Newswise — DALLAS – Nov. 21, 2016 – Dr. Eric Olson, Director of the Hamon Center and Chairman of Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, was recognized nationally and locally for his academic mentoring prowess, along with his pioneering research into tissue regeneration and gene editing.

The Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award – one of the highest honors presented by the American Heart Association (AHA) – was presented to Dr. Olson in recognition of his mentorship of the upcoming generation of scientists and physicians working to understand and improve cardiovascular health.

“Not only has Dr. Olson’s work provided profound insights into molecular-level mechanisms of development of the heart, but he has nurtured a joy in research among the many junior colleagues and trainees who have worked with him over the years that will lead to future decades of gains,” said Dr. J. Gregory Fitz, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School, who holds the Nadine and Tom Craddick Distinguished Chair in Medical Science and the Atticus James Gill, M.D. Chair in Medical Science.

In presenting the national award, AHA President Steven Houser cited Dr. Olson’s work with hundreds of junior faculty members, fellows, and other trainees. “Eric Olson is an exemplary academic mentor with an unsurpassed record of training successes positively impacting future careers in cardiovascular research, education and medical practice. In 31 years, he has trained 42 Ph.D. students, 85 post-doctoral fellows, and he has more than 30 students currently in training.”

Dr. Olson, who is Director of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, is widely recognized for his studies of the molecular basis of heart and circulatory disease. He is also widely recognized for his geniality.

“I’m deeply honored and thrilled to be recognized by the Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award,” said Dr. Olson, who holds the Pogue Distinguished Chair in Research on Cardiac Birth Defects, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished Chair in Science, and the Annie and Willie Nelson Professorship in Stem Cell Research. “One of the thrills of doing science is the opportunity to interact with enthusiastic, smart, and dedicated students, and I have been fortunate to have had many great ones who came to Texas from all corners of the United States and the world. Their success gives me enormous satisfaction. This award is really a recognition of them and all they have accomplished.”

In recognition of his lifetime of research achievements, Dr. Olson was recognized locally with the Award for Excellence in Community Service in the category of Medical Science by the Dallas Historical Society.

Using a sophisticated combination of biochemistry and genetics, Dr. Olson has exposed networks of genes that control the formation of the heart and vascular system, including a DNA sequence dubbed “Upperhand,” whose role in growth of the heart was detailed in an article in the journal Nature last month.

He leads the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, whose goals are to answer fundamental questions about tissue formation and to discover strategies for repair of tissue and organs, including heart regeneration, and the Sen. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center, which is working to translate gene-editing techniques to clinical treatment.

Dr. Olson earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Wake Forest University. His many previous honors include the 2012 Passano Award, an award presented to a U.S. scientist for exemplary research that has real-world implications for clinical treatment. Dr. Olson is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.

“This is a history-maker award and we look for people who have made history in Dallas, people who have made a great difference,” said Louise Caldwell, a lifetime trustee of the Dallas Historical Society and coordinator of the Awards for Excellence. “We were so impressed with all he has done and all he continues to do.”

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty includes many distinguished members, including six who have been awarded Nobel Prizes since 1985. The faculty of almost 2,800 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide medical care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year.

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