Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, recognized Endocrine Society member and innovative breast cancer researcher Donald P. McDonnell, PhD, with this year’s Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Basic Science, Komen’s highest scientific honor.
Established by Komen in 1992, the prestigious Brinker Awards for Scientific Distinction recognize advances in both our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer (basic science) – and the clinical setting (clinical research), which are both essential to combating the disease.
“Dr. McDonnell’s innovative research has provided significant insights to the biology and pharmacology of the estrogen receptor and led to the development of new drugs for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.”
McDonnell, the Glaxo-Wellcome Professor of Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Professor of Medicine, co-director, Women’s Cancer Program, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, is being honored for his significant contributions to breast cancer research, which have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of estrogen receptor signaling in breast cancer.
His research has resulted in critical insights into the structure, function and regulation of nuclear hormone receptors and is helping to lay the foundation for the development and clinical use of novel endocrine therapies to treat Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer.
“Dr. McDonnell’s innovative research has provided significant insights to the biology and pharmacology of the estrogen receptor and led to the development of new drugs for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. His leadership in the field and creative approach to translating laboratory-based discoveries to new cancer drugs will have a lasting impact on breast cancer research and care,” says Komen’s chief scientific advisor, Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, executive vice president for research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, the B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Molecular Oncology.
McDonnell also received the Endocrine Society’s 2020 Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research Laureate Award earlier this year.
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