Carl H. June, MD, an internationally recognized leader in the growing field of immunotherapy, was awarded the Watanabe Prize at the 7th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) on September 11 on the campus of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.
Dr. June, Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy and Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has led the development and testing of novel forms of immunotherapy in cancer and chronic infections, making groundbreaking contributions in determining mechanisms by which the body’s immune system can be activated to attack such diseases.
The August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research, presented by the Indiana CTSI and the Indiana University School of Medicine, recognizes a member of the scientific or medical community who has achieved outstanding accomplishments in translational research. As the recipient, Dr. June spent several days in Indiana sharing his knowledge with audiences at the Indiana University School of Medicine and partner institutions.
The Indiana CTSI Annual Meeting also highlighted two outstanding young investigators named Watanabe Translational Scholars. Announced at the meeting (after we went to press), these prize winners were scheduled to present brief overviews of their research during the event, and will be mentored by Dr. June over the next 2 years.
Established in 2008, The Indiana CTSI, directed by Anantha Shekhar, MD, PhD, is a statewide collaboration of Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame, along with many public and private corporate partnerships, to facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries in the laboratory into new patient treatments. For more information, visit indianactsi.org. ■
