NYU School of Medicine Professor Joins World Leaders in Academia, Business, Public Affairs, Humanities and the Arts

Newswise New York, NY, April 25, 2013 NYU School of Medicine is pleased to announce that The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD) has elected Martin J. Blaser, MD, the George and Muriel Singer Professor of Medicine, professor of microbiology, and director of the Human Microbiome Program at NYU Langone, to this years class of members. The new class will be inducted at a ceremony on October 12, 2013, at the Academys headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Members of the 2013 class include winners of the Nobel Prize; National Medal of Science; the Lasker Award; the Pulitzer and the Shaw prizes; the Fields Medal; MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships; the Kennedy Center Honors; and Grammy, Emmy, Academy, and Tony awards.

Dr. Blaser is a world renowned researcher in microbiology and infectious disease. His work over the past three decades has helped transform our understanding of the human microbiome, the bacteria that live on and inside us. In particular, his lab has helped untangle the complex molecular behavior of Helicobacter pylori, a widespread species of bacteria linked to gastritis, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. In addition to developing the first blood test for H. pylori, his team has recast the microbe in a new light, showing how its depletion in the gut through the use of antibiotics increases the risk of childhood asthma. Dr. Blaser holds 24 U.S. patents relating to his research into bacterial diseases and the microbiome, and has authored over 500 original articles.

Martin Blaser has made invaluable contributions not only to the study of the microbiome and disease, but as an educator and mentor to many fellow scientists, said Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD, senior vice president and vice dean for Science and chief scientific officer at NYU School of Medicine. Through his leadership and intangible interpersonal qualities as well as his research, he stands out as a model for the scientific community and beyond. His election to the AMACAD is richly deserved."

Dr. Blaser is the principal investigator on five peer reviewed grants, including three from the NIH, and serves as chair of the Advisory Board for Clinical Research at the NIH. Dr. Blaser also leads the Human Microbiome Program at NYU Langone.

Dr. Blaser is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, the American Epidemiologic Society, and the American Clinical and Climatological Association, as well as a Governor of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Master of the American College of Physicians. He currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for Clinical Research of the National Institutes of Health, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Previously he served as president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and as Chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute.

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About NYU School of Medicine: NYU School of Medicine is one of the nations preeminent academic institutions dedicated to achieving world class medical educational excellence. For 170 years, NYU School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research and direct patient care. The School also maintains academic affiliations with area hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital Center, one of the nations finest municipal hospitals where its students, residents and faculty provide the clinical and emergency care to New York Citys diverse population, which enhances the scope and quality of their medical education and training. Additional information about the NYU School of Medicine is available at http://school.med.nyu.edu/.

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American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elects Martin J. Blaser, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, to 2013 ...