Melvin R. Goodes Prize for Excellence in Drug Development honors an innovative researcher who has made a significant and lasting impact in the field.

Drug development researchers in the Alzheimer's field are often under-recognized for the critical contributions they make toward developing effective treatments for this disease. The Goodes Prize recognizes their determined efforts. It is named for Melvin R. Goodes, a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry, who brought about drug breakthroughs that improved millions of lives.

As a leader in supporting the most promising Alzheimer's drug development research worldwide, the ADDF is proud to present the Goodes Prize to those men and women who have dedicated their careers to finding a cure for this devastating disease. It includes $150,000 to support the winner's future research in Alzheimer's drug discovery.

Winners

2015: Frank Longo, MD, PhD

2016: D. Martin Watterson, PhD

2017: Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD

2018: Michela Gallagher, PhD

2019: Jeffrey Cummings, MD

2020: Jerri M. Rook, PhD

2021: Miia Kivipelto, MD, PhD

2022: Miranda E. Orr, PhD

2023: Rhoda Au, PhD, MBA

Nomination and Selection Process

The Selection Committee includes leaders in Alzheimer's research and drug development. The Committee nominates a select group for consideration. Top nominees are asked to submit a proposal that includes a biography, summary of past work, and a description of innovative research in need of funding. The Selection Committee chooses the winner from this pool of nominees. (Individuals on the Selection Committee are not eligible to receive the award.)

To be eligible, nominees must:

  • Be a professionally active (i.e., not retired) investigator with an interdisciplinary research career whose work reflects a lifelong commitment to Alzheimer's drug discovery and development. Nominees can be a medicinal chemist, pharmacologist, clinical trialist, or neurobiology researcher who embodies a spirit of entrepreneurship and has a history of producing ground-breaking research.
  • Be recognized by their peers as a leader and innovator in the field of Alzheimer's drug discovery and development.
  • Have published results related to Alzheimer’s and related dementia drug discovery research in significant and peer-reviewed journals and/or as patent applications.
  • Be affiliated with a major academic research/medical center, government, industry, and/or non-profit organization(s).