Celebrating 10 Years of Honoring Excellence in Crohn’s and Colitis
BOCA RATON, Florida, March 17, 2025 – The Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation announced today that nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Sherman Prize, recognizing excellence in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Now in its tenth year, the Sherman Prize honors and rewards the trailblazers and visionaries who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the treatment and care of people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
“Over the past decade, it has been one of our greatest honors to get to know some of the most talented pioneers in the field of IBD,” said Bruce and Cynthia Sherman. “By elevating their achievements across diverse specialties – from IBD genetics to novel treatment modalities to the building blocks of prevention – we’ve seen our vision of a ripple effect come to life as our honorees motivate others to reach for greater advances.”
Since the Sherman Prize was established in 2016, the Foundation has awarded more than $2 million to IBD physician scientists and practitioners who have moved the field forward by improving understanding of IBD, innovating new therapies and optimizing treatment practices. Among their many achievements:
• Identified the first gene for Crohn’s disease, NOD2 , and the involvement of IL-23 – paving the way for anti-IL-23 therapies, which are now widely used in IBD
• Pioneered the development of outcome measures for IBD clinical trials, which drove an influx of investment and led to the advent of biologic treatment
• Discovered and developed a novel treatment, now in Phase 3 study, that has the potential to become the first personalized medicine for IBD
• Demonstrated the potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to improve healing and help avoid surgery in people hospitalized with ulcerative colitis
• Improved outcomes in children and pregnant women by transforming treatment practices
• Established the link between IBD inflammation and colorectal cancer, changing how low-grade inflammation is treated to reduce cancer risk
• Built the nation’s first behavioral health program for pediatric IBD patients, and then adults, improving health outcomes and reducing medical costs
“Prior to the Sherman Prize, there was really no formal opportunity to celebrate IBD innovators,” said Dr. Corey A. Siegel, Selection Committee Chair and 2023 Sherman Prize Recipient. “It is rare that we take time to acknowledge those who are going above and beyond to advance an entire field, so I encourage those in the GI community to seize this opportunity and nominate an individual who inspires everyone around them to deliver more for patients.”
Nominations for the 2025 Sherman Prize and Sherman Emerging Leader Prize may be submitted at ShermanPrize.org through May 23. The 2025 Prize recipients will be announced in the Fall, with the prizes presented at the Advances in IBD (AIBD) conference in Orlando, Florida, on December 9.
About the Sherman Prize
The $100,000 Sherman Prize is awarded annually to IBD clinicians, surgeons, researchers, and/or academics, recognizing exceptional and pioneering contributions that transform the care of people with IBD. Sherman Prize recipients are accomplished experts changing the paradigm in IBD and inspiring future innovators through their achievements.
The $25,000 Sherman Emerging Leader Prize is awarded to IBD clinicians, surgeons, researchers, academics, or physician assistants, who, while early in their careers, have contributed to an advancement and show great promise for significant future contributions.
Selection decisions are made by the Board of Directors, following an extensive review and evaluation by the Prize Selection Committee, which is comprised of five of the nation’s preeminent IBD specialists.
For eligibility guidelines and to nominate an individual doing exceptional work on behalf of people with IBD, please visit ShermanPrize.org.
Contact: Maria Fletcher, maria@shermanprize.org
