Research@UIC > Researcher of the Year Award >2008 Researcher of the Year Award Recipients

2008 Researcher of the Year Award Recipients

Basic Life Sciences

Dr. Alexander Mankin
Professor
Center for Biopharmaceutical Technology, Pharmacy

Alexander Mankin, winner of the first UIC Researcher of the Year Award in the Basic Life Sciences, has spent years trying to understand the action of the ribosome, the protein production of the cell. During this time, Dr. Mankin has made essential contributions to the understanding of protein synthesis and how the ribosome functions. His work on ribosome inhibitors has bridged the gap between academic research and the Pharma industry and his contributions have helped to elucidate the function of several new antimicrobials, as well as explaining how the efficacy of existing compounds can be improved by semi-synthetic derivatization.

Clinical Sciences

R_Bailey Dr. Robert C. Bailey
Professor
Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health

Robert Bailey, winner of the first UIC Researcher of the Year Award in the Clinical Sciences, has spent the past 14 years studying HIV prevention in Africa. WHO and UNAIDS announced on March 28, 2007 that Bailey’s research – that male circumcision decreases the chances that heterosexual men will contract HIV – is now a proven means of reducing HIV infections and should be implemented as an HIV prevention tool in countries with high HIV prevalence. As many have pointed out, there is now an HIV prevention tool that is a simple, one-time, inexpensive procedure as efficacious as a vaccine, conferring a lifetime of benefit. In 2007, Dr. Bailey’s research was declared by Time Magazine as the top medical discovery of the year.

Natural Sciences & Engineering

Dr. Vladimir Gevorgyan
Professor
Chemistry, Liberal Arts & Sciences

Vladimir Gevorgyan, winner of the first UIC Researcher of the Year Award in the Natural Sciences and Engineering, is internationally known for his innovative ways of testing synthesized organic molecules for use in developing new drugs and other products. He has emerged as the key researcher in the area of synthesis and potential manufacturing of the important class of organic compounds called heterocycles. His breakthrough was the fundamental insight that organometallic chemistry could be applied to the synthesis of heterocyclic molecules.

Social Sciences and the Humanities

F_Chaloupka Dr. Frank J. Chaloupka
Distinguished Professor
Economics, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Institute of Health Research & Policy

Frank Chaloupka, winner of the first Researcher of the Year Award in the Social Sciences and Humanities, has become the world’s leading researcher on the economic analysis of addictive substance use and abuse, and is widely considered the world’s leading expert on the economics of tobacco and tobacco control policy. Chaloupka’s research emphasizes the role of public policies and other factors (e.g. industry marketing, school programs, availability) on tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use, and a variety of economic, health and social outcomes related to substance use and abuse. Findings from his research have been widely cited in developing local, state, national, and international policies aimed at reducing the death, disease, and other consequences of unhealthy behaviors.