Office of Advancement, advancement@aub.edu.lb
AUB alumnus Dr. M. Amin Arnaout (BS '70, MD '74) has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his “groundbreaking discoveries in the identification and structural biology of integrins and their role in human disease." The citation goes on to read, “He pioneered the structure determination of integrins, providing a fundamental reformulation of mechanisms in cell adhesion and migration, and enabling the development of novel therapies for cardiovascular, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases."
Dr. M. Amin Arnaout is professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, director of Leukocyte Biology and Inflammation Laboratory and the Structural Biology Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he heads the Arnaout Laboratory, and physician and chief emeritus of the Division of Nephrology at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
This is not the first time that Dr. Arnaout has been singled out for his groundbreaking work. In 2018, he received the Homer W. Smith Award from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) for his “outstanding contributions which fundamentally affect the science of nephrology." He also received the 2017 Kuwait Prize in Applied Medical Sciences.
Throughout his distinguished career, Arnaout has stayed closely linked with his alma mater. He was a leading member of the International Advisory Committee of AUB's Faculty of Medicine for five years. He is also a generous donor. In 2022, Arnaout made a gift to his alma mater to establish the Dr. M. Amin Arnaout Award in Medicine, which is conferred on a student majoring in medicine graduating with High Distinction or Distinction who has demonstrated integrity, diligence, and dedication to the academic profession.
“I have known Amin for a very long time," said AUB President Fadlo R. Khuri. “He is a good friend. He is also an exceptional scientist and researcher. His election to the National Academy of Sciences is richly deserved recognition of his pioneering work."