The University of Iowa
04/02/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2026 08:32
Kevin Campbell receives 2026 Watanabe Prize for muscular dystrophy research
Prestigious scientific award recognizes significant contributions to translational research
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Kevin P. Campbell, PhD, UI professor and internationally recognized researcher in the field of muscular dystrophy, has been named the 2026 winner of the August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research.
The Watanabe Prize, awarded by the Indiana University School of Medicine, is one of the nation's largest and most prestigious awards recognizing individuals focused on shepherding scientific discoveries into new therapies for patients. Awarded to a senior investigator, the prize is given to researchers who have made a significant contribution to the field of translational science.
Campbell is the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver Biomedical Research Chair in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and professor and chair of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. He is also director of the Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center at the UI.
A UI faculty member since 1981, Campbell is known for his work elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying various forms of muscular dystrophy. Providing a scientific foundation for novel treatment strategies, his research has led to seminal discoveries advancing the understanding of skeletal muscle biology and offering critical insight into the disease processes of muscular dystrophy.
As the 2026 Watanabe Prize winner, Campbell will receive $100,000 and be honored on Sept. 18 at the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute's annual meeting in Indianapolis, where he will deliver the keynote address.
The Watanabe Prize is eponymously named in honor of the late August M. Watanabe, a titan in the field of translational research in both academia and industry who impacted the health of people around the world as a leader at the IU School of Medicine and Eli Lilly and Company.
Note to Editors: This announcement was adapted from a news releaseissued by the Indiana University School of Medicine.
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