Andrée Gruslin Award

The Andrée Gruslin Award is named in honor of Dr. Andrée Gruslin, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and researcher who, while battling breast cancer, continued not only her obstetrical service but also drove a well-known research program until her death in 2014. She spent her life researching placental health as a way of reducing risk from conditions such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. This prize will be offered every year to an outstanding female mid-career investigator in the field of placental or placental-related biology. As a guide, candidates should be at the assistant/associate professor level. The candidates can be nominated by others or can self-nominate.

Award: The award comprises a prize of $2,500 (donated by Elsevier) and an invitation to contribute an article to the annual issue of “Trophoblast Research” containing the invited reviews commissioned from the IFPA meeting that year. The article will be subject to normal peer review procedures. At the option of the IFPA meeting organizer, the awardee may be asked to present a lecture at the meeting that year.

Gábor Than Award

The Gábor Than Award is named in honor of Professor Gábor Than, a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist who had research interest in the placenta, pregnancy-related proteins and their diagnostic utilization in pregnancy complications. Since the pioneering era of placentology he participated in international collaborations and scientific societies in the field, and was also at the birth of IFPA in Sydney in 1994. After his sudden passing in 2002, the Gábor Than Foundation was established by his colleagues in his memory to support the research of the placenta and pregnancy-related proteins. Since 2002, the Foundation has made continuing donations for the establishment and support of the IFPA Gábor Than Award.  

The “ Gábor Than Award” in placentology acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of placentology in all its aspects, including the relationship with fetus and mother, by early career investigators who are normally within 10 years of their terminal degree. This award is presented biennially in even years, alternating with the IFPA Placentology Award (e.g. 2018, 2020 etc.).

Award: The IFPA Gábor Than Award consists of US$2,000 plus accomodation and registration for the next meeting and a bronze medal. The awardee will be invited to present a lecture during a plenary session of the same IFPA-designated meeting. The lecture will be published in “Trophoblast Research” following normal peer review procedures.

Joan Hunt Senior Award in Placentology

The Joan Hunt Senior Award in Placentology is named after Professor Joan Hunt, an internationally recognized placental immunologist at the University of Kansas and a leading member of IFPA for many years. It is intended to recognize the work of established senior scientists/PIs/clinicians who have lead placental research groups for a substantial period of time (as a guide to nominators/applicants, more than 20 years might be appropriate) and have made a significant contribution to our understanding of placental and reproductive functions in general. Special emphasis is placed on the requirement that nominees be IFPA members who have contributed significantly to the development, leadership and/or mission of IFPA. Awardees may also be able to demonstrate a commitment to teaching of reproduction/placenta, to the development of young placental researchers and/or communication of placental research to the public. Candidates should be proposed by at least three individuals.

Award: The IFPA Senior Award in Placentology will be presented at the next IFPA-designated meeting. The “IFPA Senior Award in Placentology” represents the highest distinction of the international placental research community. There will be no monetary prize associated with the Award. The awardee will receive a certificate and a special gift as a souvenir contributed by the organizer of IFPA meeting in the year of the award. The awardee will be invited to present a lecture during a plenary session of the IFPA meeting at which the Award will be presented. The lecture will be published in “Trophoblast Research” following normal peer review procedures. IFPA will provide up to US$1,500 towards the recipient’s economy-class airfare to the meeting at which the award is being given. This award is given every year.