The Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania recently announced Bella Kaufman, MD, of the Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Israel, as the recipient of the eighth annual Basser Global Prize. Dr. Kaufman is Director of the Breast Oncology Institute, as well as President of Sheba Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Sheba Medical Center.
Bella Kaufman, MD
Each year, the Basser Global Prize recognizes a leading scientist who has conceptually advanced BRCA1/2-related research. Individuals with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are at an increased risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and other cancers. Dr. Kaufman is a leading clinician and breast cancer researcher in the field of BRCA genetics and has been an investigator on many important clinical trials, including several essential to the development of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for the treatment of BRCA-related cancers.
An International Leader
Dr. Kaufman is also founder of the Israeli Consortium for Hereditary Breast Cancer and a prominent figure in breast cancer and BRCA research communities across the globe. She was formerly Secretary of the Israeli Breast Group and is currently a member of the Israeli Cancer Association’s research and steering committees. She has published more than 125 papers and presented at dozens of scientific meetings around the world.
“I am very excited to receive the 2020 Basser Global Prize. It is indeed a great honor to be among the list of extremely talented people who have contributed so much to the advancement of breast cancer research and treatment,” Dr. Kaufman said.
Yitshak Kreiss, MD
Yitshak Kreiss, MD, Director General of Sheba Medical Center added: “Dr. Kaufman is a renowned leader in breast cancer research and treatment in Israel and around the world, whose work will change the way we relate to and treat cancer in the immediate future. She joins a growing list of doctors and researchers at Sheba who have impacted our nation and the world, underscoring our ongoing commitment to fomenting hope without boundaries.”
Dr. Kaufman will receive the award and give the keynote address at the ninth annual Basser Center for BRCA Scientific Symposium on May 11, 2021. The Basser Global Prize provides $100,000 in unrestricted support of the winner’s BRCA1/2-related research efforts, a Basser sculpture, and a $10,000 personal prize (to be awarded at the symposium).
