The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation created the Richard C. Talamo Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award to recognize individuals who, like Dr. Talamo, have dedicated their careers to researching and caring for people with cystic fibrosis and whose
contributions have altered the course of this disease.
Dr. Talamo pursued a career in pediatrics and became an NIH clinical fellow in the laboratory of the pioneering cystic fibrosis researcher, Dr. Paul di Sant'Agnese. This experience led Dr. Talamo to develop a lifelong passion for understanding CF and
caring for those with the disease.
While a professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Talamo became deeply committed to the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and served in many capacities, including on the medical advisory committee and board of trustees.During this
time, he helped raise interest in cystic fibrosis and encouraged qualified researchers to focus on the disease. Dr. Talamo later became chairman of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine.
The 2018 Richard C. Talamo Distinguished Clinical Achievement Award was presented to George Z. Retsch-Bogart, M.D., professor in the division of pediatric pulmonology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC); co-director, UNC
Therapeutics Development Center; and medical director of the clinical and translational research center of the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute.
Dr. Retsch-Bogart was honored for his significant contributions to CF clinical research, including his work as the lead investigator for the development of inhaled aztreonam (Cayston®) and as chair of the steering committee for the pivotal
Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication trial, EPIC.
He also was recognized for his 12 years of dedicated service as the faculty director of the Therapeutics Development Network (TDN),
where he developed the advanced training program, EQUIP-CR, for TDN research teams. Dr. Retsch-Bogart also led efforts to coordinate clinical trials between the TDN and the European Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Trials Network and is the chairman of the
Clinical Research Executive Committee.
Dr. Retsch-Bogart accomplished all this while being loved by patients and parents for his clinical care and his leadership as co-director of the UNC Pediatric CF Program for 24 years.