The Beth Levine, M.D. Prize in Autophagy Research recognizes pioneers in the field of autophagy – a housekeeping mechanism that cells use to dispose of damaged components and maintain cellular health.

Dr. Levine was an internationally revered investigator best known for discovering the first mammalian autophagy gene, which she named BECN1. Her groundbreaking work demonstrated that autophagy plays a critical role in the determination of human health and as a driving mechanism in a broad range of human diseases. She is considered the founder of the field of mammalian autophagy.

The prize acknowledges Dr. Levine’s legacy as a world-renowned scientific investigator, ensuring her groundbreaking discoveries will be remembered by future generations of researchers.

2025 Winner

UT Southwestern Medical Center is pleased to announce the Beth Levine, M.D. Prize in Autophagy Research for 2025 has been awarded to Italian medical geneticist Andrea Ballabio, M.D., an internationally recognized scientist who has devoted his career to elucidating the mechanisms underlying genetic diseases.

Dr. Ballabio is the founder and former director of the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) and Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of Naples “Federico II.” He is also a Visiting Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and co-founder and scientific adviser of Casma Therapeutics, where Dr. Levine was a co-founder.

“Dr. Ballabio’s research has advanced our understanding of the role of lysosomes, which are organelles that serve as a waste disposal system for cells and a regulator of cell metabolism,” said Joan Conaway, Ph.D., Vice Provost and Dean of Basic Research at UT Southwestern. “We are proud to recognize his discoveries that build, in part, upon Dr. Levine’s foundational contributions to this vitally important field of biological science.”

Read more in the UT Southwestern Newsroom.