WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- America's top award in medicine, Albany Medical Center Prize, went Friday for the first time to two women scientists.

    Elizabeth Blackburn of University of California, San Franciscoand and Joan Steitz of Yale University won the Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research for their groundbreaking molecular research that "may lead to more effective treatments for a variety of diseases," said the Albany Medical Center in a statement on Friday.

    The two scientists will share 500,000 U.S. dollars in the world's second largest prize award, next to the 1.4 million U.S. dollars Nobel Prize.

    Blackburn is world renowned for her groundbreaking discoveries of the molecular nature of telomeres, the simple DNA sequences that constitute "the bookends at the end of chromosomes that hold everything in place."

    She is also respected for her discovery of the ribonucleoprotein enzyme telomerase, which fortifies telomeres.

    "Dr. Blackburn's studies of this fascinating enzyme and its effect on cellular aging may hold the key to prolonging life by helping to treat a variety of diseases and disorders from cancer to chronic stress," said James Barba, president of Albany Medical Center.

    Steitz is similarly revered in scientific circles for her pioneering work in RNA.

    She is best known for discovering and defining the function of small ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) in pre-messenger RNA -- the earliest product of DNA transcription.

    "Many scientists believe that Dr. Steitz' research may ultimately lead to breakthroughs in treating a variety of autoimmune diseases including lupus," Barba said.

    The Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research was established in the fall of 2000 when the late philanthropist Morris "Marty" Silverman announced donation of 50 million U.S. dollars from his Marty and Dorothy Silverman Foundation for the prize to be given annually for 100 years.