Chevy Chase, MD, June 14, 2008 - The Endocrine Society is pleased to announce that John A. Cidlowski, Ph.D., is the 2008 recipient of its Edwin B. Astwood Award Lecture. This award is presented annually to recognize outstanding research in endocrinology. The Astwood Award Lecture will be presented to Dr. Cidlowski at ENDO 08, The Endocrine Society’s 90th Annual Meeting, which will take place from June 15-18, 2008 in San Francisco, California.

Dr. Cidlowski is a distinguished scientist who has made many valuable contributions to the field of endocrinology. While at the University of Vermont, he pioneered studies on glucocorticoid induced lymphocyte apoptosis and mechanisms of glucocorticoid action. Later, at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, he described the molecular events in glucocorticoid induced apoptosis and discovered mechanisms for generating tissue specific actions of glucocorticoids. In 1995, Dr. Cidlowski joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH), here he established a role for ion channels in lymphocyte apoptosis, identified hGRB as a mediator of glucocorticoid resistance, and discovered a role for the proteasome in glucocorticoid receptor degradation. Today, he is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and is the Chief of the Laboratory of Signal Transduction.

In addition to his scientific contributions, Dr. Cidlowski has been a dedicated servant to the all-encompassing field of endocrinology. A member of The Endocrine Society for more than 30 years, he has served on the editorial boards of Endocrinology, Molecular Endocrinology, and Endocrine Reviews. He has also served as a member and chair of study sections for the NIH and the U.S. Army, in addition to establishing the first Keystone Conferences on nuclear receptors and apoptosis for the Keystone Scientific Advisory Board. Recently, Dr. Cidlowski has extended his service into the development of young scientists by training graduate students, medical students, and postdoctoral fellows the discipline of endocrinology. He is currently editor-in-chief of The Endocrine Society’s journal, Molecular Endocrinology.

# # #

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.