American Cancer Society Honors Four Individuals with Medal of Honor for Cancer Research and Control Efforts

The American Cancer Society has chosen four outstanding individuals to receive its highest honor, the Medal of Honor, for their contributions to cancer research and control efforts. The winners are Arnold J. Levine, Edward E. Harlow, Marvin Zelen, and Lance Armstrong, who will be recognized for their work in basic research, clinical research, and cancer control.

Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor and founder of the LIVESTRONG foundation, is being awarded the Medal of Honor for Cancer Control. Since its creation in 1997, the LIVESTRONG foundation has supported landmark achievements in America's fight against cancer. The yellow wristbands, which became an international phenomenon in 2004, raised tens of millions of dollars for cancer research and support. Armstrong has also lobbied Capitol Hill, testified before Congress, and served on the President's Cancer Panel. He currently leads the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, which aims to reduce the global burden of cancer.

Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D., is being recognized for his basic research contributions. He is a key figure in the discovery of the protein p53 as a tumor suppressor, which has revolutionized understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer. His research has been cited over 50,000 times and has led to the establishment of the Simons Center for Systems Biology at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Edward E. Harlow, Ph.D., is being awarded the Medal of Honor for his contributions to basic research. His lab discovered the mechanisms used by small DNA viruses to turn normal cells into tumor cells, providing significant insights into cancer biology. He has also published over 100 papers in the most prestigious scientific journals and has received numerous awards for his work.

Marvin Zelen, Ph.D., is being recognized for his contributions to clinical research. He established statistical science as a key component of cancer clinical trials, fostering interdisciplinary research in oncology. He has published over 150 articles on statistical theory and has developed many of the basic ideas in today's clinical trial environment.

Key Takeaways:

Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG foundation has raised tens of millions of dollars for cancer research and support.
The LIVESTRONG yellow wristband became an international phenomenon in 2004, raising significant funds for cancer research.
Arnold J. Levine discovered the protein p53 as a tumor suppressor, revolutionizing understanding of cancer pathogenesis.
Edward E. Harlow's lab discovered the mechanisms used by small DNA viruses to turn normal cells into tumor cells.
Marvin Zelen established statistical science as a key component of cancer clinical trials.
Lance Armstrong has lobbied Capitol Hill, testified before Congress, and served on the President's Cancer Panel.
The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign aims to reduce the global burden of cancer.
The Simons Center for Systems Biology was established by Arnold J. Levine to integrate understanding of cancer biology.
Marvin Zelen has published over 150 articles on statistical theory and has developed key ideas in clinical trial design.

Statistics:

The LIVESTRONG foundation has raised over $100 million for cancer research and support.
The LIVESTRONG yellow wristband sold over 100 million units worldwide.
Arnold J. Levine's research has been cited over 50,000 times.
Edward E. Harlow has published over 100 papers in prestigious scientific journals.
Marvin Zelen has published over 150 articles on statistical theory.
Lance Armstrong has served on the President's Cancer Panel.

Sources:

The American Cancer Society's National Awards Committee chose the 2009 Medal of Honor recipients.
Arnold J. Levine's research has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Lila Gruber Cancer Research Award and the Josef Steiner Prize.
Edward E. Harlow has received the Sloan Prize and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievements in Cancer Research.
Marvin Zelen has published over 150 articles on statistical theory and has developed key ideas in clinical trial design.
Cancer Weekly editors prepared this article from staff and other reports.