Matthew Greenblatt, MD, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Paul-Gallin Trailblazer Prize for Physician-Scientists by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). Dr. Greenblatt is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and serves as Co-Director of the Skeletal Health and Orthopedic Research program at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
Dr. Greenblatt and his team have identified three types of stem cells involved in bone formation. Their research suggests these stem cells play a role in osteoporosis, rare genetic bone disorders, and cancer metastases.
“Dr. Greenblatt’s work epitomizes the critical role of physician-scientists in turning basic science discoveries into therapies for patients and embodies the spirit of the Paul-Gallin Trailblazer Prize,” said Steven Paul, MD, Chair of the FNIH Board of Directors. “His pioneering research has reshaped our understanding of the stem cells and cell lineages that form bone, showing them to be more diverse and specialized than previously believed. He and his team have also demonstrated that these novel discoveries about bone development are useful in developing new treatments for diseases involving bone.”
The research indicates that bones from different body regions are formed by distinct stem cell types with unique properties influencing disease susceptibility. For example, Dr. Greenblatt’s laboratory found that certain stem cells responsible for vertebrae make spinal bones more prone to metastases from breast and prostate cancers. Based on this knowledge, his team is seeking new therapies to prevent spinal metastases and improve bone mass.
“The heart of being a physician-scientist is working on that slow process of seeing your ideas about disease first slowly gather evidence and then later gather acceptance,” Dr. Greenblatt said. “I am very grateful to receive the Paul-Gallin Trailblazer Prize, which reflects the dedication of my team and the readiness of our ideas to move out of the lab to create broader impact.”
Dr. Greenblatt holds several academic positions at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City including associate professor roles in pathology as well as associate director duties within its residency training program.
The Trailblazer Prize comes with a $100,000 honorarium recognizing early- to mid-career physician-scientists whose research translates fundamental scientific findings into advances for diagnosing or treating diseases or disabilities. The award honors Drs. Steven Paul—who initiated its endowment—and John Gallin; Dr. Gallin co-created it with Elaine Gallin in partnership with FNIH.
A panel led by Michael J. Welsh, MD, PhD (University of Iowa), selected Dr. Greenblatt as this year’s recipient along with other prominent biomedical researchers serving on the jury.
The award will be presented during FNIH’s 13th Annual Awards Ceremony on October 22, 2025 in Washington D.C., where additional honors such as The Montrone-Seigel Prize in Biomedical Sciences will also be given out.
Dr. Greenblatt is scheduled to present his findings at next year’s AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting held April 17–19 in Chicago—a gathering known for featuring high-level biomedical research presentations from leading investigators.
Sponsors supporting this year’s FNIH Annual Awards Ceremony include Fred and Donna Seigel; Perry Steiner; Vanessa Kay; and Pfizer Inc., serving as Visionary Sponsor.
More information about this prize can be found at https://fnih.org/TrailblazerPrize.
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health was established by Congress in 1990 as a not-for-profit organization supporting NIH’s mission through public-private partnerships aimed at advancing global health initiatives.
