AFAR presents two scientific awards annually to members of the aging research community whose outstanding work advances the field of aging research. The honorary scientific awards are named for visionary scientists whose leadership made AFAR and aging research what it is today. Nominations for honorary scientific awards are by invitation only.

Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction

In 1981, Dr. Irving S. Wright, a noted cardiologist and past president of the American Heart Association, brought together a group of far-sighted scientists and lay people to found the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR). This group, with support from the corporate and foundation sector, set out to find, fund and nurture talented scientists and encourage them to pursue lifelong careers in research focused on the aging process and age-related diseases.

The Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction is named in honor of the founder of the American Federation for Aging Research and is intended to honor exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging by member of the scientific community. The award is a framed citation and carries a cash prize of $2,500. The "Wright Award of Distinction Lecture" will be given by the recipient at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.

Recent Irving S. Wright Awardees have included Gary Ruvkun, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Jan Vijg, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Steven N. Austad, PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, Nir Barzilai, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Woodring Wright, MD, PhD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. See the full list of awardees to date here.

Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research

The late Vincent Cristofalo devoted his professional career equally to two pursuits: Doing aging research, and encouraging younger scientists to investigate important problems in the biology of aging. Vince set an example of wise leadership, sophisticated judgment, and solid accomplishment that remain an inspiration to all who knew him.

In his honor, the American Federation for Aging Research established the Vincent Cristofalo "Rising Star" Award in Aging Research. The award will be held annually in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Aging Association (AGE). The winner will have an opportunity to give a talk on his/her research work at a special symposium at the AGE meeting. Criteria for selection are available here.

Recent winners of the Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research include Valter D. Longo, PhD, University of Southern California, Anne Brunet, PhD, Stanford University, Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, University of Washington, Andrew Dillin, PhD, Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, and Brian Kennedy, PhD, Buck Institute for Age Research.