Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology Pioneer Honored for Excellence in Research and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close 20 September 2017 00:55 AM America/Los_Angeles Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology Pioneer Honored for Excellence in Research and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Contact: Laura Coverson [email protected] Stephan R. Targan, MD, director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Cedars-Sinai (center), receives the Sherman Prize for Excellence in Crohn's and Colitis. The prize was presented by Bruce and Cynthia Sherman, founders of the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation. Photo credit: Alex Li Los Angeles - Sept. 20, 2017 - Stephan R. Targan, MD, a pioneering physician and researcher in gastroenterology, has been awarded the Sherman Prize for groundbreaking work in the understanding and treatment of debilitating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Targan, director of the F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai, accepted the award recently at a private ceremony in New York. The Sherman Prize was established by the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation to recognize and reward outstanding medical professionals, educators and advocates who are advancing research and improving patient care in the field of Crohn's disease and colitis. Supporting the work of exceptional healthcare professionals is a personal mission for the Shermans, who have family members affected by Crohn's. "Not only has Dr. Targan helped to fundamentally change the way IBD is treated, he has trained, mentored and inspired hundreds of physician scientists around the world, multiplying the impact of his life's work," said Bruce Sherman. "He has brightened the future of millions of people living with the disease." Targan is the principal investigator of the longest study of genetic and immunological causes of inflammatory bowel disease ever funded by the National Institutes of Health. A hallmark of his research is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the various ways IBD can affect patients. He calls it a "360" approach. "We bring experts together from several areas of science to try and understand this disease," Targan said. "Our work has revealed that this challenging disorder in fact comprises several forms of the disease, each with a different biology causing chronic and painful inflammation of the intestines." Targan received one of two Sherman Prizes of $100,000 awarded to individuals with extraordinary records of achievement in addressing the challenge of IBD. "The award will be used to support promising research with an eye towards personalizing treatment. Our goal is to identify patients with particular subtypes of the disease and design drugs to treat their specific form of the illness," Targan said. One of the most significant outcomes of Targan's research has been scientific discoveries and clinical trials that have led to the development of the first biologic treatment for IBD patients, an effective therapy that can put the disease in remission. His passion for this work is fueled by a desire to eliminate the suffering he has witnessed over a long career. "Some of the sickest people with this disease come to us from around the world. People who are so frustrated in their search for relief. People who have lost hope," Targan said. "There is nothing more exciting than being able to turn the course of their devastating disease and improve their lives. It is incredibly rewarding." Video on the web: 2017 Sherman Prize - Stephan R. Targan, MD Share this release Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology Pioneer Honored for Excellence in Research and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home