About the Award
The Dr. Paul Janssen Award For Biomedical Research A Symbol of Innovation and Achievement
Dr. Paul Janssen - or Dr. Paul, as he was known throughout the global scientific community - was an exceptionally gifted and passionate scientist who revolutionized modern medicine and inspired a new generation of researchers.
In 2004, Johnson & Johnson created the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research to extend his legacy by honoring the work of an active scientist in academia, industry or a scientific institute who has made a significant, transformational contribution toward the improvement of public health.
The award was created with the goal of honoring the memory of Dr. Paul, his dedication to excellence, and his leadership of young scientists. It also promotes, recognizes and rewards passion and creativity in biomedical research while underlying the commitment of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies to scientific excellence in the advance of healthcare knowledge while also its responsibility to the community.
Each year, a gold and bronze sculpture along with a $200,000 cash prize is awarded to the most passionate and creative scientist or group of scientists in basic or clinical research, whose achievements have made or have strong potential to make a measurable impact on human health.
The profoundly representative award sculpture consists of two parts, each inspired by the life and work of Dr. Paul. The glass-and-bronze sculpture was conceived by Gravity DesignWorks, Inc. and handcrafted by noted glass artist Don Gonzalez, while the three-inch fine silver medallion fringed in gold and set at the base of the sculpture depicts Dr. Paul in the lab, and was handcrafted by Caesar Rufo, one of America's foremost metallic sculptors.
The silver ball at the back emphasizes the point of scientific inspiration and discovery, while the glass wall represents the unending frontier of science and medicine. This innovative journey becomes breakthrough at the point of intersection, transforming into a fully realized and rounded idea of translational medicine.
An inscription on the back of the medallion says ”What's New?" - a nod to Dr. Paul's daily question in his research & development lab; a question that at once inspired and encouraged his colleagues to seek new compounds that might one day lead to new medicines for patients.