The Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance is dedicated to playing a catalytic role in accelerating cures for cancer by enabling the pursuit of the most innovative and advanced cancer research and by facilitating collaborations between science and business.
The Prize for young investigators provides early-stage funding opportunities to New York scientists with innovative ideas in cancer research. The program surrounding the Prize is a catalyst in bridging the gap between the academic scientific community and the business community.
SWARNALI ACHARYYA, PHD
ADRIENNE BOIRE, MD, PHD
YAEL DAVID, PHD
MATTHEW GREENBLATT, MD, PHD
LIAM HOLT, PHD
ALEX KENTSIS, MD, PHD
DANIEL MUCIDA, PHD
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER / MATTHEW TONTONOZ — Metastasis — the spreading of cancer to other regions in the body — is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. Yet not much is known about what makes cancer cells capable of metastasizing. Now a major study from investigators at the Sloan Kettering Institute concludes that metastasis-initiating cells employ a devilish trick to spread: They co-opt the body’s natural wound-healing abilities. The new findings, published January 13 in the inaugural issue of the journal Nature Cancer, provide a novel framework for thinking about metastasis and how to treat it.
The Prix Galien recognizes outstanding innovation to improve the human condition by means of biomedical research. It is considered the industry’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, the highest accolade for biomedical research and development. The annual Galien Forum is a meeting-of-the minds at which pressing issues are debated by front-runners in industry, academia and government. This is a special opportunity for recipients of the Pershing Square Sohn Prize for Young Investigators in Cancer Research to spend time with such leaders.
Pershing Square Sohn Prize winners, Scientific Review Council members, and guests which included individuals from philanthropy, academia, industry, and business attended this year’s Forum at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York City. The event featured talks by executives from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical industries, as well as top academics and government representatives. Following the Forum, select guests were invited to attend the Prix Galien Awards Ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History.
Bill Ackman, Co-Founder. The Pershing Square Foundation