May 25, 2021—Edward Chouchani, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, is the 2021 recipient of the Armen H. Tashjian Jr. Award for Excellence in Endocrine Research.
Several faculty members from the Department of Molecular Metabolism, including Robert Farese Jr., chair of the department and professor of molecular metabolism, and Gökhan S. Hotamışlıgil, James Stevens Simmons Professor of Genetics and Metabolism and director of the Sabri Ülker Center for Nutrient, Genetic and Metabolic Research, presented Chouchani the award during a Zoom ceremony on May 13, 2021. Jane Kim, dean for academic affairs and K.T. Li Professor of Health Economics, and David Golan, dean for research operations and global programs at Harvard Medical School, also delivered remarks on the significance of the award and Chouchani’s research successes.
Before delivering his lecture, Chouchani said the award highlights the special metabolic research community Harvard University has fostered across the Longwood area and that he was honored to be considered alongside past recipients. He then discussed his laboratory’s efforts to develop mass spectrometry-based technologies to understand metabolite regulation in cells in a presentation titled, “Why succinate? A model for physiological regulation by the mitochondrial bioenergetic sentinel.”
Armen Tashjian was professor of toxicology, emeritus, in the Department of Molecular Metabolism. He led the School’s toxicology program for nearly three decades. The award recognizes promising young faculty members and fellows at the School who are pursuing innovative research ideas in basic biomedical sciences.
Watch the ceremony and presentation.
Photo: courtesy of Edward Chouchani