Nominations for the 2025 Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science are now closed.
About the Vanderbilt Prize:
Vanderbilt Prize winners are scientists who have made significant contributions to the science of medicine. We created the Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science to honor and recognize scientists of national reputation who has a stellar record of research accomplishments and is known for their mentorship. The Vanderbilt Prize winner also nurtures the career of a promising junior scientist for a year during their PhD studies at Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. The prize recipient gives a lecture at Vanderbilt, will serve as a mentor to the Vanderbilt Prize Scholar, and receives an honorarium.
Eligibility:
Nominees for the Vanderbilt Prize must be scientists in any area of basic or clinical research or clinical practice. The nominee must have a national reputation, a stellar record of research accomplishments, and must be an active mentor.
Nomination Process:
There is no limit to the number of qualified scientists an institution may nominate. A complete nomination packet must include the following, as a single pdf, in the order listed below:
- Completed nomination form
- A letter of nomination from the nominee’s department chair or dean
- One letter of recommendation from a distinguished peer in basic or clinical research or in clinical practice
- Nominee’s complete CV
For questions, email vumcresearchenterprise@vumc.org.
Vanderbilt Prize Recipients
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2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D.Winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry Li Ka Shing Chancellor's Chair in Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley Executive Director, Innovative Genomics Institute Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Doudna presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on July 22, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Christine Seidman, M.D.Thomas W. Smith Professor in Medicine and Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Senior Associate, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Seidman presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on September 12, 2019. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angelika Amon, Ph.D.Kathleen and Curtis Marble Professor in Cancer Research and Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Member, MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Amon presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on January 31, 2019. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lynne E. Maquat, Ph.D.J. Lowell Orbison Endowed Chair and Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Dr. Maquat presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on November 29, 2018. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Elaine Fuchs, Ph.D.Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor of the Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Fuchs presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on March 30, 2017. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D.Director, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Zoghbi presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on April 21, 2016. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Susan Lindquist, Ph.D.Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Dr. Lindquist presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on November 19, 2015. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Laurie Glimcher, M.D.Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Dr. Glimcher presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on May 1, 2014. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Joan A. Steitz, Ph.D.Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Dr. Steitz presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on May 2, 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Titia de Lange, Ph.D.Leon Hess Professor and Head of the Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, American Cancer Society Research Director, Anderson Center for Cancer Research, Rockefeller University, New York Dr. de Lange presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on February 23, 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Nancy Andrews, M.D., Ph.D.Dean, Duke University School of Medicine Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Duke University School of Medicine Professor of Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine Dr. Andrews presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on March 31, 2011. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Susan Taylor, Ph.D.Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego Dr. Taylor presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on February 18, 2010. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Ann Graybiel, Ph.D.Walter A Rosenblith Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Graybiel presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on October 30, 2008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D.Winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for Medicine
Dr. Blackburn presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on January 10, 2008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 | Nancy Andreasen M.D., Ph.D.Andrew H. Woods Chair of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa Dr. Andreasen presented a Discovery Lecture and accepted the Vanderbilt Prize on September 28, 2006. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
