On Mar. 18, 1988, Dr. Charles Esmon, a scientist from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) in the Cardiovascular Research Program, was named a Howard Hughes investigator for his work in blood clotting. His work has yielded a part of lifesaving medications: the sepsis drug Xigris and Ceprotin for children suffering from a rare blood disorder.

Esmon’s selection marked the first time the award has come to an Oklahoman and the first time it had been granted to a researcher outside a U.S. medical school.