NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.,
Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced that it
has provided a $5MM endowment to Research!America to create an
annual award to recognize individuals and organizations working to
make a profound difference in public health. This new category of
awards will be presented annually as part of the Research!America
Advocacy Awards Program, now in its 26th year. Johnson &
Johnson is a founding member of the Research!America alliance,
which launched in 1989. This year's winners include leaders
who are addressing some of the biggest health challenges of our
time, from smoking cessation to diversity in clinical trials to
fueling collaboration to advance solutions for COVID-19.
"As part of the global public health community, Johnson &
Johnson is delighted to collaborate with Research!America to honor
the public health heroes whose energy and commitment have made a
profound difference in advancing the health of entire populations,"
said William Hait, M.D., Ph.D.,
Global Head, Johnson & Johnson External Innovation. "Their work
impacts all of us, and we are proud to celebrate their valuable
contributions through endowing this Award."
While medicine is often focused on disease treatment, public
health focuses on prevention of disease and injuries, and promoting
safety and wellness through research, education and policy
making.
"We are deeply appreciative of Johnson & Johnson's generous
endowment focused on raising the profile of public health and its
numerous heroes as they fight day in and day out to advance the
public good," said Mary Woolley,
president and CEO of Research!America. "For more than 30 years,
Johnson & Johnson has been a highly valued strategic partner,
contributing expertise, vision, and unwavering resolve to our goal
of improving and saving lives through medical and public health
research."
Johnson & Johnson has invited the honorees to share their
stories as part of EUREKA MOMENTS, a series that chronicles the
journeys of the people behind the breakthroughs that are improving
the lives of millions around the world. The series will air
on the company's YouTube channel on Tuesdays at noon EST.
"The individuals and organizations honored with the inaugural
Research!America Outstanding Achievement in Public Health
Awards exemplify the vision, passion, and commitment that it
takes to make a profound impact on the health and well-being of
communities around the world," said Seema
Kumar, Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Health and
Scientific Engagement, Johnson & Johnson. "We look forward to
sharing the remarkable stories of how these public health champions
have persevered against all odds and against seemingly impossible
problems through the EUREKA MOMENTS series."
Learn more about this year's honorees:
- Three honorees will receive the Outstanding Achievement in
Public Health Award, which recognizes individuals for their
extraordinary work and enormous contributions to public
health.
-
- Matthew Myers, president, Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids, and Bill Novelli,
founder and chair, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, professor and
founder, Business for Impact, McDonough
School of Business, Georgetown
University. Myers and Novelli are longtime leaders in the
fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly consequences. Their
advocacy efforts have led to drastic decreases in both youth and
adult smoking on a global scale since the Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids was founded in 1996.
- Vivian W. Pinn, MD,
inaugural director, NIH Office of Research on Women's Health
(retired). Dr. Pinn's many contributions to public health include
her leadership in assuring greater inclusion of women and
minorities in clinical trials and promoting the consideration of
sex differences in the formulation and execution of research
studies.
- Christopher Murray, MD,
DPhil, professor and chair of health metrics sciences and
director, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington School of Medicine is the
recipient of the Building the Foundation Award, which
recognizes one or more individuals whose basic research discoveries
have played a pivotal role in advancing public health. Dr. Murray
created the first COVID-19 global forecast that decision makers
have used as a roadmap for ending the pandemic, and
state-level forecasts that have been essential to on-the-ground
response efforts.
- Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH,
dean, Brown University School of Public
Health, is the recipient of the Meeting the Moment for
Public Health Award, which recognizes an individual or
organization that has been a "clear voice," playing a key role in
communicating public health information and developments to
members of the public. Dr. Jha's masterful ability and tireless
commitment to conveying key information about COVID-19 to a wide
array of audiences has helped keep the public informed and combat
mis- and disinformation.
- Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines
(ACTIV) is the recipient of the Rapid Translation
Award, which recognizes a public-private partnership that has
made a critical contribution to public health progress. ACTIV made
crucial contributions to the rapid-pace development of COVID-19
treatments and vaccines by designing master protocols,
establishing national standards, and identifying best
practices and collaboration opportunities to improve every stage of
the prevention and treatment R&D pipeline.
About Johnson & Johnson
At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation
of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress. That's
why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at
every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest
and most broadly-based health care company, we are committed to
using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and
affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy
mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We
are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change
the trajectory of health for humanity.
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson