Barry Zirkin, PhD, professor with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named the 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Andrologist Award by the American Society of Andrology. The award is the American Society of Andrology’s most prestigious and is given annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the progress of andrology.
Zirkin was awarded for his scientific contributions to the understanding of the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis as well as his research into the cause of the aging-related decline of the function of Leydig cells, the primary source of testosterone in men. Zirkin is the principal investigator of the NICHD-funded Specialized Cooperative Center in Reproduction and Infertility Research at Johns Hopkins University. He also is a recipient of a prestigious Merit Award from the National Institutes of Aging, and has garnered several awards for his teaching and research accomplishments in the past.
“This is a tremendous achievement and one that Barry fully deserves,” said Pierre Coulombe, PhD, E.V. McCollum Professor and Chair of the Bloomberg School’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “His research has expanded our understanding of spermatogenesis and adds to the growing body of literature on male reproduction from a variety of angles including stem cells, homeostasis and aging. This award also recognizes Barry’s sizable impact as a teacher, mentor, and leader in this field and beyond. Barry epitomizes what academia is all about, and he is an invaluable asset to our department and school.”
Founded in 1975, the American Society of Andrology fosters a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of male reproduction in addition to promoting scientific interchange between basic and clinical scientists. The award will be presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Andrology on April 5, 2011, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Media contact for Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Natalie Wood-Wright at 410-614-6029 or nwoodwri@jhsph.edu.
