WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2012 — Progress toward developing an alternative to organ transplantations in which doctors could actually grow a new heart or liver for a patient is among the topics in the 2012 premier of a popular video series from the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society. The videos are available at www.acs.org/PrizedScience and on DVD.

Titled Prized Science: How the Science Behind American Chemical Society Awards Impacts Your Life, the first episode of the 2012 series features the research of Dr. Robert Langer, winner of the 2012 ACS Priestley Medal. He is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Priestley Medal is the highest honor of the ACS, and it recognizes Langer’s pioneering work making body tissues in the lab by growing cells on special pieces of plastic. Langer’s team has used the approach to make skin for burn patients, for instance, with the goal of eventually making whole organs for transplantation.

American Chemical Society

Next in the 2012 launch is an episode of Prized Science featuring Dr. Chad Mirkin, winner of the 2012 ACS Award for Creative Invention. The video explains how Mirkin’s research has provided patients with faster diagnoses for influenza and other respiratory infections, and new tests that improve care for heart disease.

Upcoming episodes feature:

• Vicki Grassian, Ph.D.: ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Technology
• Diane Bunce, Ph.D.: George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education
• Peter Wolynes, Ph.D.: ACS Award in Theoretical Chemistry

ACS encourages educators, schools, museums, science centers, news organizations and others to embed links to Prized Science on their websites. The videos discuss scientific research in non-technical language for general audiences. New episodes in the series, which focuses on ACS’ 2012 national award recipients, will be issued periodically.

The 2012 edition of Prized Science is completely refreshed, with a new look and feel, with renowned scientists telling the story of their own research and its impact and potential impact on everyday life. Colorful graphics and images visually explain the award recipient’s research.

The ACS administers more than 60 national awards to honor accomplishments in chemistry and service to chemistry. The nomination process involves submission of forms, with winners selected by a committee consisting of ACS members who typically are technical experts in the nominee’s specific field of research.