PHILADELPHIA — John D. Groopman, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the 2010 American Association for Cancer Research-Prevent Cancer Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research.
"We are thrilled to present Dr. Groopman with this award," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "His landmark work utilizing molecular biomarkers to identify the link between environmental carcinogens and liver cancer provides new prospects for prevention in high-risk populations around the world, and improves public health."
Carolyn Aldige, president and founder of the Prevent Cancer Foundation underscored the value of Dr. Groopman's work in stating "The role of most environmental carcinogens is not well-defined, but thanks to Dr. Groopman's pioneering efforts in this field, we now understand the causes of liver cancer, one of the largest cancer killers in the developing world."
Groopman, chair of the department of environmental health sciences, Anna M. Baetjer Professor in Environmental Health and associate director for cancer prevention and control at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, will deliver his award lecture during the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference on Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. ET, at the Philadelphia Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
The award, now in its ninth year, spotlights a scientist's seminal contributions to the field of cancer prevention. Groopman is honored for his discovery, validation and application of molecular biomarkers to probe the etiology of liver cancer and the means to prevent it in the economically developing world.
Groopman's research elucidates of the role of aflatoxins, a common mold-derived food contaminate, in the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a major cause of morbitiy and mortality in people at high-risk living in developing countries such as Asia and Africa.
Groopman developed the first monoclonal antibodies recognizing chemical DNA damage products, and went on to develop a novel and innovative technology employing these antibodies in preparative strategies to isolate DNA damage products from bio-fluids such as urine. This methodology was reported in a set of papers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the mid 1980's and subsequently has had wide ranging use in molecular epidemiology studies.
Groopman's initial biomarkers were rapidly translated into a multi-national investigation of the etiology of HCC that, for the first time, characterized the relationship between exposure to aflatoxin and infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV).
Groopman has earned many awards and recognitions, including the National Cancer Institute Research Career Development Award; the 2008 Gerald N. Wogan Lecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health, Alpha Chapter; and he is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. At the AACR, Groopman co-chaired the 2008 Annual Meeting; chaired the Molecular Epidemiology Group (2005-2007); chaired the epidemiology section for the 2004 AACR program committee; co-chaired the Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Program Committee for the 2000 Annual Meeting, and chaired the Maryland State Legislative Committee (1992-1995).
For more information on the American Association for Cancer Research's Ninth Annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, please visit: http://www.aacr.org/home/scientists/meetings--workshops/frontiers-in-cancer-prevention-research.aspx
About the AACR
The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 32,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and more than 90 other countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise from the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through high-quality scientific and educational programs. It funds innovative, meritorious research grants, research fellowships and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 18,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and developments in the field. Special conferences throughout the year present novel data across a wide variety of topics in cancer research, treatment and patient care. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists, providing a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.
About the Prevent Cancer Foundation
The Prevent Cancer Foundation was started in 1985. Today, it is one of the nation's leading health organizations and has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Through healthy lifestyle choices and screening, many cancers can be prevented. The Foundation funds research and community grants related to all types of cancer prevention and early detection and creates educational materials and programs particularly targeted towards breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, oral, prostate, skin and testicular cancers. Since its inception the Prevent Cancer Foundation has provided more than $120 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education and community outreach programs across the country. The Foundation has funded over 430 peer-reviewed research projects in 39 states, and three in Canada, in more than 150 leading research institutions nationwide. This research has been pivotal in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important cancer prevention and early detection strategies. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.