Research!America to Honor Michael N. Castle with Advocacy Award
Research!America announced today that former Delaware Governor and U.S. Representative Mike Castle has been selected to receive the John Edward Porter Legacy Award for his outstanding commitment to sustaining the nation’s world-class leadership in medical and health research. He will be honored at Research!America’s 2024 Advocacy Awards on March 13 in Washington, DC.
The John Edward Porter Legacy Award is generously supported by Ann Lurie.
Castle, a Republican, is a former two-term governor (1985 to 1992) and a nine-term congressman (1993 to 2011). At the invitation of former Congressman John Porter, Gov. Castle joined the board of Research!America upon his retirement from Congress. Castle later served as Chair of the Research!America board, and provided strong leadership for several years, including helping guide the organization during the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Gov. Castle has well-earned his legacy as a leader for medical research and health progress,” said Research!America Board Chair Sudip Parikh, PhD. “And his steady hand as board chair during the early days of the COVID outbreak served as an inspiration to me as I took this role. I can think of no one more deserving of this award.”
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Mike and working alongside him for years, first during his service in Congress and later as a member and chair of the Research!America board” said Research!America President and CEO Mary Woolley. “Throughout his career in public service, he has been a steadfast proponent for medical research and public health, reaching across the aisle to assure strong bipartisan support for the NIH and for policies that advance, rather than impede research progress. I am honored to call Mike a friend.”
An extraordinary champion for research and public health policies critical to advancing the individual and public good, Castle’s many distinctions include taking bold and influential stands in support of expanding stem cell research and reinstating the ban on assault weapons during his tenure in Congress. Among the many other ways Castle contributed to health of the American people and populations across the globe, he co-chaired the Congressional biomedical research caucus and the Congressional diabetes caucus. “I’m deeply honored to receive the John Edward Porter Legacy Award,” Castle said. “I admired Research!America’s work during my time in public service, and it was a privilege to serve this great organization as its chair.”
2024 Advocacy Awards
Now in its 28th year, Research!America’s annual Advocacy Awards program honors outstanding individuals and organizations in advocacy for medical, health, and scientific research. To see the full list of 2024 Advocacy Award honorees and the benefactors whose generous support make this upcoming event possible, please visit our site.
Contact Glenn O’Neal, Senior Director of Communications, at 571-482-2737 or goneal@researchamerica.org with press inquiries.