Grantees in the News!
During the first half of 2012, the following BCRF-funded grantees were recognized for their scientific accomplishments and/or elected by their peers to head national biomedical organizations.
On January 7, Richard Pestell, MD, PhD, FACP (Thomas Jefferson University Kimmel Cancer Center) was named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in recognition of his distinguished contributions to cancer care and research.
In February, José Baselga, MD, PhD (Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center) and Lewis C. Cantley, PhD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) received the PROSE Award from the Association of American Publishers for the "Best New Journal in Science, Technology and Medicine." Drs. Baselga and Cantley are co-founding editors-in chief of the journal Cancer Discovery, which launched in fall 2011.
In March, Titia de Lange, PhD (The Rockefeller University) became the first woman to receive the Dr. H.P. Heineken Prize for Biochemistry and Biophysics, presented by the Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences. Dr. de Lange also received the Rosalind E. Franklin award this year for her research on the role of telomeres in protecting chromosomes; established by the National Cancer Institute, this award honors the commitment of women in cancer research and is given in tribute to Dr. Franklin, who played a critical role in the discovery of the DNA double helix. Past recipients include BCRF grantees, Joan S. Brugge, PhD (2005); Nancy E. Davidson, MD (2008); and Kathryn B. Horwitz, PhD (2011).
William G. Kaelin Jr., MD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) was named a co-recipient of the 2012 American Society for Clinical Investigation's Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award, in recognition of his contributions to the molecular understanding of cellular oxygen sensing and cellular adaptation to hypoxia, as well as success in mentoring future physician scientists and researchers.
David M. Livingston, MD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) received the Alexander Bodini Foundation Prize for Scientific Excellence in Medicine from the American-Italian Cancer Foundation, for his contributions to human cancer science and the discovery of key molecular events that control cancer progression.
In April, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research with 32,000 member from 90+ countries, inaugurated Charles L. Sawyers, MD (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center), as President-Elect for the 2013 academic year at its Annual Meeting. Dr. Sawyers is the fourth BCRF grantee to serve as AACR President, following Susan B. Horwitz, PhD (2002-2003), Geoffrey Wahl, PhD (2006-2007), and Judy E. Garber, MD, MPH (2010-2011). Lewis C. Cantley, PhD, was elected to AACR's Board of Directors for a term of three years.
Jointly with the American Cancer Society, AACR honored Graham A. Colditz, MD, Dr.PH (Washington University School of Medicine) with the Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. Also, Alan D. D'Andrea, MD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), received the 52nd Annual AACR G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award for his work in understanding cancer survival and progression.
In addition, Robert A. Weinberg, PhD (Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research) received the 2012 Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Cancer Research for his outstanding work in the fields of cell and molecular biology and cancer genetics.
In June, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer with membership of 30,000 professional representing 100+ countries, inaugurated Clifford Hudis, MD (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center), as President-Elect. Dr. Hudis is the sixth BCRF-affiliated researcher elected to lead ASCO since 2001. Fellow BCRF grantees, Daniel F. Hayes, MD (University of Michigan), and Kathy Miller, MD (Indiana University School of Medicine), have also been elected to serve respectively on ASCO's Board of Directors and the Society's Nominating Committee.
