Curt D. Sigmund, PhD, the Roy J. Carver Chair in Hypertension Research, and professor and DEO of the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, has been awarded the 2017 Leadership in Research Award by the Vice-President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Iowa. This lifetime achievement award, which is given annually, recognizes distinguished leadership in research and scholarly accomplishments over a career.
Sigmund, who also holds appointments in internal medicine, and molecular physiology and biophysics, joined the UI faculty in 1991. He is internationally known for his work focused on understanding the biological pathways and mechanisms that control blood pressure and cardiovascular function and disease. He has served in numerous leadership positions during his career at the UI, including as Director of the UI Transgenic Animal Facility from 1991 to 2010; founding Director of the UI Center for Hypertension Research established in 2014, and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology since 2010.
Sigmund’s leadership has been instrumental in developing several large, successful, multidisciplinary research programs, including teams of researchers funded by a program project grant in Hypertension from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and a strategically focused research network grant from the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA research team comprises faculty from five departments in three UI colleges; the Carver College of Medicine (Departments of Pharmacology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pathology), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Health and Human Physiology), and the College of Public Health (Biostatistics).
Sigmund not only represents an inspiring role model through his own research success, but he also is an active advocate for his colleagues and trainees, providing encouragement and opportunities for success and growth, and helping young scientists become research leaders in their own right.
Sigmund received the 2017 Leadership in Research Award April 24 at the annual Discovery and Innovation Awards Ceremony, which highlights research and innovation achievement. The award includes a prize of $1,000 and a commemorative gift.