Two Scientists Share Albany Med Award for Advances in Cancer Research

ALBANY – Two scientists will share a $ 500,000 prize from the Albany Medical Center for their work that has spurred advances in cancer research, immunology and regenerative medicine.

Dr. Irving Weissman of Stanford University and Bert Vogelstein of Johns Hopkins University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute to receive the 2014 Albany Medical Center Award for Medicine and Biomedical Research, announced Tuesday the medical center. They will receive the award on September 25 in Albany.

Vogelstein and Weissman have made major advances in understanding the causes of tumor growth and malignancy, said Dr. Vincent Verdile, dean of Albany Medical College and chair of the award selection committee.

"They have revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology and its application to early detection and treatment, leading to new approaches that can extend the lives of those who would have been considered incurable," said Verdile.

Irving Weissman

Weissman is known for his research on stem cells and its application to cancer treatment. He has even been called a "Picasso of biomedical research" by his colleagues.

Born and raised in Montana, he first became interested in biomedical research in high school in the 1950s. After completing his undergraduate studies at Montana State University, he moved to California to pursue medical studies at Stanford. He has been there ever since.

In 1988, he was the first to isolate and characterize a tissue stem cell – the haematopoietic hematopoietic stem cell – in mice and later, in 1992, in humans. He would then continue to promote stem cell research and public policy. He was one of the driving forces behind the 2004 Stem Cell Research and Treatment Act in California.

He also showed that a protein found in many body cells, including cancer cells, emits a "do not eat me" signal that prevents white blood cells from attacking cancer. As a result, he led the development of an antibody that blocks this signal and, when combined with another antibody, increases the signal "eat me" cells for white blood cells to eat up cells. cancerous and leave only healthy and normal cells. .

Her research has led to the development of cancer stem cell treatments and the development of new therapies for breast cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, malignant melanoma, sickle cell disease and other diseases.

Bert Vogelstein

Vogelstein and his colleagues' research on cancer genes has led to new treatments and cancer tests for early detection and diagnosis.

One of his first experiences with cancer – treating a girl with leukemia in the 1970s – helped to inform his later work.

"At this point, it became clear to me that if we were to give more hope to patients and their parents, we should understand the disease," he said. "Once one understands a disease, all kinds of intervention opportunities arise."

It will eventually be the first to clearly explain the molecular basis of a common human cancer.

In a colorectal cancer study conducted in 1988, Vogelstein discovered that cancer was caused by sequential mutations of cancer-specific genes over several years.

The genes in question are oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The first ones help the cells to grow, but when they are mutated, they can grow in an uncontrolled way and cause cancer. These act as "brakes" to prevent the formation of these tumor cells. When mutated, their braking mechanism fails.

This discovery formed the basis of cancer research and continues to do so today.

The Vogelstein team has since deciphered the genetic codes of more than 10 cancers, more than any other research team in the world. He is one of the most cited scientists in the world.

The Albany Medical Center award is given annually since 2001 to those who have altered the course of medical research. It was created by the late Morris "Marty" Silverman, a businessman from New York City who grew up in Troy.

Associated Press contributed to this report.