Newswise — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is currently accepting nominations for the prestigious Pezcoller Foundation"AACR International Award for Cancer Research. This award was first given in 1998, and recognizes a scientist of international renown who has made a major scientific discovery in basic cancer research or who has made significant contributions to translational cancer research; who continues to be active in cancer research and has a record of recent, noteworthy publications; and whose ongoing work holds promise for continued substantive contributions to progress in the field of cancer.

The award consists of an unrestricted grant of €75,000 and a commemorative plaque.

The award is intended to honor an individual scientist. However, more than one scientist may be co-nominated and selected to share the Award when their investigations are closely related in subject matter and have resulted in work that is worthy of the award.

The winner of the Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Cancer Research will give a 50-minute Award lecture at the AACR Annual Meeting 2009 in Denver, CO, U.S.A. (April 18-22, 2009), and present the Fourth Annual Stanley J. Korsmeyer Lecture in Padua, Italy, just prior to the official Award ceremony in Trento, Italy in early May 2009.

The Pezcoller Foundation was established in 1980 by Professor Alessio Pezcoller, a dedicated Italian surgeon who made important contributions to medicine during his career and who, through his foresight, vision, and generous gift in support of the formation of the Foundation, stimulated others to join this effort in sustaining the work of the Foundation. Professor Pezcoller has inspired scientists around the world to make significant advances in cancer research. In addition to sponsoring this prestigious Award, the Foundation also sponsors a series of symposia, publishes a journal, and supports awards for early-career scientists from Europe who have submitted highly rated abstracts for presentation at the AACR Annual Meeting.

The 2008 Award Winner, Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., was recognized for his pioneering work in the translation of genomics-based discoveries into novel approaches for cancer therapy. Ullrich is an international leader in cancer research whose work has helped introduce an era of personalized medicine not only for the treatment of breast cancer, but also for other cancers. His strategy of genomics-based, target-driven drug development has helped revolutionize the way cancer is studied and treated.

Nominations may be made via letter from any scientist, whether an AACR member or nonmember, who is now or has been affiliated with any institution involved in cancer research, cancer medicine, or cancer-related biomedical science. Candidates may not nominate themselves. For more information on eligibility criteria, the nomination process, and other details about the Pezcoller Foundation"AACR International Award for Cancer Research, please visit www.aacr.org/page14329.aspx. Nominations should be sent to [email protected]. Inquiries should be directed to Ms. Monique P. Eversley at [email protected]. The nomination deadline is Monday, September 15, 2008.

The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, AACR is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes more than 28,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and 80 other countries. 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. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 17,000 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. AACR publishes five major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Its most recent publication and its sixth major journal, Cancer Prevention Research, is dedicated exclusively to cancer prevention, from preclinical research to clinical trials. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors, patient advocates, their families, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy.

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