Buck Faculty Receives Prestigious Tenovus Award

Buck faculty Gordon Lithgow, PhD, has received the prestigious 2013 Tenovus-Scotland Medal, awarded annually to a rising star in biomedical research. The award was given to Lithgow at his alma mater, the University of Glasgow, on June 14 where he delivered the Medal lecture, “Targeting aging to prevent chronic disease; lessons from the worm.” 

Lithgow, who directs the Buck’s Program on Interdisciplinary Research, was instrumental in establishing the Institute’s program in Geroscience – which focuses on the intersection of aging and chronic disease. Lithgow’s lab is focused on identifying genes and small molecules that prolong lifespan through enhanced molecular stability. During aging, misfolded, insoluble proteins accumulate and are associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In the worm C. elegans, treatment with a range of small molecules slows the accumulation of these proteins.  Lithgow believes this strategy could lead to a new therapeutic approach to chronic disease.

The Tenovus Medal has been awarded to biomedical scientists annually since 1992. Since 1969, the charity Tenovus Scotland has supported innovative medical research within Scottish Universities and teaching hospitals. Supported by private donations and fundraising events, the organization’s principle aim is to assist young research staff with grants to get their research programs underway. Another major activity of Tenovus Scotland is to support high profile lectures and symposia organized at the University of Glasgow.