News Release

Hunein "John" Maassab receives 2003 Career Achievement Award from the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer.

October 9, 2003 press release from the University of Michigan School of Public Health

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—During its October 1 "Celebrate Invention" annual reception in the Michigan League Ballroom, the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer named John "Hunein" Maassab as recipient of the 2003 Career Achievement Award.  The award was given to Maassab, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, in recognition of over 40 years of research in public health to fulfill the promise of the FluMist technology.

The following remarks by Noreen Clark, dean of the School of Public Health, preceded the presentation of the award:

"We live in a time of rapid communication and instant gratification, a time when people change careers as often as they used to change jobs; a time when a 'long term commitment' might mean five years; a time when a dream is something you hope to accomplish next week. John Maassab is the opposite of all this.

"This afternoon it’s our privilege to be in the presence of a man who spent nearly 50 years in the same lab, at the same bench, and over the same microscope. John Maassab is a true visionary. He started off at Michigan as a graduate student who received the germ of an idea from his mentor, Dr. Thomas Francis Jr. For the next five decades, John nurtured that idea, even as he was raising a family with his wonderful wife, Hilda. John put up with his share of setbacks, predictable and unpredictable . But through it all, John persevered. He is a true scholar; he did not stop until he had realized his dream. As we stand here this afternoon, John’s lifelong effort has resulted in FluMist, a revolutionary, nasal spray flu vaccine that has just been launched worldwide.

"John’s research has global health implications. In the United States alone, influenza-induced pneumonia is the only infectious disease on the list of the top ten causes of death. The CDC estimates that in this country, more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and approximately 36,000 Americans die from influenza every year. Flu causes approximately 70 million lost work days annually in the U.S., and 30 million lost school days; the yearly burden of the disease to American society is estimated at $15 billion.

"When the FDA approved FluMist in July, John said only, 'I’m very happy; it’s my life’s work.' It’s rare that someone so accomplished is so modest. But today, John, we are very pleased to bring you center stage, so that your colleagues and friends can applaud your truly extraordinary achievement."

For further information contact: 

Contact: Terri Mellow, Director of Communications, UM SPH
Phone: (734) 764-8094
E-mail: twm@umich.edu

© 2003 The Regents of the University of Michigan
Updated October 9, 2003