Indiana University School of Medicine is pleased to award the August M. Watanabe prize in translational research. The prize is one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious awards, recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. The prize is awarded to a senior investigator who has made a significant contribution to the field of translational science. The winner receives $100,000 and travels to Indianapolis as a visiting dignitary, sharing insights and knowledge with audiences at IU School of Medicine and its partner institutions.
August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research
2026 winner of the Watanabe Prize in Translational Research
Kevin Campbell, PhD, is the 2026 winner of the August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research and will be honored at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) Annual Meeting in November.
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.
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.
Past Recipients
2025
![Kevan Herold]( "Kevan Herold, MD | Photo courtesy of Kevan Herold")
Kevan Herold, MD
2024
![Craig B. Thompson portrait]()
Craig B. Thompson, MD
2023
![portrait of huda zoghbi]()
Huda Y. Zoghbi, MD
2022
![portrait of adrian krainer]()
Adrian Krainer, PhD
2021
![Nancy Brown Headshot]()
Nancy J. Brown, MD
2020
![Portrait of Brian Druker black suit]()
Brian Druker, MD
2019
![Portrait of David Holtzman lab coat]()
David Holtzman, MD
2018
![Jean Bennett brown hair smiling]()
Jean Bennett, MD, PhD
2016
![Portrait of Robert wearing glasses smiling]()
Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD
2015
![Portrait of Carl in lab coat smiling]()
Carl H. June, MD
2013
![Tadataka wearing suit sitting at desk]()
Tadataka Yamada, MD
The Watanabe Legacy
The Watanabe prize is named in honor of the late August 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 Indiana University School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company.
Dr. Watanabe began his career at IU in 1972 and served as chair of the Department of Medicine from 1983 to 1990. From there, he joined Eli Lilly and Company, where he was ultimately named executive vice president, overseeing the launch of 11 drugs and doubling the size of Lilly’s research and development staff.
The Watanabe Prize in Translational Research was established to honor Dr. Watanabe’s unparalleled dedication to scientific inquiry and his tireless advocacy of translational research.
The design of the Watanabe crest is based on the ancient Japanese Wataribe clan, from which the name Watanabe is derived. The crest symbolizes a ferry, as the Wataribe clan ran ferry services throughout Japan. Fittingly, Dr. Watanabe helped “ferry” discoveries through the scientific pipeline, delivering them to patients in the form of the new treatments and, ultimately, hope for a healthier tomorrow.