Gala Honoring Ardem Patapoutian

In 2021, Armenian-American scientist Dr. Ardem Patapoutian won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly with David Julius for their breakthrough discoveries of the receptors for temperature and touch. The Nobel Prize, given for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind, reflects on Dr. Patapoutian’s already distinguished career in the field of molecular biology and neuroscience. In 2017, he received the W. Alden Spencer Award, followed by the Rosenstiel Award in 2019 and the 2020 Kavli Prize for Neuroscience and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers Award in Biology/Biomedicine. A professor and molecular biologist in the Department of Neuroscience at California’s Scripps Research, Patapoutian grew up in Lebanon where he attended the AGBU Demirdjian School and the AGBU Hovagimian-Manoogian School. After receiving the Nobel Prize, he commented, “AGBU played a huge role in my youth and I am very indebted to the organization.” In 1986, in his first year at the American University of Beirut, the 18-year old fled from Lebanon’s civil war and settled in the United States with his brother.  Working many odd jobs, he eventually found his way to a brilliant education, earning a B.S. degree from UCLA and a Ph.D from California Institute of Technology. In 2022, he was awarded the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots and elected an honorary member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. He also was awarded an honorary doctorate from Yerevan State Medical University. Haypost issued a commemorative stamp in his honor. In turn, Dr. Patapoutian gifted a replica of his Nobel Prize medal to the History Museum of Armenia.

Our honoree and guests will be treated to a live musical performance by the incomparable Lebanese-Armenian musical talent Guy Manoukian. The acclaimed entertainer has attracted a worldwide following, intrigued by his original cross-over style that fuses traditional Arabic sounds with arrangements informed by Western contemporary music. A child prodigy, Manoukian started playing piano at age four and by age eight had already performed at the Presidential Palace in Lebanon. He was just a teenager when he became the first artist from the Middle East to be endorsed by the Yamaha piano company as a brand ambassador. He has since headlined at many world-class venues including the London Palladium, Her Majesty’s Theatre in London, and the Sydney Opera House. He holds the historical record for the most sold-out performances at the Dubai Opera—a total of six times.