INDIANAPOLIS – Kevin P. Campbell, PhD, an internationally recognized researcher in the field of muscular dystrophy, has been named the 2026 winner of the August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research.
The Watanabe Prize, awarded by the Indiana University School of Medicine, is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. Awarded to a senior investigator, the prize is given to researchers who have made a significant contribution to the field of translational science.
Campbell is the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver Biomedical Research Chair in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He is also director of the Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center at the University of Iowa.
A faculty member at the University of Iowa since 1981, Campbell is well known for his work elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various forms of muscular dystrophy. Providing a scientific foundation for novel treatment strategies, his research has led to seminal discoveries advancing the understanding of skeletal muscle biology and offering critical insight into the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy.
A primary focus of Campbell's research involves the alterations in the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex that cause several forms of muscular dystrophy, including those with abnormal central nervous system development and function. His lab is investigating the structure and function of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as non-muscle tissues, including brain and peripheral nerve.
A highly active and accomplished scientist, Campbell has published 488 original papers that have received more than 83,000 citations, with an average citation rate of 1,697 citations per year from 1975 to 2025.
"I am deeply honored to receive the Watanabe Prize in Translational Research," Campbell said. "This award has special meaning to me as I had the privilege of knowing Gus Watanabe and have long admired both the contributions he made to the field of cardiovascular research and the visionary leadership he provided at Indiana University School of Medicine."
As the 2026 Watanabe Prize winner, Campbell will receive $100,000 and be honored on Sept. 18 at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute’s Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, where he will deliver the keynote address. The Indiana CTSI, housed at the IU School of Medicine, is a statewide partnership among IU, Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame and the Regenstrief Institute.
"We look forward to welcoming Dr. Campbell to the IU School of Medicine and the Indiana CTSI this fall and learning more about how the insights from his research are contributing to the improved diagnosis and treatment of muscular dystrophy," said Tatiana Foroud, PhD, the August M. Watanabe Professor of Medical Research and executive associate dean for research affairs at the IU School of Medicine. "His body of work and commitment to translational science and the field of muscular dystrophy are inspiring and represent the spirit of the Watanabe Prize."
Campbell was nominated by Denise Jamieson, MD, MPH, vice president of medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa.
The Watanabe Prize is eponymously named in honor of the late August M. Watanabe, a titan in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at the IU School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company.
Previous Watanabe Prize recipients include Kevan Herold, MD, (2025); Craig B. Thompson, MD (2024); Huda Zoghbi, MD (2023); Adrian R. Krainer, PhD (2022); Nancy J. Brown, MD (2021); Brian Druker, MD (2020); David Holtzman, MD (2019); Jean Bennett, MD, PhD (2018); Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD (2016); Carl H. June, MD (2015); and Tadataka Yamada, MD (2013).
About the Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 15 in 2025 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
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