2020 Distinguished Scientist - Gregg L. Semenza, MD, PhD, FAHA

Gregg L. Semenza, MD, PhD, FAHA
C. Michael Armstrong Professor of Genetic Medicine, Pediatrics, Oncology, Medicine, Radiation Oncology and Biological Chemistry
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Director, Vascular Program
Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering
Baltimore, MD

Dr. Semenza received an AB in Biology from Harvard College; MD and PhD (in Genetics) degrees from the University of Pennsylvania; pediatrics residency training at Duke University Medical Center; and postdoctoral training in medical genetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he has spent his entire career. He is currently the C. Michael Armstrong Professor of Genetic Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and founding Director of the Vascular Program in the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering.

Dr. Semenza discovered hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which direct transcriptional responses to decreased oxygen availability in all metazoan species. His lab has shown that HIFs play important roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and other chronic diseases. HIF stabilizers and HIF inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for treatment of anemia and cancer, respectively.

Dr. Semenza is a Founding Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and an elected member of the Society for Pediatric Research, American Society for Clinical Investigation, National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Sciences. He has received numerous awards including the Canada Gairdner International Award, Lefoulon-Delalande Prize of the Institut de France, Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences, Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He has published more than 400 papers that have been cited over 150,000 times.