Guest Post: Johnson and Johnson is celebrating outstanding scientists: Who will be next?

As a health care company with the mission of bringing forward transformational solutions for patients and consumers, innovative scientific advances are the essence of our success. We believe that a great idea can come from anywhere, and we are proud to fuel and support innovators all over the world.

One way in which Johnson & Johnson supports and celebrates the role of scientists in advancing human health is the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. This award honors the legacy of Dr. Paul Janssen, a gifted scientist and luminary in the pharmaceutical industry. Anyone who works in this industry knows what a feat it is to develop one drug; Dr. Paul discovered and developed an astounding 80 medicines in his lifetime.

Dr. Paul was a true inspiration to many. To me, he was a dear friend and mentor who inspired my journey to develop innovative medicines that improve and save lives. Dr. Paul brought a vibrant spirit of innovation to the lab every day. That same spirit continues to inspire us at Johnson & Johnson to this day to develop breakthrough treatments for unmet medical needs. To honor his legacy and celebrate today’s researchers, we established the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. Since 2004, we’ve honored 14 outstanding scientists who embody the leadership and passion of Dr. Paul and are driving cutting-edge science. Who will be next?

There are passionate and creative scientists working in labs around the world, and we need your help in bringing their accomplishments to light!  We know that both basic and translational science are vital to making meaningful advancements in human health.  We’re looking for scientists across all types of institutions, including industry scientists, whose work helps us understand complex diseases and opens new pathways to effective therapies.

Is there an exceptional researcher—perhaps one of your peers, colleagues or even a mentor—who has inspired you? I hope you will take a moment to nominate them today.

Learn more about the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research and nominate candidates at www.pauljanssenaward.com . Nominations are being accepted online through February 28.

Paul Stoffels, M.D., is Chief Scientific Officer for Johnson & Johnson. In this role, he works with R&D leaders across the company to set the enterprise-wide innovation agenda. He is a member of the Johnson & Johnson Executive Committee, and chairs the Johnson & Johnson R&D Management Committee, providing oversight to the Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation and the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centers, with the goal of catalyzing innovative science and technology.