Robarts Research Institute awards the J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine to renowned cancer imaging researcher from Stanford University
Sanjiv S. Gambhir, MD, PhD, an internationally-renowned cancer imaging researcher from Stanford University, is the recipient of the 2015 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize in Medicine.Dr. Gambhir’s work has revolutionized the field of cancer diagnostics, developing imaging on the molecular and nanoparticle level and translating that research for clinical diagnostics and cancer management. Earlier this year, Dr. Gambhir and his team released a paper on his research into DNA rings – a technology that may one day result in patients taking a pill which will cause cancerous cells to excrete a unique biomarker, indicating the type and stage of the tumour at an earlier point in the disease.
He serves as Chairman of the Department of Radiology at Stanford School of Medicine, Director of the Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection and Director of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford.
Dr. Gambhir is a clinician-scientist with a multi-disciplinary background, having completed training in nuclear medicine, internal medicine, biomathematics and physics. He is recognized as an international leader in the field of molecular imaging. His research is focused on investigating the fundamental cellular and molecular processes which lead to cancer, with the goal of developing advanced imaging procedures. He has authored more than 575 publications and has more than 50 patents pending or granted.
“Dr. Gambhir is a globally recognized pioneer in the field of molecular imaging,” said Arthur Brown, PhD, Robarts scientist and chair of the Taylor Prize committee. “His work has revolutionized our ability to diagnose cancer and other diseases, and to develop and optimize the therapies of tomorrow. By merging his expertise in cell and molecular biology with multiple biomedical imaging methods, his work has, and will continue to have, an indelible impact on the field of molecular imaging in cancer and on patient care.”
The Taylor Prize is awarded annually by Schulich Medicine & Dentistry's Robarts Research Institute. The recipient is nominated by the scientific community and selected by a peer jury which focuses on research areas that are integral to Robarts’ mandate. This year the focus is “Cellular and Molecular Imaging in Cancer.” The Cancer Imaging Research Program at Robarts is focused on generating new cancer imaging tools and new molecular probes to detect specific types of cancer.
The Prize is named after the founding Chair of the Board at Robarts, and includes a cash prize of $25,000 and a medal bearing the likeness of J. Allyn Taylor. The award is generously supported by the C. H. Stiller Memorial Foundation and the family of the late J. Allyn Taylor.
The award will be presented to Dr. Gambhir on Wednesday, November 18 in London. He will spend the day at Robarts and take part in the Taylor Symposium – a forum for researchers to share the latest advances in cellular and molecular imaging in cancer – and the Public Forum – an opportunity for the public to learn about research advances from leading international physicians and researchers. Dr. Gambhir will formally receive his award at the Leaders in Innovation dinner on Wednesday, November 18 at the Lamplighter Inn, London – an evening that highlights research into cellular and molecular imaging in cancer.
