The First Tomoh Masaki Award (2011)

Abstract

Professor Tomoh Masaki, a Japanese physician-scientist born in 1934, is particularly known for the discovery of endothelium-derived peptide endothelin and its receptors, among many other scientific achievements. In recognition of his work, the Tomoh Masaki Award was established in 2011 by the Endothelin International Advisory Board of The International Conferences on Endothelin as a biannual scientific prize in recognition of Masaki's innovative and ground-breaking work that has led to new clinical applications. The inaugural Tomoh Masaki Award was presented at The Twelfth International Conference on Endothelin held in Cambridge, UK, to one his former graduate students, Professor Masashi Yanagisawa as the first recipient of this award, who played an instrumental role in the discovery of endothelin at the University of Tsukuba, Japan. The article summarizes the scientific achievements of Masaki and the awardee, Masashi Yanagisawa, also including personal reflections of two of Masaki's former graduate students on their teacher as well as on the awardee of The First Tomoh Masaki Award 2011 and their work as scientists and their role as mentors.