The Sabin Vaccine Institute presented its annual Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal Award to Dr. Anne Gershon, of Columbia University, “for her outstanding research and public health efforts to combat the varicella zoster virus (VZV).   Dr. Gershon’s research was critical to the widespread adoption of the varicella vaccine, which prevents chickenpox.” Dr. Gershon is the director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease and Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, a position she has held for the past 26 years. Her research, which included examining the epidemiology, diagnosis, immunology, latency, prevention and treatment of VZV, played a crucial role in the final steps of the vaccine’s licensure and broad public use.  Dr. Gershon continues to study the safety and efficacy of varicella vaccine, including the growth and pathogenesis of VZV in cell culture and latency of VZV in humans and animal models.

Full announcement: http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases/dr-anne-gershon-receives-2013-albert-b-sabin-gold-medal-award