ROCKVILLE, Md. – September 10, 2020 – The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostics professional society, today announced the recipients of this year’s Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics, Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award and Meritorious Service Award. Due to ongoing safety considerations and travel restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, these awards will be presented virtually at the 2020 Annual Meeting & Expo in November.
Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics Dennis Lo, FRS The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Lo is receiving AMP’s highest honor for his pioneering work on the biology and diagnostic applications of cell-free nucleic acids in plasma. In particular, he discovered the presence of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma in 1997 and advanced the non-invasive prenatal diagnostic use of this technology, which has been adopted globally and has created a paradigm in prenatal medicine. Dr. Lo also made many innovations using circulating nucleic acids for cancer detection, including the screening of early stage nasopharyngeal cancer.
Following his award presentation, Dr. Lo will deliver the meeting’s keynote lecture, “Non-invasive Prenatal Testing and Cancer Liquid Biopsies – From Dream to Reality.”
Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership Award Karen P. Mann, MD, PhD Grady Health System and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
AMP is recognizing Dr. Mann for her exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing AMP’s mission. Dr. Mann has been a member of AMP since 1999 and has served AMP in many capacities, including Hematopathology Subdivision Chair (2003), Clinical Practice Committee Chair (2006), Secretary Treasurer / Publications Committee Chair (2007), AMP President (2010), and Nominating Committee Chair (2011). In addition, her involvement in AMP’s first strategic planning process helped provide a vision and structure – as well as long-term investments in advocacy efforts and the production of evidence-based practice guidelines – that continue to guide the organization today.
AMP Meritorious Service Award Ronald M. Przygodzki, MD Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Research & Development, Washington, DC
Dr. Przygodzki is being recognized for his contributions to AMP and The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics (JMD), AMP’s official journal. He has served as a member of JMD’s Editorial Board for over ten years, during which time the Journal increased production to twelve issues per year, and has frequently been the highest ranked journal in the field, with an Impact Factor score in 2019 of 5.5. In addition to his service to JMD, Dr. Przygodzki has served as Membership Affairs Committee Chair and on the Board of Directors (2016-18), as well as a member of the Membership Affairs Committee (2014-2016), the Program Committee (2012-2014) the Publications Committee (2019 – current), and the (now retired) Web Editorial Committee.
“It is my honor to extend these awards to Drs. Lo, Mann and Przygodzki on behalf of the AMP membership” said Karen Weck, MD, AMP President. “Although we are unable to bestow these honors in person, I wish to congratulate each of them and extend our appreciation for their lasting contributions to the field of molecular pathology.”
For more information on the AMP 2020 Annual Meeting, please visit our meeting website.
ABOUT AMP
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was founded in 1995 to provide structure and leadership to the emerging field of molecular diagnostics. AMP’s 2,500+ members practice various disciplines of molecular diagnostics, including bioinformatics, infectious diseases, inherited conditions, and oncology. Our members are pathologists, clinical laboratory directors, basic and translational scientists, technologists, and trainees that practice in a variety of settings, including academic and community medical centers, government, and industry. Through the efforts of its Board of Directors, Committees, Working Groups, and Members, AMP is the primary resource for expertise, education, and collaboration in one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare. AMP members influence policy and regulation on the national and international levels, ultimately serving to advance innovation in the field and protect patient access to high quality, appropriate testing. For more information, visit
www.amp.org and follow AMP on Twitter: @AMPath
