AAPS Announces 2024 Awards Recipients

Awards Program Recognizes Scientific Impact, Leadership, and Service

Arlington, VA—AAPS is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Awards Program.
AAPS Awards celebrate scientists who are role models in the pharmaceutical science community. Each year, scientists volunteering through the AAPS Awards Committee review nomination submissions and select individuals whose scholarship, leadership, and service exemplify the highest personal and professional achievement.

“We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 AAPS Awards, recognizing some of the most distinguished scientists and experts in the pharmaceutical field,” said 2024 AAPS Awards Committee Chair Aswani Dutt Vadlapudi, Ph.D. “These esteemed individuals have made exceptional contributions through their groundbreaking research, innovative science, and pioneering developments. Their unwavering dedication, commitment, and creativity have driven significant advancements in pharmaceutical sciences.”

“This year’s AAPS awards recipients are recognized for their scientific leadership, innovative research, and involvement with AAPS,” 2024 AAPS President Gopi Shankar, Ph.D., M.B.A., FAAPS, said. “Their contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences and AAPS drive the industry forward to developing innovative treatments for patients.”

The 2024 AAPS Awards recipients are:

Distinguished Scientist Award
Samir Mitragotri, Ph.D., FAAPS, is recommended for his pioneering work in drug delivery. The fundamental knowledge developed through his research has advanced understanding of the biology of barriers in the human body. His work has led to the development of new materials and technologies for diagnosis and treatment of many ailments. Dr. Mitragotri’s impact is particularly evident in needle-free drug delivery systems, polymer therapeutics, and cell therapies.
“Professor Mitragotri’s research is pioneering in the field of drug delivery. His research has advanced fundamental understanding of biological barriers and has led to the development of new materials and technologies for diagnosis and treatment of ailments including diabetes, cancer, dermatological diseases, neurological disorders, among others,” reads his endorsement.

Global Leader Award
M.N.V. Ravi Kumar, Ph.D., FAAPS, is recognized for his tenacious drive to develop nanoparticulate drug delivery solutions that meet the urgent need to repurpose off-patent, affordable small molecule drugs and antioxidant nutraceuticals for diseases that disproportionately impact less affluent societies. His preclinical data for the nanoparticulate encapsulation of antioxidants to overcome their notoriously poor bioavailability now promises efficacious, safe, and economic treatments for immune-inflammatory diseases such as lupus; diabetes and its complications; acute kidney injury; and hypertension.

According to a letter of recommendation from Russell J. Mumper, Ph.D., FAAPS, Vice President for Research, Indiana University, Dr. Kumar “represents the outstanding characteristics expected from the Global Leader award recipients.”

Distinguished Service Award
Former AAPS President Dale Eric Wurster, Ph.D., FAAPS, is recommended for his extraordinary service to AAPS, which spans more than 30 years and no less than 20 different leadership and volunteer roles in the association, and his continued efforts to drive AAPS’ mission forward. He is commended for his dedication to supporting the AAPS community and the pharmaceutical sciences field—two themes woven deeply into his professional career.

His endorsement states, “He has been involved since the very early days of the APPS and continues to be a meaningful contributor after his time as president.”

Dale E. Wurster Research Award
Ben Boyd, Ph.D., FAAPS, is recognized for the wide-ranging impact of his research based on the following: translation of his research into new technologies that has led to the founding of two companies; his correlation of drug release from lipid liquid crystal systems as novel stimuli responsive materials, dispelling myths around drug release from structured lipid particles; his extensive publication record; and his international profile as demonstrated by his Novo Nordisk Laureate Research Fellowship.
“He has invented new approaches to track the self-assembly of lipids in response to a range of delivery-relevant stimuli, as well as deepening our understanding of the behavior of lipids during gastrointestinal processing,” reads a letter of recommendation from Richard H. Guy, Ph.D., FAAPS, Professor of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Bath.

Emerging Leader Award
Bowen Li, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto, described as an exceptional scientist and innovator, is recommended for establishing himself and his laboratory as leaders in the field of drug and gene delivery, significantly advancing the translation of RNA medicine. Among other accomplishments, his recent work (featured on the cover of Nature Biotechnology) developed a new class of LNPs using a high-throughput strategy, successfully delivering mRNA, and achieving CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing through a pulmonary route.

“He and his laboratory have established themselves as a leader in the field of drug and gene delivery, significantly advancing the translation of RNA medicine,” reads a letter of recommendation from Robert Langer, Sc.D., FAAPS, Institute Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Outstanding Manuscript Awards
“Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Pharmaceutical Research and Development: a Review,” The AAPS Journal, Sheela Kolluri, Ph.D., Jianchang Lin, Ph.D., Rachael Liu, Ph.D, Yanwei Zhang, Ph.D., and Wenwen Zhang, Ph.D.

“Optimization of DOTAP/chol Cationic Lipid Nanoparticles for mRNA, pDNA, and Oligonucleotide Delivery,” AAPS PharmSciTech, Anthony J. Di Pasqua, Ph.D., Mengwei Sun, Ph.D., Utkarsh J. Dang, Ph.D, Yuhao Yuan, Ph.D., Alexandra Maria Psaras, Pharm.D., Ositomiwa Osipitan, Ph.D., Tracy A. Brooks, Ph.D., and Fake Lu, Ph.D.
“Biodistribution and Non-linear Gene Expression of mRNA LNPs Affected by Delivery Route and Particle Size,” Pharmaceutical Research, Tonglei Li, Ph.D., Yuhong Xu, Jiaxing Di, Zhili Du, Kangzeng Wu, Ph.D., Shanshan Jin, and Xun Wang

Student Chapter Awards
The University of Mississippi Student Chapter is recognized for its commitment to fostering a vibrant and well-rounded educational experience for its members, as seen in the series of workshops and seminars it presented on public speaking to equip students with essential communication skills, and the involvement of chapter members in the "Hands-On Course on Tablet Technology”—a nationally recognized skill-development course in tableting.

The Duquesne University Student Chapter is recognized for its work to integrate social and professional development outreach, as seen in its Buddy Program, “Welcome to The Team” event, and peer-to-peer training presented through its Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Analytical Techniques (PharmMAT) Series.

The University of Pittsburgh Student Chapter is recognized for a range of initiatives undertaken to enhance the educational and professional development of students in the pharmaceutical sciences community, including the Pharmaburgh newspaper, which helps students network with essential industry contacts, and the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Symposium (PSRS), which showcases innovative science and offers development opportunities to participants.

Award recipients will be recognized during the 2024 PharmSci 360 in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Salt Palace Convention Center. For more information about this event or to register, visit www.aaps.org/pharmsci360.

About aaps
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association of more than 7,000 scientists and professionals employed in academia, industry, regulatory, and other research related to the pharmaceutical sciences worldwide. Its mission is to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health, which members pursue through four peer-reviewed journals and a variety of events in person and online. Visit: www.aaps.org/home.