Curt M. Horvath, PhD
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology
Northwestern University
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Evanston, USA
Curt M. Horvath is honored with the 2022 ICIS-Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his reputation in the community as both an outstanding cytokine scientist and a remarkably dedicated member of the ICIS. Dr. Horvath has long served on the ICIS council (2014 until present) from his first term being instrumental in facilitating the unification of the ICS and ISICR, helping to find common ground among challenging territorial disputes between the two societies. In his current Council term he initiated discussion on inclusion of young investigators in the ICIS leadership and advocated for creation of new council seats to include our newest members in ICIS leadership, based on inclusion and training which is already making an impact on the Cytokines annual meeting program organization and diversity goals. He is known for mentoring interactions with diverse groups of junior faculty, postdocs, and graduate students, participating in Networking Workshops for Young Investigators, and is a regular and enthusiastic participant in spontaneous ICIS jam sessions.
Curt M. Horvath is a Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University with appointments in Microbiology/Immunology and Medicine, and serves as a basic science leader for Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. With over 25 years devoted to cytokine signal transduction, virology, innate immunity, and gene regulation, his research interests include cytokine-JAK-STAT and RLR-interferon signal transduction and mechanisms of cytokine-inducible gene regulation in the human immune response and in cancer biology. Horvath obtained his PhD from Northwestern University in 1992. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the Research Scholar Award from the American Cancer Society in recognition of scientific excellence in the investigation of cancer biology.
His lab focuses on the molecular and cellular events controlling inducible gene regulation, and has accumulated knowledge of antiviral host responses including RLR-MAVS and IFN-JAK-STAT signal transduction. The work has brought new insights into mechanisms of antiviral immunity, with focus on the production of and response to cytokines and especially interferons. Horvath is known for his studies of RNA sensing and virus-host interactions with Orthomyxoviruses and Paramyxoviruses including those mediated by influenza A and B viruses as well as diverse parainfluenza viruses (e.g., measles, mumps, Nipah). Among the first to recognize viral immune evasion strategies and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the degradation of STAT proteins and antagonism of RLR-MAVS-IFN pathways, his lab has used genomic techniques to study virus and IFN-stimulated gene regulation, reveal fundamental features of RNA polymerase regulation in innate immunity, and identify virus-induced small RNAs. Current research projects include investigations of virus-host interactions, RNA polymerase activation by IFNs and viruses, regulation of interferon production and antiviral responses, and the roles for cytokine signals in cancer immunotherapy.
The Awards Presentation will take place during Cytokines 2022 Hybrid: 10th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, in Waikoloa, Hawaii, and virtually, on Tuesday, September 20th beginning at 16:15 Hawaiian time.
