William G. Kaelin Jr. and Gregg L. Semenza receive the 2012 ASCI/Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award

Cells are able to sense the level of oxygen in their environment and can adapt by rapidly altering expression of various genes. This capacity has both positive and negative implications; following ischemic injury, it can help promote blood vessel growth and recovery, but in cancer, new vessel growth helps sustain developing and metastasizing tumors. In the 1990s, William Kaelin Jr. and Gregg Semenza (Figure ​(Figure1)1) revolutionized the understanding of cellular oxygen sensing by identifying many of the molecular players involved. Their continuing work in the field has led to the development of successful therapeutic strategies. In April, their contributions will be celebrated as they receive the 2012 ASCI/Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award. The JCI recently spoke to Kaelin and Semenza about their path to this prize.