About James (Jim) S. Huston, PhD:
Jim Huston (1945-2020) was a pioneering and visionary antibody engineer; his invention of the single chain Fv (sFv or scFv) antibody was a seminal advance. These genetically encoded molecules could express the vast diversity of antibody repertoires, be used for specific target binding by themselves, incorporated into multifunctional molecules, attached to cell surfaces, or applied in any number of formats relevant to biomedicine. Over the years scFvs became a staple in the antibody field enabling many critical advances.
Jim was one of the first people to see the long-term potential of antibody engineering and recognise how broad the applications could be. Those who had the privilege of interacting with him, benefitted greatly not only from his generosity, enthusiasm, intellectual rigour and encouragement but also from his willingness to share his wisdom and experience. Jim was passionate about disseminating knowledge and education. He served as a scientific advisor to the Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics meetings for three decades and was editor of the annual Protein Engineering, Design and Structure (PEDS) special issue on antibodies. His insistence on scientific quality and education helped stimulate the culture of knowledge sharing between academia, industry and policy makers that is unique to our field. Building on this, he co-founded The Antibody Society in 2007 and was the Founding President and Chairman, remaining an active Board Member until his death. He shared the gratification of many that after a long gestation, antibody engineering and therapeutics are proving so beneficial to human health with the promise of much more to come.
About the James S. Huston Antibody Science Talent Award:
The James S. Huston Antibody Science Talent Award is sponsored by The Antibody Society to recognize and encourage upcoming scientists in the field of Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics. Early career research scientists who have received an advanced degree (Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) within the last ten (10) years and who are within up to three (3) years after completing their postdoctoral work are eligible for the Award. The scientist is recognized for making important contributions to the antibody field and/or the dissemination of antibody knowledge. Eligibility of the nominee will be checked at time of nomination and before presentation of award. The recipient will be invited to give a lecture on their work, which will be made available on-line on The Antibody Society’s website (https://www.antibodysociety.org). The Award consists of: international recognition of the scientist’s accomplishments, a USD $1500 prize, and registration/travel expenses to the Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics conference in San Diego, CA, which is held in concert with The Antibody Society Annual Meeting.
Applicants can be nominated by Members of The Antibody Society in good standing*. Nominations need to be received by October 15 for the Award to be announced in December. Nominations will be reviewed by The Antibody Society’s Meeting Committee and the recommended candidates voted on by The Antibody Society’s Board of Directors.
* The Member is either a Member current on the Society’s annual dues, a student or post-doc eligible for a free membership or a Member eligible through the Society’s corporate sponsorship program.
Nomination process:
All documents should be sent as a single, combined PDF file to awards@antibodysociety.org. Please be aware that the single, combined PDF must be no larger than 20MB. Packages that are not complete will not be considered.
The nomination package should include the following:
- At least one (1) nomination letter of not more than two (2) pages, signed and submitted by a Member of The Antibody Society in good standing, describing the Nominee’s qualifications for the award. The letter should address the Nominee’s ongoing contributions to the field of Antibody Engineering and Therapeutics and their potential for becoming an academic or industry leader. The letter should clearly highlight the scientific advance(s) and/or exceptional efforts in disseminating antibody knowledge in supporting the nomination.
- Please include the Nominee’s complete contact information (full name [first, middle initial, last], title and affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address). The nomination letter must be from one individual and should not include multiple endorsements within it. It should reflect the observations and opinions of the author. Please refrain from extensive reliance on quotations and observations of others.
- An additional letter of recommendation of not more than two (2) pages may be included. The letter must be from one individual and should not include multiple endorsements within it. This letter must be signed and included in the package.
- A curriculum vitae of the Nominee should be submitted including: education, year of PhD, MD or equivalent degree, postdoctoral experience, current affiliation and position, research interests, awards, service and/or knowledge dissemination to the scientific community, funding (if applicable) and relevant bibliography.
Nominations will be accepted beginning June 15, 2020. Complete nomination packages must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern time on September 15, 2020. Packages must be submitted by email as a single combined PDF file to awards@antibodysociety.org. Incomplete nomination packages or nominations that do not comply with the stated instructions will not be considered. The Antibody Society will not accept materials sent separately or through regular mail. Final award decisions will be at the discretion of The Antibody Society’s Board of Directors.
