amfAR Research Fellow Wins Retrovirology Prize

Dr. Nolwenn Jouvenet

May 15, 2009–The 2009 Andy Kaplan Prize, bestowed each year on a promising young postdoctoral scientist for outstanding achievement in retrovirology, has been awarded to Dr. Nolwenn Jouvenet, one of amfAR’s Mathilde Krim Fellows in Basic Biomedical Research.

The Kaplan Prize is awarded in memory of Dr. Andy Kaplan, a widely respected HIV/AIDS researcher and advocate who died suddenly in 2006.  The Prize is funded by individual contributions from members of the retrovirology community.

“It is a great honor to be named the winner of the Kaplan Prize,” said Dr. Jouvenet. “My research was funded by amfAR’s Krim Fellowship, which helps young scientists establish a career in HIV/AIDS research—fitting since the Kaplan Prize was established to encourage and support junior researchers in retrovirology.” Only a few months after receiving her amfAR fellowship, in July 2008 Dr. Jouvenet published groundbreaking findings in the prestigious journal Nature concerning the birth of new HIV virus particles.

Dr. Jouvenet follows in the footsteps of amfAR grantee Dr. Sara Sawyer, who was the first recipient of the Kaplan Prize in 2007.  A scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Sawyer recently received an amfAR grant to study an evolutionary approach to identifying robust antiretroviral drug targets.

Dr. Jouvenet will receive her award this week at the 2009 Meeting on Retroviruses at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island.  She will also present her latest research findings.