October 21, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, AL — J. Russell Lindsey, D.V.M., professor emeritus of genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been named recipient of the 2003 Distinguished Lecturer Award, the highest honor bestowed a UAB faculty member by the academic health center.
Lindsey, who is internationally known for his research in the field of comparative medicine, will receive the award, including a check for $5,000, and present his lecture, “A Celebration of Family,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, at the Harbert Center.
Lindsey joined the UAB faculty 36 years ago as professor and chair of the department of comparative medicine. Under his leadership, the department became one of the top programs in the nation in the discovery and investigation of animal models of human diseases. He also established graduate biomedical research and laboratory animal model training programs for veterinarians and managing animal resources for UAB’s biomedical research community.
A renowned researcher, Lindsey pioneered the study of diseases caused by certain microscopic organisms called mycoplasma. His early studies of one species, mycoplasma pulmonis, which causes pneumonia in mice, led him to engineer an animal model of “walking pneumonia” in humans. Subsequently, he and his research team have engineered animal models for the study human diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, prostate cancer, interstitial cystitis, and various viral infections.
A noted researcher and author, Lindsey has published more than 130 articles about his work. He has received numerous national honors, including the Charles River Prize of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Nathan R. Brewer Scientific achievement award of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science.
Among his many professional affiliations, he has served on scientific review boards of the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Veterans Affairs and the Department of Energy. He also represented the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges on the board of trustees of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.
Lindsey received his master’s of science degree from Auburn University and his degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Georgia in Athens. Since retiring from UAB in 2001, Lindsey continues to teach and consult for universities and research institutions worldwide, including UAB’s department of anesthesiology.
For more information, contact University Events at (205) 934-0771.