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Our News – CCR Announcements

October 2009

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

- 2009 Federal Laboratory Consortium Mid-Atlantic Laboratory Director of the Year Award

~ For outstanding contributions in support of technology transfer

Robert H. Wiltrout, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Cancer Research

- American Society of Hematology 2009 Dameshek Prize

~ For landmark contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of lymphomas

Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D.

Metabolism Branch

- Annual European Association of Nuclear Medicine Springer Prize for Best Basic Science Paper

~ For [18F]FBEM-ZHER2:342-Affibody molecule-a new molecular tracer for in vivo monitoring of HER2 expression by positron emission tomography

Gabriela Kramer-Marek, Ph.D., Sang Bong Lee, Ph.D., and Jacek Capala, Ph.D.

Radiation Oncology Branch

- Inducted to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Sankar Adhya, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Molecular Biology

- Career Achievement Medal

Thomas Alexander Waldmann, M.D., Chief of the Metabolism Branch at CCR, received a 2009 Career Achievement Medal for his exemplary innovation and accomplishments in medical research.

Over the course of five decades, Waldmann has made significant advances in the treatment of patients with cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, including the development of new therapies for previously fatal forms of T-cell leukemia and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The major focus of Waldmann's work has been in the field of cytokines, molecules that control human immune responses. He was intimately involved in the development of the groundbreaking medicine Zenapax®, which produces complete remission in over 60 percent of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who are unresponsive to any other treatment.

This Achievement Medal is one of nine Service to America Medals awarded by Congressional leaders and the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to revitalize the federal government. This year's recipients were selected from a group of over 400 nominees drawn from almost every major government agency.

- International Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Medicine

Ira Pastan, M.D., Chief of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at CCR, received the 2009 International Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Medicine for his work in developing effective immunotoxin therapies to treat both rare and common cancers-research 20 years in the making.

Early immuntoxins based on the bacterial protein Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) required expensive, complex chemistry to link the lethal toxin to antibodies that could target tumor cells. Using recombinant DNA techniques and his extensive knowledge of cell surface receptors, Pastan has engineered smaller, more nimble immunotoxins to target several different tumor types. This shift from chemistry to genetic engineering for producing custom immunotoxins has been a major breakthrough.

Awarded every 5 years, the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Medicine includes a valuable gold medal and a sizable monetary prize awarded by the Accademia Nazionale del Lincei. The organization, founded in 1603, includes Galileo as a member and is considered Italy's most prestigious scientific society.

- Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Andrew Craigie Award

~ For outstanding advancement of pharmacy within the federal government

William Douglas Figg, Sr., Pharm.D.

Medical Oncology Branch