Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences formally awarded to Carol W. Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn at Rockefeller University.
On 12 May 2006, Carol W. Greider and Elizabeth H. Blackburn received the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences at a ceremony at The Rockefeller University, honoring their discovery of telomerase and its role in protecting chromosome ends.
The award presentation celebrated their demonstration that telomerase adds repetitive DNA sequences to telomeres, thereby preventing chromosomal degradation and contributing to cell longevity. By focusing on a basic molecular process with profound implications for cancer and aging, the Wiley Prize highlighted the power of fundamental research to reshape medical thinking.
This event was historically significant because it publicly affirmed Greider’s pioneering status in telomere biology and, following the earlier announcement, made concrete her distinction as the first woman laureate of the Wiley Prize. The ceremony placed her among a select group of biomedical scientists whose work has opened new fields of inquiry.
In the context of women’s history, the awarding of the Wiley Prize to Greider reinforced the message that women can and do lead major conceptual advances in biomedicine. It contributed to increasing visibility for women at elite scientific institutions and provided a notable precedent for more gender-inclusive recognition in high-impact research awards.