The Union presents awards in three categories each year during the World Conference: Members of academies, researchers, scientists, organisations and members of The Union may apply to win for these awards, which were established to recognise exceptional contributions to tuberculosis and lung health:

The Union Young Investigator Prize was established in 2011. It acknowledges a researcher for work on tuberculosis or lung health published in the past five years, when 35 years and younger.

The Union Scientific Prize acknowledges researchers at any stage of their career for work on tuberculosis or lung health published in the past five years.

The Karel Styblo Public Health Prize acknowledges a health worker (physician or lay-person) or a community organisation for contributions to tuberculosis control or lung health over a period of 10 years or more.

Each award consists of a full fellowship to attend Union World Conference on Lung Health (including full delegate badge, travel and hotel), the US$ 2,000 and a certificate presented at the conference. Honorees unable to attend the conference may designate a colleague to receive the award on their behalf.

Other Union honours

Honorary Membership

The title of Honorary Member of The Union is granted to a person who has become distinguished through active participation in The Union's activities and the fulfillment of its goals.

2012: Dr Asma El Sony (Sudan) and Dr Richard O'Brien (USA) were made Honorary Members for their distinguished work on behalf of TB and lung health.

2011: Prof Margaret Becklake (Canada), Prof Elif Dagli (Turkey) and Prof Robert Loddenkemper (Germany) were made Honorary Members for their distinguished work on behalf of TB and lung health.

The Union Medal

The Union Medal is awarded to Union members who have made an outstanding contribution to the control of tuberculosis or lung health by their scientific work and/or actions in the field.

2011: Prof John F Murray (USA) was awarded The Union's highest honour, The Union Medal, for his long and distinguished career in TB and lung health.

Recent award winners and their achievements

	2012: Dr David Dowdy (USA) is an epidemiologist and practicing general internist whose primary body of work involves modeling the impact and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic interventions for tuberculosis, with a particular focus on developing methods for practical tools that can be utilized by decision-makers.
	2011: Dr Keren Middlekoop (South Africa) clinician and senior investigator at the Desmond Tutu HIV Research Centre, the University of Cape Town, was honoured for her work in the epidemiology of TB and HIV and the impact of HIV and antiretroviral therapy on patients with TB.

The Union Scientific Prize:

	2012: Dr Dick Menzies (Canada) has a well-known, long history of involvement in tuberculosis care and research, beginning with his years in Lesotho. He has developed a tuberculosis research programme of clinical and epidemiologic studies linked with a large multi-disciplinary clinical service at the Montreal Chest Institute.
	2011: Dr Haileyesus Getahun (Switzerland) of the WHO Stop TB Department for his contributions to the development of evidence-based TB and HIV policy and practice. As coordinator of the Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership, he has helped in setting the global advocacy agenda for worldwide response among stakeholders.
	2010: Dr Kheertan Dedha (South Africa) for his outstanding contributions and ongoing research programme in the priority area of TB and extensively drug-resistant TB.
	2009: Dr Rod Escombe (UK) for his research on natural ventilation for the prevention of airborne contagion, upper room UV light for prevention of nosocomial TB transmission and the infectiousness of TB patients coinfected with HIV.
	2008: Dr Rony Zachariah (Belgium) for his work on the delivery and monitoring of ART in a district setting which paved the way for Malawi's national ART system.

The Karel Styblo Public Health Prize:

	2012: Dr Karin Weyer (South Africa) is the Coordinator of Laboratories, Diagnostics and Drug Resistance (LDR) at the WHO Stop TB Department in Geneva, Switzerland where she directs a multi-disciplinary team responsible for developing new policies on TB diagnostics and laboratory procedures, norms and standards
	2011: No prize was awarded.
	2010: The Association for Social Development of Pakistan was honoured for pioneering a model collaboration with Pakistan's National TB Programme that has had a significant impact on the country's efforts to combat TB.
	2009: Prof Digambar Behera (India) was honoured for a career spanning more than 30 years in patient care, research, teaching and advocating for lung health.
	2008: Chief Austin Arinze Obiefuna (Ghana) was honoured for his extensive advocacy work, including founder and President of the Afro Global Alliance International, National Coordinator of the Stop TB Partnership Ghana and National Coordinator of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.