Leading researchers honored for progress in cancer prevention, detection and treatment

Jose Baselga, M.D., director of medical oncology, hematology and radiation oncology at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, will be honored with the 2008 AACR-Rosenthal Family Foundation Award for his extraordinary achievements in improving clinical cancer care, specifically, his contributions to the clinical development of novel targeted cancer therapies including studies with anti-EGFR agents, anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies and biomarker-driven early clinical trials. Established in 1977 to recognize clinical cancer research that has made, or promises to make notable contributions to the field, the award honors and provides incentive to investigators, age 50 or younger, relatively early in their careers. Baselga will present his award lecture on Tuesday, April 15th at 12:00 p.m. in Halls G&H of the convention center.

Robert N. Hoover, M.D., Sc.D., S.M.Hyg., director of the epidemiology and biostatistics program at the National Cancer Institute, will receive the 17th Annual AACR-American Cancer Society Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. Established in 1992, the award recognizes outstanding research accomplishments in the fields of cancer epidemiology, biomarkers and prevention. Honored for his pioneering research in identifying environmental and genetic determinants of cancer, most notably bladder and breast cancer, Hoover is recognized as one of the nation’s leading cancer epidemiologists and a major force in designing and deploying interdisciplinary studies looking at the role that environmental and genetic factors play in the etiology of cancer. Hoover will present his lecture on Tuesday, April 15th at 2:15 p.m. in Room 20A-C of the convention center.

Joseph R. Bertino, M.D., interim director and chief scientific officer at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, is the recipient of the 13th Annual AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievements in Clinical Research. Honored for his influential contributions to the field of cancer chemotherapy and more specifically, mechanisms of action and resistance to anti-metabolites and development of novel cancer therapeutics based on his studies, Bertino is a role model for translational research and has led the way in translating basic science into the clinic throughout his distinguished career. The award was established in 1996 to recognize outstanding achievements in clinical cancer research and honors the late Dr. Joseph Burchenal, honorary member and past president of the AACR, and a prominent figure in the field of clinical cancer research. Bertino will give his award lecture on Tuesday, April 15th at 9:00 a.m. in Halls G&H of the convention center.