The Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction

The Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction is named in honor of AFAR’s founder, a noted cardiologist and past president of the American Heart Association, who in 1981 brought together a group of far-sighted scientists and lay people to build what became 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 is intended to honor exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging by member of the scientific community.

AWARD

The award is a framed citation and carries a cash prize of $5,000.
The "Wright Award of Distinction Lecture" will be given by the recipient at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.

NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

You may only propose one candidate, we do not allow self-nomination.
There is no form. Send a letter of nomination highlighting aspects of the candidate’s career of exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging, and the nominee’s NIH-style biosketch to grants@afar.org by December 1, 2023. Indicate that you are nominating a candidate for the Wright Award.

2024 Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction:

Jeremy D. Walston, MD
Raymond and Anna Lublin Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Director -The Johns Hopkins Human Aging Project, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Past Irving S. Wright Awardees

2020s

2023: Rafael de Cabo, PhD

2022: Thomas M. Gill, MD

2021: Malene Hansen, PhD

2020: James L. Kirkland, MD, PhD

2010s

2019: Pinchas Cohen, PhD

2018: David Sinclair, PhD

2017: Mark S. Lachs, MD, MPH

2016: S. Jay Olshansky, PhD

2015: Leonard Guarente, PhD

2014: Terrie Fox Wetle, MS, PhD

2013: Gary Ruvkun, PhD

2012: Jan Vijg, PhD

2011: Steven N. Austad, PhD

2010: Nir Barzilai, MD

2000s

2009: Woodring Wright, MD, PhD

2008: Arlan G. Richardson, PhD

2007: Richard A. Miller, MD, PhD

2006: Robert D. Terry, MD

2005: Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH

2004: John Trojanowski, MD, PhD
Roy Walford, MD

2002: Judith Campisi, PhD
Mary Tinetti, MD

2001: John Holloszy, MD

2000: Edward Lakatta, MD

1990s

1999: Caleb Finch, PhD

1998: Donald L. Price, MD

1997: Denham Harman, MD, PhD
Rajindar S. Sohal, PhD

1996: George M. Martin, MD

1995: Edward J. Masoro, PhD

1994: T. Franklin Williams, MD

1993: William Hazzard, MD

1992: John Rowe, MD

1991: John C. Beck, MD

1990: David H. Solomon, MD

1980s

1989: Vincent J. Cristofalo, PhD

1988: Lissy F. Jarvik, MD

1987: Irving S. Wright, MD

1986: James. E. Birren, PhD

1985: Reubin Andres, MD

1984: Leonard Hayflick, PhD

1983: Robert N. Butler, MD

1982: Nathan W. Shock, PhD