Kaplan Award

Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for Advancement in the Understanding of Polycystic Kidney Disease

The Lillian Jean Kaplan International Prize for Advancement recognizes an individual(s) whose seminal scientific work constitutes tangible achievement toward improving knowledge and treatment of PKD. More than one prize may be awarded, and it may be awarded to residents of any country without restriction.

Award-winner 2024

Michael Caplan, M.D., Ph.D.

Michael Caplan, M.D., Ph.D.

C.N.H. Long Professor and Chair of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Professor of Cell Biology at Yale University School of Medicine

Professor Caplan earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard in 1980, and his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale in 1987, working in the laboratories of James D. Jamieson and George Palade. He joined Yale’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology as a faculty member in 1988. He received a fellowship from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation, a National Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation, and the Young Investigator Awards from the American Physiological Society and the American Society of Nephrologists. He has delivered the American Physiological Society’s Carl W. Gottschalk Distinguished Lectureship and was elected to membership in the American Association of Physicians. He was humbled to receive Yale Medical School’s Bohmfalk Prize for teaching and to be selected as the first recipient of Yale University’s Award for Postdoctoral Mentorship.

Professor Caplan’s laboratory studies Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, a prevalent and serious genetic disorder and a major cause of kidney failure. The Caplan laboratory is working to understand the mechanisms responsible for this condition and to identify targets for new therapies.

Commenting on his award he says, “I am thrilled, honored and deeply humbled. I am also extremely grateful to the wonderful co-workers in my own laboratory and to collaborators around the world for their tremendous help and support.”

Nominations for 2025

Nominations for the 2025 award are due August 2024. 

Nomination requirements:

  • Your details: complete name, ISN membership number, and contact information
  • Nominee details: complete name (as listed in publications) and contact information
  • Support statement: a description of how and why the nominee’s work represents a major advance in basic or clinical understanding of PKD, distinguishing those aspects which clearly set it apart from the work of others in the field, and a summary of the nominee’s contributions
  • Full curriculum vitae and bibliography of the nominee
  • Letters of support: at least two

All nominations and supporting materials are to be sent via email to Jo-Ann Donner at jdonner@theisn.org.

Winners are selected by the Lillian Jean Kaplan Prize Advisory Committee: Committee Chair Dr. Vicente Torres, two committee members selected by the PKD Foundation, and two ISN members.

Past award recipients

2023

Terry J. Watnick, MD

Terry J. Watnick, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore

Baltimore, MD

2022

Alessandra Boletta, Ph.D.

Alessandra Boletta, Ph.D.

San Raffaele Scientific Institute

Italy

Albert Chee Meng Ong, B.M.B.Ch., M.A., D.M., F.R.C.P.

Albert Chee Meng Ong, B.M.B.Ch., M.A., D.M., F.R.C.P.

University of Sheffield

United Kingdom

2021

Kyongtae (Ty) Bae, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Kyongtae (Ty) Bae, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

2020

Arlene Chapman, M.D.

Arlene Chapman, M.D.

University of Chicago

Chicago

2019

York Pei, M.D.

York Pei, M.D.

University of Toronto

Canada

Bradley Yoder, Ph.D.

Bradley Yoder, Ph.D.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Ala.

2017

Ronald D. Perrone, M.D.

Ronald D. Perrone, M.D.

Tufts Medical Center

Boston

David R. Beier, M.D., Ph.D.

David R. Beier, M.D., Ph.D.

Seattle Children’s Research

Seattle

2015

Peter Igarashi, M.D.

Peter Igarashi, M.D.

University of Minnesota Medical School

Minneapolis

Gregory J. Pazour, Ph.D.

Gregory J. Pazour, Ph.D.

University of Massachussetts Medical School

Worcester, Mass.

2013

Vincent Gattone, Ph.D.

Vincent Gattone, Ph.D.

Indiana University School of Medicine

Indianapolis

Dorien Peters, Ph.D.

Dorien Peters, Ph.D.

Leiden University Medical Center

Leiden, Netherlands

2011

Gerd Walz, M.D.

Gerd Walz, M.D.

Freiburg Medical Center

Germany

James Calvet, Ph.D.

James Calvet, Ph.D.

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kan.

2009

Lisa Guay-Woodford, M.D.

Lisa Guay-Woodford, M.D.

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Ala.

Corinne Antignac, M.D., Ph.D.

Corinne Antignac, M.D., Ph.D.

Necker Hospital

Paris

Friedhelm Hildebrandt, M.D.

Friedhelm Hildebrandt, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Boston

2007

Jing Zhou, M.D., Ph.D.

Jing Zhou, M.D., Ph.D.

Harvard Medical School

Boston

Vicente Torres, M.D.

Vicente Torres, M.D.

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minn.

2005

Greg Germino, M.D.

Greg Germino, M.D.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore

Stefan Somlo, M.D.

Stefan Somlo, M.D.

Yale University School of Medicine

New Haven, Conn.

2003

Jared J. Grantham, M.D.

Jared J. Grantham, M.D.

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kan.

Peter Harris, Ph.D.

Peter Harris, Ph.D.

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minn.

Page last edited January 2023