Cancer

　　The AACR Congratulates Member Peter C. Nowell on Winning the Franklin Institute Award October 23, 2009 PHILADELPHIA - The American Association for Cancer Research congratulates Peter C. Nowell, M.D., for winning the 2010 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, a Franklin Institute Award. Nowell, a member of the AACR for 52 years, received this prestigious award for his and the late David Hungerford’s discovery that alterations to chromosomes can cause cancer and for further research leading to the development of a therapy that now cures 95 percent of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. "Dr. Nowell is a pioneer in the field of genetic research. For the past five decades, he has brought pride to Philadelphia and the AACR," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. "His research linking genetics and cancer has informed later significant discoveries in the field." In 1960, while washing slides with tap water, Nowell observed the cancer cells on the slides began swelling and the abnormal chromosome 22 became visible. Dubbed the Philadelphia chromosome, it is a genetic cause of chronic myelogenous leukemia. His discovery led to the development of Gleevec, which targets the Philadelphia chromosome and has transformed CML treatment. Established in 1824, the Franklin Institute Awards are among the oldest and most prestigious comprehensive science awards in the world. The awards identify individuals whose great innovation has benefited humanity, advanced science, launched new fields of inquiry and deepened our understanding of the universe. Nowell is the Gaylord P. and Mary Louise Harnwell emeritus professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In 1948 he earned his bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University; in 1952 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where he later served as the first director of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center - now known as the Abramson Cancer Center. Nowell has won numerous awards, including the Albert Lasker Medical Research Award, The General Motors Cancer Foundation Charles S. Mott Prize and the Distinguished Graduate Award from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. During his membership with the AACR Nowell served on the Cornelius P. Rhoads Memorial Award Committee, The Society Service Committee, and the editorial board of Cancer Research. Subscribe to the AACR News RSS Feed # # # The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1907, the AACR is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research. The membership includes 30,000 basic, translational and clinical researchers; health care professionals; and cancer survivors and advocates in the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The 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, research fellowship and career development awards. The AACR Annual Meeting attracts more than 16,000 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. The AACR publishes six major peer-reviewed journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers AND Prevention; and Cancer Prevention Research. The AACR also publishes CR, a magazine for cancer survivors and their families, patient advocates, physicians and scientists. CR provides a forum for sharing essential, evidence-based information and perspectives on progress in cancer research, survivorship and advocacy. Media Contact: Megan Davies (267) 646-0612 megan.davies@aacr.org