NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.,
Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced the
establishment of the Susan L. Lindquist Chair for Women in Science
to honor the life and legacy of Susan
Lindquist, Ph.D., a globally renowned scientist whose
intellectually courageous, boundary defying research significantly
advanced science and medicine in the field of protein folding.
Dr. Lindquist, who passed away October
27, left behind a storied career and reputation in
biomedical innovation that spanned basic research,
entrepreneurship, and mentorship for women in science. The
$5 million Chair is endowed in
perpetuity at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and
will be awarded to a female scientist to advance biomedical
research.
"Sue was a scientific pioneer who changed fundamental
understanding of the biology of human health. As part of the
Johnson & Johnson Board of
Directors, she challenged us to use science and technology in new
ways to help improve the health and lives of people all around the
world," said Alex Gorsky, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson. "We are
pleased to establish this Chair in Sue's name as a greatly
respected and beloved scientist and as a passionate advocate for
women in science."
An insightful leader with an incomparable perspective on the
intersection of academic and commercial medical research, Dr.
Lindquist's research changed the scientific community's
understanding of protein folding and its role in human health,
including diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's. In
addition to founding and co-founding multiple biotechnology
companies, she served on the Johnson & Johnson Board of Directors since 2004 as
Chairman of its Science, Technology & Sustainability Committee
and as a member of its Regulatory, Compliance & Government
Affairs Committee. When she joined the Whitehead Institute as both
a Member and the Institute's Director in 2001, she became the
Institute's first female head and one of the first women in the
nation to lead a major independent research organization.
David C. Page, M.D., Director of
the Whitehead Institute and Professor of Biology at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), said, "We are so pleased to
partner with Johnson & Johnson to honor Sue's legacy and the
impact of women in science. In shaping the focus of this endowed
Chair with Sue and Johnson & Johnson, our aim was to ensure the
incumbents have great flexibility in how they pursue her legacy of
stellar science and courageous leadership."
Dr. Lindquist's personal warmth and generosity were widely
admired. As one colleague remembered, "she became one of my dearest
mentors—never failing to check in on me, regularly inviting me to
lunch to talk about the latest developments in our labs, even
thinking to send me a gift to welcome my newborn son. Speaking with
Sue always left me with a sense that everything was possible—that
one could be a first-class scientist and a first-class human being.
The world somehow expanded for all of us because she was in it. Sue
made a point of lifting others up and championing younger
people—she showed by example that this is how to have maximal
impact."
"Sue changed the face of research in so many ways, and she will
be deeply missed. We are pleased that her legacy and inspiration
continues in her research and in support for other women in science
through this new Chair," said Paul
Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson &
Johnson. "She was a phenomenal role model in all ways, to young men
and women alike. She was one of the finest people I have ever
had the privilege to know."
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson