“
While still in relatively early stages of their careers, the three
winners already are leaders in their respective fields of research,” said
Dr. Friedman. “Each has made significant contributions to our
understanding of the genes, signaling pathways, and
processes that regulate cell proliferation and lead to the formation
of tumors, their spread, and their response to treatment. The selection
committee is confident that these three young scientists will continue
to play key roles in cancer research in the future.”
Dr. Lowe is exploring the molecular and genetic machinery of apoptosis
(programmed cell death) and cellular senescence (in which cells irreversibly
stop proliferating but remain alive). These normal cellular processes
are disrupted in cancer cells, which accounts for how tumors are
able to grow and spread. Much of his work has focused on the tumor
suppressor gene p53, which is mutated in about half of all cancers.
His work has shown how changes in p53 can lead to the development
of tumors and how the disruption of p53 can affect a tumor’s
response to therapy, leading to drug resistance.
Dr. Lowe’s work also has centered on the development of advanced,
groundbreaking mouse models. “These models have allowed us
to understand the evolution of cancer – how it progresses and
responds to therapy,” said Dr. Lowe. One particular area of
his research has been using these models to make sense of apoptosis
and senescence so that these processes can be restored to cancer
cells, thus allowing traditional chemotherapy drugs to destroy them.
Another focus with his mouse model research is to gain insight into
the genetic factors that influence the effectiveness of targeted
therapies. “Our long-term goal is to use these models to determine
how to make chemotherapy agents that are more effective and also
to develop new combination therapies,” Dr. Lowe said.
“
Scott Lowe is one of the most innovative and energetic young investigators
in the field of cancer research, particularly focusing on development
of new therapeutic approaches,” said Bruce Stillman, president
of CSHL. “I believe he has made major contributions in his
career and will continue to do so in the future.”
The Paul Marks Prizes have been awarded every other year since they
were established in 2001. This year's winners – Lowe, Tyler
E. Jacks, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and
the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and Jeff Wrana, of the
University of Toronto and the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute
(SLRI) – will be honored at a luncheon on December 1 and will
speak about their work at a public symposium held after the luncheon
at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
“
The recipients of this year’s Paul Marks Prize all have made
fundamental discoveries that open up broad new avenues for cancer
research,” said MSKCC President Harold Varmus. “At the
same time, despite all of their accomplishments, I believe they are
only at the beginning of what they will ultimately contribute toward
our greater understanding of many of the genes, proteins, and signaling
pathways that contribute to the formation of cancer.”
In addition to Dr. Friedman, other members of the selection committee
were Richard Axel, MD, of Columbia University and the HHMI; Steven
J. Burakoff, MD, of the New York University Cancer Institute and
the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine; Stephen J. Elledge,
PhD, of the Department of Biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine
and the HHMI; William G. Kaelin, Jr., MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute and the HHMI; Titia de Lange, PhD, of The Rockefeller University;
Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, of the New York University Medical Center,
the Skirball Institute, and the HHMI; Joan Massagué, PhD,
of MSKCC and the HHMI; and Stanley R. Riddell, MD, of the Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center. Dr. Varmus is an ex officio member of the
committee.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and
largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care,
research, and education in cancer. Its scientists and clinicians
generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose, and
treat cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering specialists are leaders in
biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance
the standard of cancer care worldwide.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a private, non-profit basic research
institution. Under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Stillman, a member
of the National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society
(London), more than 330 scientists at the Laboratory conduct groundbreaking
research in cancer, neurobiology, plant genetics, and bioinformatics.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of eight National Cancer Institute-designated
basic research centers in the U.S. and the only such center in the
tri-state area.
For more information, visit
www.cshl.edu.
