ambitious projects undertaken yield rich, robust data that give users the power to explore and find common threads in a way that cannot be done on a smaller scale. But there is no point in collecting enormous amounts of data without ways to share, investigate and analyze it. The Allen Institute embrace “big science” as a community movement, integrating powerful technology into each phase of their data collection to make sure that data sets can be readily explored. This data is big not only in scope, but also in its utility to the global scientific community.
Open Science
The Allen Institute cannot do its brand of big science without the spirit of openness. The scientists share data, tools and knowledge with the scientific community through venues like the Allen Brain Atlas data portal and the Allen Cell Explorer data portal as soon as it is useful. Open science is a core principle of the Allen Institute’s identity and an integral part of their goal to accelerate the pace of science worldwide.
The Buster and Nancy D. Alvord Award. The 2019 Buster and Nancy D. Alvord Award was awarded to Dr. Steven Gilbert. Steven was a former Board Member of NWABR from 2000 to 2009, president of the board 2003-2005 and active member of the NWABR speakers’ bureau regarding animals and research. He is a former owner and President of Biosupport, LTD., which he sold to SNBL USA Ltd. These firms were involved in pre-clinical contract research, toxicology, and specialized model development. He is currently Director and Founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders. as well as an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington. Dr. Gilbert’s research has focused on neurobehavioral effects of low-level exposure to lead and mercury on the developing nervous system. His book, A Small Dose of Toxicology- The Health Effects of Common Chemicals was published in 2004 which is now in its free 2nd edition. Most recently he has started a wiki based web site Toxipedia with the mission of connecting science and people.
Nearly two decades ago Steve started to become aware of the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. About 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year. What causes the disease is unclear. Researchers have investigated exposures to pesticides, manganese and other potential environmental triggers. Less common are cases that can be linked to genetic mutations.
In the disease, the dopamine-producing cells die off in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra. Symptoms – twitching of limbs, slowness of movement, stiffness, impaired balance – grow worse with time. Eventually the disease leads to speech problems and sometimes dementia. A dual drug regimen of carbidopa and levodopa is typically prescribed; they supply dopamine to the brain and other parts of the body, but come with side effects, too.
Steve, being a toxicologist, opted against medication. Instead, he opted for his “drug of choice” which was exercise, particularly cycling. As the disease progressed Steve eventually lost the ability to ride his bicycle, as walking and talking became more difficult. This brilliant man was becoming trapped in his own mind. He described the joys of life being stripped away. Steve chose to have a Deep Brain Stimulation device implanted in his brain as a way to manage the symptoms of this disease. Steve was presented the Buster and Nancy D. Alvord Award for being an amazing scientist who has devoted your life to the study pf toxicology and for his most recent incredibly personal journey to promote awareness of DBS as a treatment for the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
2018 ALVIN J. THOMPSON AWARD and 2018 BUSTER AND NANCY D. ALVORD AWARD WINNERS:
For 2018 the Thompson Award was given to Dr. Martin (Casey) Childers. The Alvord Award was given to Paul Frase and Alison Rockett-Frase. Whilst they received separate Awards, Martin, Paul and Alison were recognized for their partnership in developing a genetic treatment for the debilitating and fatal disease Myotubular Myopathy. Their incredible and moving story epitomizes what passionate parents, working with brilliant and dedicated scientists, can achieve.
PREVIOUS BUSTER & NANCY D. ALVORD AWARD HONOREES
2014
Nancy D. and Buster Alvord
2015
2016
Phil and Penny Knight, the Oregon Health and Sciences University and the community of Oregon.
2017
Ric Weiland and the Pride Foundation
2018
Paul and Alison Rockett-Frase
2019
Dr. Steve Gilbert
PREVIOUS DR. ALVIN J. THOMPSON AWARD HONOREES
2002
Lee Hartwell, PhD
President and Director Emeritus, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Professor of Genome Sciences and Adjunct Professor of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
American Cancer Society Research Professor of Genetics
2003
King Holmes, MD, PhD
Chair and Professor, University of Washington Department of Global Health
Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, University of Washington Department of Epidemiology
2004
Brian J. Druker, MD
Director, Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute
2005
Francis Collins, MD, PhD, Director, National Institutes of Health, together with NWABR honored the University of Washington & Institute for Systems Biology Genome Pioneers
Philip Green, PhD
Professor of Genome Sciences
Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering and of Computer Science
LaDeana Hillier, PhD
Assistant Director, Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine
Senior Research Scientist, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine
Deborah Nickerson, PhD
Professor of Genome Sciences, University of Washington
Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington
Maynard Olson, PhD
Professor of Genome Sciences and of Medicine, University of Washington
Adjunct Professor of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington
Robert Waterston, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington
Lee Rowen, PhD
Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Systems Biology
2006
Greg Belenky, MD
Research Professor Director, Sleep and Performance Research Center, Washington State University Spokane
2007
Bonnie W. Ramsey, MD
Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Associate Director, Pediatric Clinical Research Center, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
2008
Bill Dougall, PhD
Scientific Director, Oncology Research, Amgen Corporation
2009
Mario R. Capecchi, PhD
Professor of Human Genetics and Biology, University of Utah School of Medicine
Recipient of The 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
2010
Student Bio Expo 10 year Anniversary
2011
N. Jan Chalupny, PhD
Scientist, Amgen Corporation
Tom N. Hansen, MD
Chief Executive Officer, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Jóse López, MD
Executive Vice President for Research, Puget Sound Blood Center
Lupe G. Salazar, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology,
University of Washington School of Medicine
Beverly Torok-Storb, MEd, PhD
Member, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Associate Head, Transplantation Biology Program, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
2012
Cynthia Pekow, DVM, MS, DACLAM
Chief, Veterinary Medical Unit, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
Nitin Baliga, PhD
Senior Vice President and Director Integrative Biology, Professor, Institute for Systems Biology
Gregory Foltz, MD
Director, Center for Advanced Brain and Tumor Treatment, Swedish Medical Center
2013
Dr. Leroy Hood, Ph.D.
President, Insitute for Systems Biology
Dr. Carolyn Hovde Bohatch, Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor | Director of the NIH Idaho INBRE Program, University of Idaho
2014
Dr. Larry Corey
President and Director, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
2015
DR. SAUL RIVKIN
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE MARSHA RIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER RESEARCH AND MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST AT SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER
2016
DR. CHARLES MURRAY
REGENERATING THE HEART: DR CHARLES MURRY'S LAB IS DEDICATED TO RESTORING QUIALITY OF LIFE TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HEART DISEASES THROUGH THE USES THE POTENTIAL OF STEM CELLS TO REPAIR DISEASED HEART TISSUE.
2017
DR. Steve Reed
The 2017 recipient of this Award is Dr. Steve Reed the CEO and Founder of the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI).
2018
Dr. Martin Childers
THE 2018 RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD IS DR. Martin Childers for his work with Paul and Alison-Rockett Frase for their partnership in developing a genetic treatment for the debilitating and fatal disease Myotubular Myopathy.
2019
The Allen Institute
THE 2019 RECIPIENT OF THIS AWARD IS the Allen institute In honor of the institute's commitment to engaging in cutting edge research, their ethical research practices and for their role in working to advance public trust in research.
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