Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant

Dr. Stephen I. Katz directed the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases from August 1995 until his death in December 2018. He is remembered as an outstanding scientist, administrator, and civil servant who was committed to excellence, transparency, integrity, and public trust. But perhaps most noteworthy were his strong commitment to mentorship, his unbridled enthusiasm, and his willingness to devote significant amounts of his time to guiding junior scientists. Based in part on his own career experiences, he frequently advocated for an NIH mechanism by which an early-stage investigator could receive support for a project unrelated to his or her area of postdoctoral study. Dr. Katz was passionate about motivating scientists to think outside the box, and this award mechanism is intended to provide a unique opportunity for early-stage investigators to take their research in a completely new direction, thereby stimulating innovation and encouraging new approaches to solving problems.