Northwestern faculty inducted into the National Academy of Medicine

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Northwestern faculty inducted into the National Academy of Medicine

Membership considered among the most prestigious honors in medical, scientific communities

CHICAGO - Northwestern Medicine scientists whose discoveries have advanced the understanding and treatment of cancer and heart aging have been inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the nation's highest honors in health and medicine.

The National Academy of Medicine recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service in the fields of health, medicine and science. Membership is considered among the most prestigious honors in the medical and scientific community.

Dr. Maciej S. Lesniak, the Michael J. Marchese Professor and chair of the department of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Ali Shilatifard, the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and chair of the department of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Feinberg; and Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, adjunct professor of preventive medicine in the division of epidemiology at Feinberg, were recognized for their significant contributions to biomedical research and patient care.

Advancing cancer care

As chair of neurological surgery, Lesniak has built an internationally recognized research program focused on developing innovative treatments for malignant brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma. His work spans immunotherapy, gene therapy, stem cell biology and nanotechnology, with the goal of bringing novel therapies from the laboratory to patients. Throughout his career, he has led numerous clinical trials and translational research efforts to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive brain and central nervous system cancers.

A graduate of Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Lesniak completed his neurosurgical and neuro-oncology training at Johns Hopkins before joining Feinberg. In addition to his research accomplishments, he maintains a clinical practice dedicated to the care of patients with brain tumors and other complex neurosurgical conditions.

He was elected to NAM for pioneering a method of loading neural stem cells with an engineered tumor-specific virus to infect and kill glioblastoma cells. His breakthroughs have launched novel and first-in-human clinical trials and paved the way for elucidating the mechanisms of antiviral and antitumoral immunity in glioblastoma.

"It is a great honor to be recognized for the work my laboratory has done to date," Lesniak said. "However, until we actually make a significant dent in the natural history of the disease and either prolong survival or cure brain tumors, my life's goal is to work with colleagues around the country and world for the betterment of human health and advancement of cures for this devastating and deadly disease. I am proud that Northwestern Medicine provides me with the kind of environment which allows us to implement new ideas into human clinical trials."

Exploring the epigenetics of cancer

Since arriving at Northwestern, Shilatifard has established his laboratory as a global center for epigenetics research. Shilatifard's work has uncovered fundamental mechanisms that regulate gene expression and has revealed how disruptions in these processes contribute to childhood leukemia and other cancers. His laboratory's discoveries linking epigenetic regulation and transcriptional control to malignancy have helped open new avenues for targeted cancer therapies and FDA-approved clinical studies for several cancers.

"I am deeply honored by my election to the National Academy of Medicine and grateful to my colleagues at NAM for their vote of confidence," Shilatifard said. "This recognition reflects the efforts and support of so many people: the extraordinary support I have received from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the generous and visionary support from philanthropists, Northwestern University and especially, undoubtedly, the dedication, creativity and hard work of the members of my laboratory, past and present. I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside such talented colleagues and trainees over the years."

As an internationally recognized leader in epigenetics, chromatin biology and cancer research, Shilatifard was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences based on his fundamental scientific discoveries. He also serves as leader of the Cancer Epigenetics and Nuclear Dynamics Program at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

"Most importantly, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my wife and our four children, whose love, patience and unwavering support over the past 30-plus years have made everything possible," Shilatifard said. "I feel enormously fortunate and grateful. I truly am one of the luckiest people alive."

Understanding healthy heart aging

Throughout his career, Lloyd-Jones has been a leading voice in cardiovascular disease prevention and population health. His research has focused on cardiovascular health across the life course, healthy aging, disease risk estimation and the epidemiology of heart disease and related conditions. His work has helped shape the understanding of how early-life and lifelong risk factors influence cardiovascular outcomes, informing both clinical practice and public health strategies.

A nationally recognized leader in medicine, Lloyd-Jones previously chaired the department of preventive medicine at Feinberg and served as president of the American Heart Association from 2021 to 2022. He has also played key roles in developing major cardiovascular prevention and risk assessment guidelines that have influenced patient care across the United States.