The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM), a global, multidisciplinary professional organization dedicated to saving lives and eliminating injuries associated with road traffic crashes, has announced that Dr. Koshiro Ono, research adviser and assistant to the president of the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI), is the 2016 recipient of its Award of Merit. The Award of Merit is considered AAAM’s highest award and is given to an outstanding individual who has made significant scientific contributions to an aspect of automotive medicine over many years or for a single outstanding contribution.

“Dr. Ono is receiving this award for his seminal work in head-neck impact biomechanics, including whiplash trauma, his multidisciplinary work in vehicle integrated safety systems and for pioneering research in human-machine interface in autonomous driving,” said Frank Pintar, Ph.D., past president, AAAM.

Dr. Ono is an SAE fellow, J-SAE (Japan Society of Automobile Engineers) fellow and his main research interests are in automobile integrated safety, especially in automobile traffic accident investigation and analysis, human injury biomechanics, and impact biomechanics. More recently, he has been involved in research on human-machine interface for autonomous driving systems.

“We are pleased to honor someone who has contributed so much to automotive medicine,” said Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, president, AAAM. “Motor vehicle occupants worldwide are safer because of Dr. Ono’s important work.”

Dr. Ono will be presented with the Award of Merit during AAAM’s 60th annual Scientific Conference, Sept. 17-21 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Waikoloa, Hawaii. The AAAM conference offers compelling content and unparalleled networking opportunities for all professionals involved in traffic injury control.

For the full program, highlights and registration information, visit aaam.org.