The Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation (CCCF) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) named Karen Lo, MD, a surgical resident at the University of Colorado, as recipient of third annual Colorectal Cancer Research Scholar Award. The award was presented at the SSO Annual Cancer Symposium held recently in Washington, DC.
“We are very excited to be able to provide this recognition to young scientific and medical investigators who are focusing their research on colorectal cancer,” said Thomas K. Weber, MD, President and Founder of the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation. “We are delighted to be able to partner with the Society of Surgical Oncology to support colorectal cancer translational research.”
The CCCF and the SSO developed the Colorectal Cancer Research Scholar Award in order to recognize excellence in translational research focused on the molecular biology of colorectal cancer. The award, which includes a $2,000 grant for travel support, is made to the presenter of the abstract that secures the highest review score from the SSO Scientific Program Committee and is focused on colorectal cancer.
Dr. Lo received the award for her abstract titled: Downregulation of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Abrogates Hepatic Metastases in Murine Colon Adenocarcinoma.
Dr. Lo attended medical school at the University of California, Davis, where her interest in surgery began under the mentorship of Vijay Khatri, MD. Since 2008, she has been working in the laboratory of Carlton C. Barnett, MD, studying tumor microenvironment and host immune response under an American Cancer Society grant.
“[SSO] appreciates this opportunity to recognize and support the work of young surgical oncologists interested in colorectal cancer research, and we’re thankful for the Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation’s support of this award,” said SSO President Monica Morrow, MD, Chief, Breast Service, Department of Surgery, and the Anne Burnett Windfohr Chair of Clinical Oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. ■
