Dr. Elaine Fuchs receives 2020 Canada Gairdner Award for her research and innovation in skin science

02-Apr-2020 - Last updated on 02-Apr-2020 at 16:23 GMT

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On Monday, the Gairdner Foundation announced this year’s laureates, 7 scientists whose original work in biomedical science has notably improved the understanding of human biology and disease.

The Gairdner Foundation has been recognizing the work of scientists worldwide since 1959. To date, nearly 400 individuals have received Gairdner Awards and over 90 of those have later been honored with a Nobel Prize.

Dr. Elaine Fuchs honored with a 2020 Canada Gairdner Award

Dr. Elaine Fuchs is currently the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator; the Rebecca C. Lancefield Professor; and Head of the Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Cell Biology at The Rockefeller University in New York, NY.

According to the recent media release from the Gairdner Foundation, Fuchs received a Gairdner Award this year “for her studies elucidating the role of tissue stem cells in homeostasis, wound repair, inflammation and cancer.”

In a short write up of Dr Fuchs’ work and its import, the Gairdner Foundation notes that “understanding the basic mechanisms controlling stem cells in their native tissue is providing new strategies for searching out refractory tumor cells in cancer and for restoring normalcy in inflammatory conditions.”

Dr. Elaine Fuchs work in skin science is prolific

Already this year Dr Fuchs has published research in two scientific journals: an article called Liquid-liquid phase separation drives skin barrier formation appears in the March issue of Science, and The aging skin microenvironment dictates stem cell behavior appears in the current issue of PNAS (Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America).

And she’s been the recipient of numerous awards over her career thus far, recognizing her contributions to skin science, biomedicine, and more. In 2010, for instance, Dr Fuchs received the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award; and in 2009, President Barack Obama presented her with the National Medal of Science.

Rockefeller University, where Fuchs works is closed now to help limit the spread of Coronavirus. Despite the uncertainty and tragedy the virus is causing, the Gairdner Foundation went ahead with this year’s awards announcement because they “believe it is important to celebrate scientists and innovators from around the world and commend them for their tireless efforts to conduct research that impacts human health.”

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Deanna Utroske is a leading voice in the cosmetics and personal care industry as well as in the indie beauty movement. As Editor of CosmeticsDesign.com, she writes daily news about the business of beauty in the Americas region and regularly produces video interviews with cosmetics, fragrance, personal care, and packaging experts as well as with indie brand founders.