The Department of Pathology is excited to congratulate two of its very own faculty members, Benjamin Bradley, MD, PhD, and David R. Hillyard, MD, for being among this year's recipients of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology (PASCV) Career Achievement Awards.
"PASCV's scientific and career achievement awards program is designed to foster and recognize research excellence, leadership, and outstanding technical achievement in the field of clinical virology. These distinguished awards are designed to recognize outstanding scientific contributions by individuals dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding and medical practice of viral human diseases," according to PASCV's website.
Dr. Benjamin Bradley and Dr. David R. Hillyard, both ARUP Laboratories medical directors, received the Young Investigator Award and the Clinical Virology Award, respectively.
Dr. Bradley, medical director of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Infectious Disease Genomic Technologies, High Consequence Pathogen Response, Virology, and Molecular Infectious Diseases, was awarded the Young Investigator Award, recognizing his vital work in tackling emerging infectious diseases — specifically the advances he and his team have deployed in response to mpox, avian influenza, and measles. This award has a history of identifying future leaders in the field, and we are proud to see Dr. Bradley be recognized among the most successful virologists in clinical science.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by leading clinical virologists,” Bradley said. “For me, it reinforces that the work we’re doing at ARUP—building resources that improve public health response—is valuable beyond our organization. This award also belongs to the scientists and staff who turn these ideas into reality," per ARUP.
“While this award recognizes early‑career work, it also represents a commitment to what comes next. The public health landscape is changing, and I hope over the next 20 years, we continue to do the right thing for patients and establish ARUP as a national leader in infectious disease diagnosis.”
Dr. Hillyard, medical director of Molecular Infectious Diseases, was awarded the Ed Nowakowski Clinical Virology Award, one of PAVSC’s highest career achievement honors. "The Clinical Virology Award recognizes an outstanding scientist whose contributions to clinical virology have had a major impact on the understanding of viral disease pathogenesis, epidemiology or treatment," according to PAVSC.
"Hillyard’s career has been distinguished by early and ongoing contributions to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‑based diagnostics, beginning in the formative years of molecular testing. Trained at Columbia University, he joined ARUP in 1985. In the decades since, he has worked on advanced test development, assay optimization, and academic-industry collaborations to improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. He also has served multiple terms on PASCV committees, helping to guide the society’s scientific direction," according to ARUP.
“PASCV represents the breadth of clinical virology, not just geographically, but scientifically. To be recognized by colleagues whose work has shaped this field over many years is deeply meaningful."
We couldn't be more proud to have Dr. Bradley and Dr. Hillyard represent the University of Utah Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories!
Contributing authors: Bonnie Stray, ARUP Laboratories; Lisa Carricaburu, ARUP Laboratories