HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A physician-scientist from Ellicott City has received the nation’s oldest award for government service from a non-government entity.
The Arthur S. Flemming Awards has honored 12 public servants for their accomplishments in science and leadership fields that have benefited the nation. Among this year’s awardees is Dr. Lorenzo Leggio who works with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service as clinical director and deputy scientific director at the National Institute on Drug National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health.
Leggio has made contributions to addiction science through basic and human translational clinical studies, large population-based studies and community-based outreach, and education. His leadership in studying gut-brain and neuroendocrine pathways has introduced new concepts in addiction treatment, identifying peripheral neuroendocrine systems as potential targets for developing new therapies.
Leggio told Patch that he was “very honored and humbled” to receive the award.
“I am excited to be part of a group of people who represent diverse backgrounds and training, all working toward a shared mission serving the U.S. federal government. We share the privilege and responsibility as civil servants to try to leave this world a better place than we found it for our children and the next many generations to follow,” Leggio said.
The esteemed physician-scientist said he has spent years applying an innovative lens to how addiction science, care and treatment is viewed.
“Addiction is a brain disorder, and we study addiction as a whole-body system disorder and focus on the connections between the brain and the rest of the body (e.g., gut-brain, heart-brain). Our translational research aims to develop new mechanisms and treatments for people with addictive disorders with a potpourri of passion, patience, persistence, perseverance and a disciplined focus on the forest rather than the tree,” he said.
With the support of a “highly talented” group of trainees, staff, colleagues and collaborators, Leggio said receiving the award has been an honor, but his focus remains on raising awareness of how impactful addiction research is to global health.
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