Celebrating Excellence In Cancer Research, SAASCR Honors Scientists
Photo: Left to Right: Alok A. Khorana, Jaideep Chaudhary, Maneesh Jain, Dharam Pal Chauhan, Rajvir Dahiya, Subrata Sen, Paramita M. Ghosh.
India-West Staff Reporter
SAN DIEGO, CA – The Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research (SAASCR) held an awards ceremony during the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting on April 7, here. Led by Dr. Rajvir Dahiya, President of SAASCR and Professor Emeritus at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, the event recognized outstanding contributions to cancer research by esteemed scientists of Asian origin in the US and Canada.
Dr. Dahiya, alongside Dr. Dharam Pal Chauhan, Secretary of SAASCR and retired Professor from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, bestowed honors upon distinguished researchers who have made significant strides in the field of oncology.
Among the recipients was Dr. Alok A. Khorana, Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, renowned for his pioneering work in cancer-associated thrombosis and gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Khorana’s groundbreaking research led to the development of the “Khorana score,” a risk assessment tool for cancer-associated thrombosis, and novel therapeutic approaches for gastrointestinal malignancies.
Another luminary honored at the ceremony was Dr. Jaideep Chaudhary, Professor and Dean at Clark Atlanta University, recognized for his contributions to understanding the molecular basis of prostate cancer and health disparities. Dr. Chaudhary’s extensive research has garnered international acclaim, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and three patents to his credit.
Dr. Maneesh Jain, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, was celebrated for his translational research aimed at improving early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Dr. Jain’s innovative approaches have led to promising developments in targeted therapeutic strategies and biomarker identification for this lethal malignancy.
Dr. Subrata Sen, Professor in the Department of Translational Molecular Pathology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, was recognized for his seminal discoveries in cancer genetics, particularly the identification of the AURKA oncogene and its implications for cancer therapy. Dr. Sen’s pioneering work has paved the way for novel targeted therapies and diagnostic approaches in multiple cancer types.
The ceremony also honored Dr. Paramita M. Ghosh, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of California Davis, for her research excellence in prostate cancer signaling and receptor tyrosine kinase pathways. Dr. Ghosh’s contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis have advanced our knowledge of disease progression and therapeutic resistance.
Dr. Samir Parekh, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Dr. Shiraz I. Mishra, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, were lauded for their respective expertise in myeloma genomics and cancer population sciences. Their groundbreaking research has transformed our understanding of hematologic malignancies and cancer disparities, driving progress towards personalized therapeutics and improved patient outcomes.
Finally, Dr. Ismail Jatoi, Professor of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, and Dr. Mehdi Hamadani, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Hematologic Malignancies at the Medical College of Wisconsin, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to breast cancer treatment and hematopoietic cell transplantation, respectively. Their dedication to advancing cancer care and research has had a profound impact on the field, shaping the future of oncology.
As SAASCR continues to champion excellence in cancer research, these visionary scientists stand as shining examples of innovation and perseverance in the fight against cancer.
