Distinguished Basic Investigator
Shu Man Fu, MD, PhD
Margaret M. Trolinger Professor of Rheumatology, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, Division of Clinical Rheumatology, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Background: Dr. Fu investigates the genetic and environmental factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is being recognized contributions in the field of basic and clinical immunology. He earned his medical degree at Stanford University and his doctorate at Rockefeller University in New York City, where he trained under two of the field’s research pioneers—Halsted Holman and the late Henry Kunkel. He was chief of the Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Division at the University of Virginia for nine years and director of the Specialized Center of Research on SLE for 10 years.
Q: What does this award mean to you?
A: It indicates my contributions and years of hard work have been recognized. It’s also a tribute to my mentors, Halsted Holman and the late Henry Kunkel, both of whom taught me to be critical and to look at clinical problems from an investigative view.
Q: What are the keys to being a good mentor?
A: You have to be frank with your mentees and analyze data with them. Frequent discussions of data and current literature will lead to new ideas and experiments. You also have to leave them alone to allow them to explore their ideas and to experience the joy of being independent. You can’t force your will on their growth.
Q: What would you tell the next generation of researchers?
A: I think the next generation will be different. The key will still be to immerse yourself in your research for a period of time, maybe three or four years, with no distractions. You have to think about your research problem all the time; this is not a 9–5 job, Monday through Friday. You have to be able to look at the developments in multiple areas and try to bring them to your own research projects. Most importantly, you have to think big so that you will work on important questions.
Distinguished Clinical Investigator
Marc Hochberg, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and Public Health, and Head, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore
