The International Biomedical Research Alliance Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes achievements of an exceptional nature in scientific and medical inquiry, professional practice, and enhancing the lives of others both personally and professionally. This Award is not given in recognition of a single remarkable achievement but is reserved for an NIH-OxCam alumnus who has attained and maintained extraordinary impact throughout their career in their chosen fields of endeavor and in their service to society at large. The ceremony to honor the 2022 winner was held during the NIH Global Doctoral Partnerships Research Workshop Gala Dinner in Keble College, at the University of Oxford on the evening of July 28, 2022.
It was a distinct honor to have the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Dr. Paul Tesar, nominate the 2022 award recipient. Dr. Tesar made the following sentiments. “It is with my highest level of respect and admiration that I submit this nomination for Dr. Justin Lathia to be considered for the Distinguished Alumni Award. In short, Dr. Lathia is a dynamo and a star among stars. Since completing his Ph.D., he has published over 210 research papers which, combined, have been cited over 20,000 times. Dr. Lathia has already garnered an impressive $20 million in research funding to support his innovative studies including a recent highly prestigious R35 grant from NINDS/NIH. Since starting as a new faculty member in 2012, Dr. Lathia has quickly risen through the ranks at Cleveland Clinic where he now has many leadership positions including Department Vice Chair, Scientific Director of the Brain Tumor Center, co-leader of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Molecular Oncology Program, and Director of Faculty Development. Dr. Lathia has also been honored with a prestigious Endowed Chair, the Melvin H. Burkhardt Endowed Chair for Neuro-Oncology.
Impact is generated through groundbreaking discoveries, inspirational mentoring, or leadership of large initiatives. Few excel in even one of these areas but almost none excel in all. Dr. Lathia is among this rarified group. He is an internationally accomplished scientist whose discoveries have already translated to the clinical care of patients. He has built and led large programs to advance understanding of brain cancer. Most importantly, he is an exceptional mentor leading the next generation of scientists. Dr. Lathia and his team are reshaping the brain tumor field. In particular, Dr. Lathia has made major advances to understand and treat the most lethal brain cancer, glioblastoma. The lab has identified a specialized cell type found in glioblastoma tumors that helps them evade the immune system to enhance progression. Remarkably, Dr. Lathia showed that these cells exhibit sex-specific variation and underlie critical differences in how male and female glioblastoma patients respond to treatments. This work has garnered him international recognition and led directly to two current clinical trials.”
“We are truly honored to receive this recognition. This reflects our laboratory’s progress in understanding the complexities of malignant brain tumors and the creativity and drive of our laboratory members. I am grateful to the International Biomedical Research Alliance for all their support, starting from when I was a PhD student and their commitment to supporting an exceptional training program for the next generation of scientists,” remarked Dr. Lathia.
Dr. Lathia was appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Biomedical Research Alliance as an Alumni Director in June.