Burk honored with two awards for research in trace elements
Raymond F. Burk, M.D.
The first was the Underwood Memorial Lectureship Award at the Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA) symposium, held this year in Enshi, China.
TEMA is held every three years at an international location to report on the study of trace element metabolism and function and the nature of disorders arising from trace element deficiency and excess in humans and other animals.
The award honors contributions to the field of trace element research and recognizes Burk’s research into understanding human selenium metabolism and requirements.
Burk has been carrying out clinical research in China for 25 years, and his Chinese colleague, Prof. Yiming Xia, was also honored at the symposium for her international collaborations. Kristina Hill, Ph.D., research professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt, has contributed to this work as well.
Protein sources supply the body with selenium, an essential trace element required for the proper function of many enzymes and antioxidant responses. Too little selenium causes disease and too much selenium is toxic. Burk’s work in China has focused on determining the intake of selenium needed for optimal health.
The second award Burk received was the Jinding Award, presented by the governor of Sichuan Province.
This award is in appreciation for support of economic construction and social progress in Sichuan Province and contributions to international exchange and cooperation between Sichuan and foreign nations.
“These awards are a great honor, and it makes me extremely proud for our work to be recognized by colleagues and other researchers in this field,” Burk said.