National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories Research Pioneer, Patsy Giclas, Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostics Laboratories (ADx) announced today that Patricia “Patsy” Giclas, PhD, is the recipient of the Association of Medical Immunologists (AMLI) 2017 Erwin Neter Laureate Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award was presented on August 14 to Dr. Giclas during the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists (ALMI) national conference held this year in Denver. 
 

Patricia “Patsy” Giclas, PhD, is an internationally recognized scientist and medical leader who developed the concept for a comprehensive diagnostic complement laboratory and founded the first such lab at National Jewish Health in Denver. The body’s complement system is the innate immune system’s first line of defense against infection. When the complement system becomes inappropriately activated – or when it does not activate as it should – serious health problems can result.

In the late 1970s, in a male-dominated field, Dr. Giclas came to be regarded as a leader among her peers because of her depth of knowledge, scientific curiosity and drive to advance the study and science of the complement system. Dr. Giclas’ work has helped physicians diagnose and treat thousands of patients worldwide with rare and potentially life-threatening disorders of the human complement system. Her work is also utilized to test safety and efficacy in the early stages of clinical trials for drug development.

Dr. Giclas started her career at National Jewish Health in 1977 as a research associate in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Giclas then served as the director of the first clinical laboratory in the United States focused solely on complement abnormalities. Through Dr. Giclas’ efforts, Denver and National Jewish Health have become the center of scientific knowledge in complement diagnostic testing. Her work and the work accomplished in the complement laboratory continue to benefit people throughout the world. After holding several leadership roles within National Jewish Health, in 2014, she became scientific advisor for the complement laboratory, where she continues to consult with researchers and physicians across the U.S. and around the world. She is also a Professor in the National Jewish Health Pediatrics Department, Allergy and Immunology Division.

The AMLI Erwin Neter Laureate Award for Lifetime Achievement is awarded annually in honor of Dr. Erwin Neter who was an internationally known clinical microbiologist, immunologist and pediatrician. Dr. Neter was an outstanding leader and was instrumental in defining and recognizing the discipline of medical laboratory immunology.