August

Avery August, professor of immunology and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award May 27.

The annual award this year recognizes August, Ph.D. ‘94, for his distinguished contributions to the fields of microbiology and immunology and his dedication to mentoring students and postdoctoral fellows. August received the award at the Alumni Award of Distinction dinner.

“I was actually very surprised, but pleased to receive the award,” August said. “I didn’t think that I necessarily would’ve been chosen, just looking at the distinguished group that has won this award in the past. I have fond memories of my time as a student at Weill Cornell and appreciate the opportunity to have been able to get my degree from the graduate school.”

August’s scientific achievements include finding new strategies to prevent asthma. He and his team made seminal discoveries in understanding how key cells in the immune system are activated to spark an allergic response. They also studied the pathways those immune cells use to determine whether they recognize antigens – substances that cause the immune system to produce antibodies against them – and what the cells do once antigens have been recognized.

August has served on and chaired several National Institutes of Health study section panels. He has received the Scientist Development Award from the American Heart Association and an Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Investigator Award.