Since 1985 the AACR has received generous funding from the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch of the National Cancer Institute to administer the AACR Minority Scholar Awards in Cancer Research program. For 20 years the AACR has endeavored through this program to reach out to minority predoctoral and postdoctoral students, trainees, and junior investigators as future cancer researchers.
The program was created in an attempt to address the serious problem of lack of minority participation in cancer research by offering young minority students and trainees the opportunity to attend and participate in the annual meetings and special conferences of the AACR. By attending these meetings, these young scientists and clinicians have been introduced to a broad spectrum of the most timely and significant research being conducted worldwide in basic, clinical, and translational cancer research. They have had the opportunity to meet formally and informally with many of those scientists presenting at the meeting to discuss their research, a true example of both role modeling and mentoring.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of this meritorious award program, the AACR, AACR-Minorities in Cancer Research, and the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Branch of the National Cancer Institute will sponsor a Special Session and Formal Gala on Saturday, April 16, 2005, during the 96th AACR Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.
The Special Session will be divided into two segments that will:
Several awards will be given to honor past award recipients as well as other minority researchers who have made significant contributions to cancer research.
Prior recipients of Minority Scholar Awards who will receive special recognition during the ceremony include:
Although not a past recipient of a Minority Scholar Award, special award recognition will also be presented to Eddie Reed, M.D., Director, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University, for his long-term and significant contributions to the cancer field.
Editors Note: Members of the press are cordially invited to attend this event's Special Session and should contact Jamila Bailey at (215) 440-9300 or send an e-mail to bailey@aacr.org to RSVP.
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research is a professional society of more than 24,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical scientists engaged in all areas of cancer research in the United States and in more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication, and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. AACR's Annual Meetings attract more than 15,000 participants who share new and significant discoveries in the cancer field. Specialty meetings, held throughout the year, focus on the latest developments in all areas of cancer research.