Congratulations to our very own Dr. Jan Vilcek who was named a recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Barack Obama.

“I am proud to honor these inspiring American innovators,” President Obama said in a statement released by the White House.  “They represent the ingenuity and imagination that has long made this Nation great—and they remind us of the enormous impact a few good ideas can have when these creative qualities are unleashed in an entrepreneurial environment.”

Dr. Vilcek is being recognized for his pioneering work on interferons and contributions to the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.  His work was instrumental in the development of the anti-inflammatory drug Remicade®, now widely used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and other chronic inflammatory disorders.

The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the United States Government upon scientists, engineers, and inventors, recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life.

Learn more about Dr. Vilcek in this interview by Slovak Television:

Stay tuned for more announcements next month, when Dr. Vilcek will receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during a ceremony hosted at the White House.