Individuals, foundations, and corporations continue to fuel the brightest minds in cancer research through lifetime investments in the Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards program. The roster of endowed Young Investigator Awards (YIA) grew by three in 2018, with awards gifted by Thomas G. Roberts, Jr, MD, FASCO, and Susan M. DaSilva, PhD; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH; and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
“Cancer patients will benefit for decades from the generosity of the Roberts/DaSilva family, -Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, and Bristol-Myers Squibb,” said Nancy R. Daly, MS, MPH, Conquer Cancer’s Chief Philanthropic Officer. “We deeply appreciate the trust these donors place with Conquer Cancer to guide their philanthropic investments, and we look forward to directing these valuable grants to the most promising researchers conquering cancer around the world.”
Adam J. Waxman, MD
The Endowed Young Investigator Award in Honor of Grant R. and Victoria A. Merryman was granted to Adam J. Waxman, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, to study lymphoma and plasma cell disorders.
“Susan and I have been inspired by the mission of Conquer Cancer, the amazing people in the organization, and the brilliant scientists that Conquer Cancer supports,” said Dr. Roberts, who also serves as Chair of Conquer Cancer, of the award named in memory of his aunt and cousin. “Getting to know some of the amazing past awardees like Dr. Breelyn Wilky and the patients who have been touched by the research, like six-time survivor Brittany -Sullivan, was what ultimately compelled us to act.”
Ankur Nagaraja, MD, PhD
The Boehringer Ingelheim Endowed Young Investigator Award was granted to Ankur Nagaraja, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to study gastrointestinal cancers.
“The YIA brings our long-term partnership with ASCO to a lifetime level to support cancer research,” said Mehdi Shahidi, MD, Global Medical Head Oncology, Boehringer Ingelheim. “This also reflects our ability as an independent, family-owned company to make long-term investments in some of the most challenging, but potentially most impactful, areas of cancer research. Collaboration is fundamental to unraveling the complexities of cancer and developing treatments with demonstrable value. We are collaborating with the oncology community to deliver scientific breakthroughs to transform the lives of patients.”
Rachael Rowswell-Turner, MD, PhD
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award was granted to Rachael Rowswell-Turner, MD, PhD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center, to study gynecologic cancers.
“Bristol-Myers Squibb is thrilled to support an Endowed Women Who Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award. We share Conquer Cancer’s belief that continued improvements in cancer care will only be possible by empowering a diverse group of promising new researchers to bring forward the most innovative scientific discoveries,” said Murdo Gordon, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Sponsor of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Network of Women (B-NOW), Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We extend our heartiest congratulations to this year’s talented recipient; it is such passion and ideas that will accelerate scientific advances and better the lives of cancer patients for years to come.”
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© 2018. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
