Public forum, international prize target new approaches to cancer treatment and prevention
LONDON , ON (Nov. 1, 2006) Robarts Research Institute presented a free public forum today on research frontiers in cancer, in addition to awarding its 22nd annual J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine.
Dr. Mark Greene is the recipient of the prize, awarded for his pioneering work leading to the development of Herceptin, the breast cancer drug that defines a new class of targeted cancer therapies. Originally from Winnipeg, Dr. Greene is a physician and scientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. For more than 25 years, his research has focused on the molecular processes that underlie the development of breast and other cancers.
Dr. Greenes early work described how the activation of a particular receptor complex on the surface of cells led to the formation of aggressive breast tumours. His group then discovered how to disable this cancer-causing receptor complex, paving the way for his and a number of other laboratories worldwide to develop targeted antibodies and small molecules to block these receptors and stop tumour growth without harming adjacent non-cancerous cells, as in chemotherapy or radiation. Dr. Greene is currently exploring the potential of targeted therapies to prevent cancer recurrence and treat advanced malignancies.
Hereceived a cheque for $10,000 (Cdn), a medallion and a certificate of merit at the Institutes 20th Anniversary Dinner tonight at the London Convention Centre.
Dr. Greene was also a central part of a day-long Taylor Symposium at University Hospital, which explored biological approaches to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Joining Dr. Greene for a public forum on new frontiers in cancer research were:
- Dr. Eliav Barr, Merck & Co. (HPV vaccine Gardasil)
- Dr. Tom Hudson, CEO, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
- Dr. Nicholas Lydon, Granite Biopharma LLC (leukemia drug Gleevac)
- Dr. Claude Perreault, Universit de Montral (immunology & cancer)
This is an outstanding panel whose collective work represents a number of exciting new approaches to cancer, said Dr. Mark Poznansky, Robarts President & Scientific Director. Fundamental research is an essential foundation for this kind of intelligent drug design as these targeted drugs can only come from a full understanding of the complex biology of cancer.
The J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine is awarded annually to scientists who have made significant contributions to a field within one of Robarts principal areas of research. The prize is funded by The C. H. Stiller Memorial Foundation .
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For more information, contact Linda Quattrin at (519) 663-3021
Dr. Mark Greene
Winner of the 2006 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine