Cancer Research Institute's video: 2020 CRI Scientific Awards Ceremony

The Cancer Research Institute presents the 2020 CRI Scientific Awards (William B. Coley Award and Frederick W. Alt Award) to six outstanding scientists. To support cancer immunotherapy research, text CURENOW to 76278 or visit https://bit.ly/CureNowDonate *********** CRI Scientific Advisory Council Director James P. Allison, Ph.D., presents the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology to the following scientists: Andrea Ablasser, M.D. Associate Head, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Glen N. Barber, Ph.D. Chairman and Professor, Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Zhijian James Chen, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Veit Hornung, M.D. Professor, Gene Center and Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Russell E. Vance, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute The 2020 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology was shared by Drs. Andrea Ablasser, Glen N. Barber, Zhijian J. Chen, Veit Hornung, and Russell E. Vance for their contributions regarding the discovery and characterization of the cGAS-STING pathway, an important component of the innate immune system that is involved in the detection of mis-placed DNA that can result from infection and other types of damage. Once activated, the cGAS-STING pathway stimulates immune activity that can help resolve the situation and eliminate any remaining threats. Collectively, their work paved the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to better harness the innate immune system, and potentially amplify immunotherapy’s benefits. *********** CRI Scientific Advisory Council Associate Director Robert D. Schreiber, Ph.D., presents the Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology to: Tannishtha Reya, Ph.D. Professor, Pharmacology and Medicine, University of California, San Diego *********** The William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology has been given to some of the world’s most gifted scientists. Their work has deepened our understanding of the immune system’s response to cancer and other diseases and advanced the development of effective immunotherapies. This award is given to one or more scientists for seminal discoveries in the field of basic immunology and cancer immunology. Awardees receive an honorary medal and $5,000 prize. The award was established in 1975 in honor of Dr. William B. Coley, a pioneer of cancer immunotherapy, whose daughter, Helen Coley Nauts, founded the Cancer Research Institute. https://www.cancerresearch.org/about-cri/awards-honors/william-b-coley-award The Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology is presented annually to a former Cancer Research Institute postdoctoral fellow in recognition of outstanding success in academia or industry for research that has had a major impact in the field of immunology. The award is named after CRI Scientific Advisory Council member Frederick W. Alt, Ph.D., of the Harvard Medical School, Immune Disease Institute, in Boston, MA, who has been deeply involved in cultivating the careers of emerging young scientists and who has made many seminal contributions to the field of immunology. https://www.cancerresearch.org/about-cri/awards-honors/frederick-w-alt-award About Cancer Research Institute Awards: https://www.cancerresearch.org/about-cri/awards-honors Established in 1953, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing our immune system’s power to control and potentially cure all cancers. Our mission: Save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer. To accomplish this, we rely on donor support and collaborative partnerships to fund and carry out the most innovative clinical and laboratory research around the world, support the next generation of the field’s leaders, and serve as the trusted source of information on immunotherapy for cancer patients and their caregivers. https://www.cancerresearch.org Cancer Research Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 13-1837442. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.