TEMPLE, Texas (March 12, 2009) - Gianfranco D. Alpini, Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine and Systems Biology & Translational Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, was recently notified of the renewal of his Research Career Scientist award from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Dr. Alpini holds the Dr. Nicholas C. Hightower Centennial Chair of Gastroenterology and is the Director of the Scott & White Digestive Diseases Research Center.

Dr. Alpini first received this prestigious designation four years ago and was recently approved for another five years, a period which will run from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014.

"I am very proud of this achievement - it is all due to teamwork," Dr. Alpini says. "It is an acknowledgement of my personal success, but also the success of my group. Most of the time when a scientist receives a grant, it is related to a specific topic, but this is recognition of my career and the people I work with, so I am truly humbled and honored."

The award, which provides a portion of the recipient's salary, is bestowed only on nationally and internationally-recognized VA researchers with grants from the National Institutes of Health and the VA. The Research Career Scientist appointment recognizes not only very productive scientists, but also those with a commitment to teaching, mentoring and collaborative research efforts.

According to Paul B. Hicks, M.D./Ph.D., Associate Chief of Staff at the Central Texas Veteran's Health Care System in Temple, the designation is given to a small number of investigators in recognition of an established research career.

"There are not many of these awards given nationwide," Dr. Hicks says. "For a program as small as ours to have Dr. Alpini receive this highly-recognized designation is quite an accomplishment."

About the Research Career Scientist Award:

The VA's Health Services Research & Development Career Development (HSR&D) program is designed to foster the research career of junior entry and mid-level VA physicians and Ph.D. trained investigators with special qualifications and interest in health services research and development.

The Research Career Scientist Award is designed to provide up to a five-year salary assurance to junior Ph.D. scientists who have demonstrated evidence of sustained productivity in a focused HSR&D area. Awards are renewable indefinitely. The Research Career Scientist must be in receipt of VA Research funding or must have received such funding in the past, followed by other national peer-reviewed research support.

Gianfranco D. Alpini, Ph.D (front row, middle) and members of the Digestive Disease Research Center