By Paul Stoffels, Global Head, Pharmaceuticals Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson 

This morning, Johnson & Johnson and an independent selection committee of world renowned scientists are proud to announce the winners of the 2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. 

After careful review of more than 125 nominations of top scientists from 28 countries, the Selection Committee chose Dr. Erik De Clercq, Professor Emeritus, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium, and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.  Drs. De Clercq and Fauci were selected for their pioneering work in understanding and combating viral diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS.

Having personally worked with Dr. Paul on the research and development of treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS, I could not be more pleased with the Selection Committee’s decision.  When AIDS was discovered in the early 1980s, we didn’t understand the virus and had very few tools to help patients. While many challenges remain, thanks to breakthroughs by scientists like Dr. De Clercq and Dr. Fauci, as well as Dr. Paul and his team, many people with HIV are now able to live long and productive lives.

Dr. Paul, as he was known to us familiarly, was one of the most productive scientists of our day and a true inspiration. He helped save millions of lives through his contribution to the discovery and development of more than 80 medicines from a variety of fields, including psychiatry, pain and HIV/AIDS. 

The 2010 Award winners embody the leadership and passion of Dr. Paul.  They have dedicated their lives to better understanding and bringing solutions for many infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, and in that way have positively impacted the lives of millions of patients.

Through the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, we are pleased to recognize and reward their passion and creativity in biomedical science and to underscore Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to scientific excellence in the advancement of healthcare knowledge while fulfilling its responsibility in the community.

Click here to read more about the work of Dr. De Clercq and Dr. Fauci.

To learn more about The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, visit www.pauljanssenaward.com.  You can also view our posts on the 2008 and 2009 awards.

Editor’s Note: The following is from Robert Bazemore, Jr., President of our Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc. company.

Recently, I had the honor of meeting Gordon Kenyon, an incredibly brave, young individual with late-stage, metastatic prostate cancer, who was accompanied by his wife, Kim. They recounted how tests for an unexpected back injury ultimately revealed that he had prostate cancer-induced bone fractures. The unanticipated and devastating news about advanced prostate cancer turned his life upside down, as he and his family were immediately faced with a host of decisions.

Since his diagnosis, this former Marine, tri-athlete and father of three young children has undergone several treatments in an attempt to win the upper hand over the disease. His wife gives the term “pillar of strength” new meaning, seeking out the latest information and resources while he focuses on maintaining his health and providing for the long-term needs of his family. His captivating story impressed upon me the need for new treatment options as well as the critical role of education and support services to manage the baggage that accompanies this disease.

Prostate cancer is often misunderstood. About 32,000 men are estimated to die this year from the disease in the U.S. alone – enough men to fill approximately 400 metropolitan buses, including standing passengers – or 77 Boeing 747-400 airplanes. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. Yet, despite these staggering numbers, there’s often the misperception that prostate cancer is less dangerous than other cancers.

Legendary golf champion and prostate cancer survivor Arnold Palmer joins Centocor Ortho Biotech and Us TOO to launch My Prostate Cancer Roadmap, a special resource for advanced prostate cancer patients and their loved ones. My Prostate Cancer Roadmap helps these patients and those who care about them navigate, via a GPS format, a plethora of issues related to the disease, including health and wellness, work and relationships – as well as more difficult topics, such as sex and intimacy. This resource offers two paths – one for men with advanced prostate cancer and the other for family, friends and caregivers – to help address their related, but unique, needs.

In honor of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I invite you to join our journey to raise awareness of advanced prostate cancer by visiting My Prostate Cancer Roadmap and sharing it with the men in your life.

From Anu Gupta, M.D., Director, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

As I pulled out my suitcase to pack for the upcoming International AIDS Society conference in Vienna, Austria, I was reminded of the last time I used it. A month ago, I had traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Global Health Council Award Dinner. While I had been to the dinner before, this was a very special year because I had nominated mothers2mothers (m2m) for an award and they had won! 

As I sat with m2m founder Dr. Mitch Besser at the VIP table with luminaries in global health, I recalled my last visit to m2m in October 2006 to open a series of new sites in East London, South Africa, where Johnson & Johnson has had a manufacturing facility for more than 75 years. The mentor mothers I met on that trip, their stories, their songs and their struggles have stayed with me. 

It was no surprise to me that when Mitch went to the podium to accept the award, his speech was all about the mothers – the mentor mothers, all HIV-positive, who had recently delivered and gone through the process of taking antiretrovirals to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and the pregnant women, also all HIV-positive, whom the mentor mothers were actively empowering through words and by example to have healthy children and live healthier lives. Joining the hundreds of guests in a standing ovation, I felt so grateful and honored to call Mitch and mothers2mothers our partner and friend. You can learn more about our work with m2m here.

This coming week, thousands will gather at the International AIDS Society meeting in Vienna to discuss the state of AIDS in 2010 and the future of the epidemic, from financing, to new prevention modalities and treatment aspirations. One topic that will take center stage is the global desire and commitment to eliminate pediatric AIDS by 2015 by preventing transmission of HIV from a mother to her unborn child and ensuring that mother is linked to health care for herself. We want to go from 1,000+ new infections in babies a day to 0. It is a goal that is within our reach. Everyone from Annie Lennox to Carla Bruni Sarkozy (Born HIV Free) will be there to figure out how to accomplish it.

Johnson & Johnson will also be front and center, convening with partners UNAIDS, Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), and Global Business Coalition (GBC). This candid conversation with 20 funders – both private philanthropists and corporate donors – will explore under-resourced initiatives and innovative approaches to reach scale and achieve the dream of a world where no child is born with HIV and every mother has access to medication for her own health. Stay tuned for updates on the meeting.

From Michael Bzdak, Director, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

No matter where you live, you have the opportunity to play a role in the education and development of young people. Many of my colleagues at Johnson & Johnson are active in youth programs in their communities around the world ranging from sports to science to the arts and to the environment. Often, volunteer opportunities are linked to the organizations we support in many of the communities where we have offices and other operations.

I have had the privilege of serving as a volunteer mentor to a number of high school students in New Brunswick, New Jersey through the Bridge to Employment (BTE) Program, a partnership between Johnson & Johnson and the Academy for Educational Development. BTE was founded by Johnson & Johnson in 1992 to stem the high school dropout rate and address a projected shortage of health care workers by opening teens’ eyes to their own potential and guiding them toward promising careers in health care. BTE has helped thousands of students with mentoring and coaching over the years.  

In my eight years of mentoring, I have seen profound changes in the students as they progress through high school and into higher education. The first cohort of students in New Brunswick will be entering their senior year of university this coming year. In this time, I have witnessed incredible growth among the handful of students I still see regularly.

Beyond New Brunswick, the BTE program engages with hundreds of other students and dozens of schools and other organizations in 10 communities around the world. In each site, Johnson & Johnson employees have committed their time and talent to guide students in their career plans and dreams, such as my colleague Conrad Person who recently blogged about the impact of mentoring on his own career. As the global manager for this program, I often attend end-of-year sessions where the students give academic presentations related to health care issues or specific disease states. These events are always impressive and emotional. Why emotional? Emotional because the students are clearly in control of difficult material and perform well beyond our expectations…Emotional because the bonds that have developed between the students and employees are deep and strong… Emotional because the students are clearly on their way to realizing their dreams.

While the BTE program is designed around successful and proven school-to-career models, the real beauty of the program is found in the local collaborations that form to provide students with opportunities and exposure to parts of the world that are invisible to them. The BTE program in Bogota, Colombia is a wonderful example of a locally designed effort. Our partnership with the Politecnico Internacional grew out of relationships developed by local Johnson & Johnson management. This program provides students, such as Catalina Munoz, with incredible opportunities and inroads into the health care job market in Colombia.

Although we measure outcomes over all of the programs, there is nothing more powerful than seeing students overcome adversity to live their dreams of becoming a doctor, nurse, or public health professional. Equally powerful is the dedication of employees to these students and to education in their communities. My colleagues in Inverness, Scotland, for example, were recently recognized by the UK government for their superlative dedication to science and technology education in northern Scotland. There is no doubt that BTE can help students realize their dreams. There is also no doubt that BTE provides Johnson & Johnson employees, like me, an opportunity to participate in affecting the lives of young people.

From Anthony Carter, Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, Johnson & Johnson

Chronic disease is a serious problem for our healthcare system and the nation. Few communities have been more seriously impacted by the spread of chronic disease, and diabetes in particular, than the African American community. Diabetes now affects about 3.7 million African Americans, almost 15 percent of individuals over the age of 20, and it is responsible for one out of every five deaths.

In an effort to help fight this epidemic, Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates are supporting launch of the Spirit of Healthy Living (SoHL) program with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.  The goal of SoHL is to promote diabetes education and awareness and give people the tools they need to prevent and manage this disease.

The SoHL educates community members about obesity, diabetes and the link between the two conditions.  The program also increases awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, encourages the use of local health and wellness resources to prevent and manage diabetes, and integrates online health coaching into health education sessions.

One other component of the Spirit of Healthy Living campaign that I really enjoy is our partnership with faith-based health ministries.  We know that supportive community based programs can have a positive impact on the way people behave, so we think this approach is very promising.

Our first SoHL event was held on June 26 at the Willing Heart Community Care Center in Newark, New Jersey.  It was an exciting event with dozens of people from the community coming out to hear presentations from leading health experts, watch cooking and fitness demonstrations, and participate in free health screenings.

I know personally the devastating impact diabetes has on families and friends after losing a brother last year to this disease, and that’s why I think this campaign is so important. The SoHL offers us the opportunity to address the healthcare disparities that affect African Americans and it’s an important part of our commitment to the prevention and management of chronic disease.  I’m excited to be a part of this program and I’ll be looking forward to more great events like the one we held in Newark.

If you’d like to learn more about the Spirit of Healthy Living Campaign visit their website.

From Brittany Hume, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson

Among those who play it, soccer can lend lessons of the power of believing in yourself, working as a team, overcoming challenges, and persevering toward a goal. 

As it happens, these lessons are also the most important to teach youth at risk of HIV/AIDS. Low expectations, low self-confidence, and lack of hope are among the most dangerous risk factors for HIV/AIDS, as they can lead to risky behaviors. For this reason, evidence has shown that HIV prevention education is most effective when coupled with behavioral programming—like soccer—that addresses the social and personal root causes of risk.    

Since 2007, Johnson & Johnson has supported soccer-based HIV prevention programs for youth, working with partners Academy for Educational Development (AED) and Grassroot Soccer in northern Namibia to deliver Grassroot Soccer’s proven (and fun) “Skillz” curriculum to 8,000 youth per year.

This year, we decided to go one step further, drawing upon the world’s soccer zeal and the African backdrop to highlight the power of soccer as a tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We chose to focus on teenage girls, who are at three times greater risk for HIV/AIDS than boys, and with whom soccer’s messages of empowerment and leadership resonate well. The result, Girlz Got Skillz: A Summit on Health, Leadership, and Empowerment, convened 50 girls from Namibia, South Africa, and the United States at a sports school outside Cape Town, South Africa, for a week of education and fun.

As one of the planners for this event, I had a chance to stay with the girls at the sports school, accompany them during their activities, and watch their progress during the week. On the first day, the three groups of girls could not have seemed more different, each speaking their native languages—Xhosa, Oshiwambo, and English—in huddled groups, too timid to mingle. Immediately, soccer became the tool to engage and unify them: within moments of the coaches revealing a few soccer balls, the groups of girls had melded together, running toward the soccer pitch, dribbling the balls, and celebrating as one when someone scored.  

The magic was seeing what could happen after soccer had opened the door, getting the girls’ attention and enabling them to earn each others’ trust. During the week, the girls participated in nine intensive Skillz curriculum sessions on HIV/AIDS and life skills, like Risk Fitness, which required them to be quick-witted as a team to weigh the varying degrees of risk of various situations, like relationships with older partners. These activities prompted ongoing, “offline” discussions about the social norms the girls faced in their communities, whether related to relationships, sex, or their long-term educational and career goals. In addition, the girls participated in a round table discussion with South African women who have risen above major challenges to become leaders in their communities; met young women living with HIV, who shared their stories and educated the girls about preventing mother-to-child transmission; and participated in a “Resiliency Race” in which the girls used a series of clues to explore the city of Cape Town and learn about women’s influential role in the city’s history.

The most moving stories of the week, however, were the ones the girls told themselves. On the eve of the summit’s culminating event, we gathered the girls in a final forum called the Skillz Café to reflect on the many lessons they heard during the week and relate them back to their own lives. Their trust in and support for one another by this point was understood; they were ready to share. That evening, I heard girls talk of physical and sexual abuse from family members, of the denial of education because of their gender, of having to become the leader of a broken family after a parent’s death from AIDS. All of these horrors emerged from girls as young as 14. 

These were the stories they told. These are their “risk factors;” this is their reality. And all it took was a bit of soccer to break the ice, engage them in discussion, show them that there were other options, and give them hope. This video provides a good overview of the program’s impact. And, you can follow the participants on Facebook.

From Paul Stoffels, Global Head, Pharmaceuticals Research & Development

Last week I was privileged to represent Johnson & Johnson at the Pacific Health Summit (PHS) – an annual gathering that convenes nearly 250 leaders in science, policy and industry to focus on issues of critical importance to global health. It is a unique event that connects decision makers to spark solutions in the quest for a healthier world.

This year’s theme was Maternal and Newborn Health. The idea is that caring for mothers and providing opportunities for better prenatal, newborn and childhood care can lead to a healthier, more productive world.

For many of us in the developed world, access to maternal and child care is a given. But for many mothers and children around the world, that’s not the case. According to a recent report, globally, 8.8 million children a year die before their fifth birthday, more than 40 percent of them during their first four weeks of life. At least two-thirds of all child deaths are preventable.

No theme could be more aligned with the work and values of Johnson & Johnson. Women and children have been at the heart of our core business for nearly 125 years. They are an important focus of our public/private partnering, and remain a touchstone of our charitable giving. At the same time, no one institution or organization can solve this problem alone, which is why I believe that collaboration and sharing solutions and resources is so important.

One of the most critical discussions I participated in was the session focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.  According to the UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update 2009, in 2008, approximately 430,000 children under age 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission; about 90 percent of these occurred in Africa.  At the same time, in high income counties this problem has been virtually eliminated through effective voluntary testing and counseling, access to antiretroviral therapy, safe delivery practices, and availability of breast-milk substitutes.  

The conversation on this topic at PHS was spirited to say the least – it was clear to me that the participants strongly believe that if similar interventions were implemented around the world, they could have significant impact in saving children’s lives. Our challenge now, discussed by Sheri McCoy, worldwide chairman of our Pharmaceuticals Group in an essay in the “Summit Challenge” compendium, is to determine the most effective channels and identify the appropriate resources to take action and make this a reality. At Johnson & Johnson, we have begun doing so by working with global stakeholders and supporting partners, such as mothers2mothers and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, on PMTCT programs.

I also detailed progress in our partnership with the TB Alliance, aimed at developing new drugs for a disease that still causes 2 million deaths each year, a significant portion of them being children. Our partnership has enabled great clinical progress, and led to the recent announcement of the Critical Path to TB Drug Regimens initiative. CPTR members include the world’s leading pharmaceutical developers, global regulatory agencies, and civil society organizations, which are working together to overcome obstacles and speed new TB drug regimens to the patients who most urgently need them. Incidentally, this unprecedented cross-sector partnership to tackle TB was fueled by conversations at the 2009 PHS.

Other Johnson & Johnson colleagues at the Summit shared experiences from additional initiatives in which our organization plays a role, including the International Partnership on Microbicides, which aims to end transmission of HIV; Children Without Worms, which works to end the infestation of parasitic worms in children, and text4baby, an innovative free mobile information service that provides pregnant women and new moms with information they need to take care of their own and their children’s health.

The Summit helped us see that while we are making significant inroads into global health through innovation, novel partnerships and access to medicines, there is still much to be done. I sincerely hope that the seeds planted last week in London will bear fruit in the form of new partnerships between industry, government, NGOs, and public and private entities. We know that continuing the dialogue we started at the Pacific Health Summit, as well as our ability to deliver new and innovative health solutions, globally and locally – will make a world of difference in the lives and health of millions.

From Katsura Tsuno, Director Corporate Contributions, Asia-Pacific, Johnson & Johnson

I still remember the sights and sounds that filled the maternity hospital in Manila when I visited in 2005. It was my first trip to the Philippines after taking a position in Corporate Contributions at Johnson & Johnson. Although the public hospital had been described as the largest for mothers and babies, to me, it looked more like an old train station. There was an emergency room inside with simple bedding, and a separate family waiting room with a ceiling, yet no walls – providing no refuge from the hot and humid weather. As I approached the delivery room, I noticed two pregnant women sprawled out on one bed. Newborn babies were the same – two babies shared each basket.  

When I finally reached the hospital room, I saw an overwhelming number of mothers and babies. Three to four pairs of mothers and babies lay horizontally on two beds connected to each other, also known as a tandem bed. As I surveyed the room, I could see that there were obviously not enough doctors and nurses. “The average income of a doctor working in the public sector is not better than the salary of a call center operator,” one doctor revealed. The crowded and under-funded hospital was daunting to me, yet the women with access to it were considered fortunate. I felt dizzy over the reality of it all.

The Philippines, with a population of almost 100 million, is growing nearly 2 percent annually with a fertility rate of more than three babies per woman. A third of the population is living below the poverty line. The country depends on almost 10 percent of its Gross Domestic Product from people working overseas. One of the country’s major exports is health care workers, mostly nurses. The majority of new nursing graduates in the Philippines decide to work abroad for better income. Even doctors – 80 percent in the public sector, opt to work overseas by converting their profession to nurses. This results in a significant shortage of health care workers in the country.

With such high birth rates, midwives are very important in the Philippines. Although midwives traditionally specialize in health for mothers and babies, in the Philippines their roles are much broader. The shortage of doctors and nurses makes it critical for midwives to expand their roles in community health, especially in rural areas of the country. For many people, midwives are the only health care workers they can access; therefore, midwives must play multiple roles. The working conditions for midwives are tough and their wages are not sufficient for the many hats they wear.

Despite their situations, many midwives are motivated to stay in their job in the country and play leadership roles in community health. Their dedication is critical for people’s health because midwives are often the lifelines for people in the Philippines, which is why we believe it’s extremely important to train and strengthen the skills of health care workers who decide to stay. One program in the Philippines – The Midwives Leadership Development Program – is doing just that. You can learn more about this program here.

Dina Freeman , Social Media and Communications Consultant , BabyCenter

When my son was 18 months old, he decided it would be fun to jump out of his crib head first one night at around 3 am. He was totally fine, but I wasn’t. I was freaked out and needed advice. I immediately reached for my phone and instead of calling my mom like I would have done 5 years ago, I tweeted “Ugh. 18mo just fell out of crib. Not ready for big boy bed. Help!”  Within minutes I received about 20 suggestions, one of which worked like a charm. Crisis averted.

To many of you, solving personal problems using something as public as Twitter sounds ridiculous. For others, crowdsourcing answers from strangers is on par with calling a friend. Although there has been a massive increase in the number of moms using social media since 2006 (591%), it would be wrong to assume all moms use social media in the same way or that they all wield the same amount of influence.

Last week, we released our “BabyCenter 2010 Mom Social Influencer Report” based on a recent study we did of moms in the BabyCenter Community. The report reveals that there are two different categories of moms who use social media – the influencers and the influenced. Although the influencers make up a much smaller group at only 18%, they wield 78% of the overall influence.

So, who are these mom social influencers? We identified three types:

• Field Experts – Young but experienced stay-at-home moms who use social media to share parenting advice, usually focused on a specific topic such as raising twins, breastfeeding, or caring for a special needs child. Because of their specialized knowledge, large networks of moms depend on them for expertise and support.
• LifeCasters – Millennial moms who are always connected and communicating. They share anything and everything via social media, mixing posts about the “yummy donut” they ate for breakfast with useful tips about where to find the “perfect pair of black pants on sale.” Although they produce tons of seemingly lighter content, their extensive networks of friends depend on them for relevant advice and product recommendations on a wide variety of topics, not just parenting. 
• Pros – Mom bloggers who have turned their passion for social into a career. They consistently push out entertaining and informational content to their enormous networks of fans, posting opinions and advice on a wide variety of topics including parenting tips, and product reviews and giveaways. Because they operate like mini-publishers, they are often compensated when writing about or integrating brands into their blogs.

This is just a tiny glimpse of the insights we gained from our study. To find out more, email us at socmedia at babycenter dot com. We’d be happy to tell you more!

So, I ask you — are you a Lifecaster or a Field expert? Maybe part of the audience? Tell us what rings true.

From Megan Farina, Manager, Corporate Communications, Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.

With the launch of New Way RA^TM last year, our hope was to offer support to people living with RA, as well as their caregivers. Over the past ten months, we’ve continued to learn from the RA social community through their posts as well as direct conversations with authors of blogs such as RA Warrior, All Flared Up, and Arthritis is a Journey. Listening to their insights helped us understand the deeper impact of contending with unpredictable and untimely flares of stiff, swollen and painful joints – we learned that participating in everyday activities with family & friends and maintaining relationships can quickly become overwhelming.

Because of their insights and honest feedback, New Way RA^TM has evolved from one pilot episode to a second season of episodes that will run year-long.

Today, we’re pleased to announce the premiere of Season 2 with a new mix of experts having candid discussions about personal style, dating, intimacy and the myths of RA. We’ve also expanded the format to include two panelists living with RA – author and RA advocate Amye Leong, and Sara Nash, the blogger behind the Single Gal’s Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis. And to give viewers a forum in which they can ask questions, we are sponsoring a live video web chat on May 24 with host Deborah Norville and relationship expert, Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Vice President of Research & Education at the advocacy organization CreakyJoints.

We hope that with the launch of each new episode this season, New Way RA^TM will continue to provide valuable information regarding aspects of life that are directly affected by this chronic condition and at the same time raise awareness about the disease. You can watch the show and learn more at http://www.newwayra.com/.

For more information about RA, check out CreakyJoints and the Arthritis Foundation.