Lasker~DeBakey
Clinical Medical Research Award

Acceptance remarks by Napoleone Ferrara

I am honored and humbled to receive the Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award. I offer my most sincere thanks to the Lasker Foundation and the Lasker Jury members for this wonderful recognition.

I joined the angiogenesis field almost accidentally over 25 years ago. My interests began as a basic science question on the physiology of some poorly known pituitary cells, just to satisfy my intellectual curiosity. It would have been difficult to predict that these studies could one day have broad biological implications, even less that they would result in therapeutic advances for devastating diseases like cancer and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. I could also never have imagined those many years ago that one day I would be here taking to such a distinguished audience and accepting a Lasker Award. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to undertake such a journey.

I believe that joining a company like Genentech, with outstanding human and scientific resources, was particularly helpful to achieving these goals. I was indeed fortunate to work with many wonderful people for over two decades. Undoubtedly, all of this greatly facilitated the translation of basic science discoveries into potential treatments.

I wish to acknowledge many colleagues in the angiogenesis fieldÑboth in academia and industryÑfor their enthusiasm and innovation. Their contribution played a major role in advancing the field.

I mention the inevitable frustrating hours in the lab because they define the life of a scientist. Our moments of breakthrough and discovery are so joyous precisely because they are so rare. I am thankful for having had the opportunity to witness my scientific discoveries move from the bench to the clinic.

I feel that while scientific discovery is hugely exciting, the ability to translate that work into potentially helping someone lead a better life is even more rewarding. This Award is dedicated to the patients I come to work each day hoping to serve. My thoughts go to them. I would like finally to thank my wife Chika for her patience and continued support over many years.