Yale Faculty Recognized with Prestigious National Honors for Achievements in Health and Medicine

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Yale School of Medicine faculty members were among the 100 researchers elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) for 2025. Election to NAM recognizes outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service, and it is one of the highest honors within health and medicine.

Martina Brueckner, MD, professor of pediatrics (cardiology) and of genetics, was elected for her work uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the vertebrate left-right asymmetry that gives rise to the asymmetrical organization and positioning of our organs. She was also recognized for discovering a genetic cause for approximately 40% of congenital heart disease.

Lieping Chen, MD, PhD, United Technologies Corporation Professor in Cancer Research and professor of immunobiology, of dermatology, and of medicine (medical oncology), was elected to NAM for his fundamental contributions that deepen our understanding of how cancers evade immune detection. Chen discovered the PD-L1 molecule, a protein expressed on cancer cells that suppresses the immune response and promotes tumor growth. His work also revealed that PD-L1 is highly upregulated in some cancers and that targeting the molecule can help the immune system eliminate tumors, which laid the groundwork for key immunotherapies.

Tamas Horvath, DVM, PhD, Jean and David W. Wallace Professor of Comparative Medicine and professor of neuroscience and of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, was recognized for providing novel insights into how the hypothalamus regulates metabolism. His work has shown that hypothalamic metabolic circuits regulate higher brain functions and influence neurodegeneration, thus changing researchers' concepts of integrative physiology in health and disease.

Brueckner, Chen, and Horvath join the approximately 2,500 current members of NAM. One hundred new individuals—90 from the United States and 10 international members—are elected each year by current members.

About Yale School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine educates leaders in medicine and science, fostering curiosity and critical inquiry. It is a global leader in biomedical research, clinical care, and medical education. With over 1,700 physicians, Yale provides compassionate care to patients worldwide. The Yale System of Medical Education emphasizes critical thinking and independent research, producing leaders in academic medicine.

SOURCE Yale School of Medicine