2 physicians named MacArthur Fellows; 4 win Lasker awards

Helping veterans of combat and discovering dendritic cells are among the work being honored.

By Damon Adams, AMNews staff. Oct. 15, 2007.

Lisa Cooper, MD, MPH, doesn't have to imagine what she would do with $500,000, no strings attached.

She received a phone call last month that she was named one of 24 MacArthur Fellows for 2007, winning a "genius" grant bestowed upon creative people for their innovative work in medicine, science and other fields.

"I thought someone was pulling my leg," she said.

It was no joke.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is giving her $500,000 over five years for her work improving medical care for minorities. She is one of two physicians honored; the other is Boston psychiatrist Jonathan Shay, MD, PhD, who was recognized for his work with combat veterans.

"Obviously, people believe in you and know you're going to do something for society," said Dr. Cooper, professor of medicine, epidemiology, and health policy and management for Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. "I'm humbled. I really feel a sense of responsibility. I need to do something important and something to benefit people."

Drs. Cooper and Shay weren't the only doctors to get major awards in September. This year's Lasker Awards for outstanding contributions to medical research, a prestigious honor often called "America's Nobels," recognized four physicians.

The awards and winners are:

Basic medical research -- Ralph M. Steinman, MD, of New York City, who discovered dendritic cells, which trigger defenses against microbial invaders.

Clinical medical research -- Alain Carpentier, MD, PhD, of Paris, and Albert Starr, MD, of Portland, Ore., for developing prosthetic mitral and aortic valves, devices that have saved millions of heart disease patients.