AFAR Scientific Awards of Distinction

AFAR presents four scientific awards annually to members of the aging research community whose outstanding work advances the field:
The Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction
The George M. Martin Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award
The Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research
The Terrie Fox Wetle Rising Star Award in Health Services and Aging Research

The honorary scientific awards are named for visionary scientists whose leadership made AFAR and aging research what it is today. Nominations are by invitation only.

AFAR is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2026 Scientific Awards of Distinction

Richard hodes headshot

Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction:
Richard J. Hodes, MD
Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)


The 2026 Wright Award will be presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, on Thursday, November 5, from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Dr. Hodes will present a lecture.

Nir Barzilai Closer Crop

George M. Martin Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award:
Nir Barzilai, MD
Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research, professor in the Departments of Medicine and Genetics, as well as Director of the Institute for Geroscience and the Batia and Idan Ofer program for Validation of Interventions Targeting Aging and Longevity, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

The 2026 Martin Award will be presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, on Thursday, November 5, from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Dr. Barzilai will share remarks.



Marianna Sadagurski 2025 crop

Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star Award in Aging Research:
Marianna Sadagurski, PhD
Associate Professor, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, IBio (Integrative Biosciences Center), at Wayne State University

The 2026 Cristofalo Award will be presented on June 3rd from 1-2pm MDT at the American Aging Association (AGE) Annual Meeting, in Provo, Utah. Dr. Sadagurski will share a lecture, “Pharmacological rejuvenation of the aging hypothalamus.”

Gerlach lauren Crop

The Terrie Fox Wetle Rising Star Award in Health Services and Aging Research:
Lauren B. Gerlach, DO, MS
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan

The 2026 Wetle Award will be presented at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, on Thursday, November 5, from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Dr. Gerlach will present a lecture on her research.