Cancer Researchers to Convene at Dr. Paul Janssen Award Symposium Honoring Dr. Bert Vogelstein

NEW YORK, September 15, 2015-On September 16, leading cancer researchers and clinicians will gather at From Tumor Suppressors to Oncogenic Dynamics: The 2015 Dr. Paul Janssen Award Symposium, presented by the Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research and the New York Academy of Sciences.

The symposium will honor Dr. Bert Vogelstein, co-director of the Ludwig Center at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the recipient of the 2015 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research, in recognition of his extensive characterization of the underlying mechanisms of cancer and its resulting clinical impact.

Over the last several decades our knowledge of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of cancer development has dramatically advanced, resulting in improved therapeutics and diagnostics for treating this devastating disease. Much of the understanding of complex oncogenic processes at the genetic and molecular level would not have been possible without the groundbreaking research conducted by Dr. Bert Vogelstein over his distinguished forty-year career.

"I have always enjoyed trying to find answers to difficult questions. That feeling was strengthened when I started caring for patients affected by cancer, and I've been doing cancer research ever since," says Dr. Vogelstein. "Once one understands a disease, it is only a matter of time until it is conquered."

Dr. Volgelstein will give the 2015 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research Lecture on "Cancer Genomics & the Wars Against Cancers," during which he will reflect on his influential work defining how cancer is studied, diagnosed, and treated, and share his vision for the future discoveries in the field. Following his Award lecture, fellow prominent scientists at the forefront of oncology research will discuss emerging concepts and technologies in both basic and clinical cancer research, including presentation on:

• "Engineering T Cells: Moving Beyond Leukemia" by Carl June, MD, University of Pennsylvania;
• "Circulating Tumor Cell Sequencing for Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Metastatic Cancers" by Daniel A. Haber, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital;
• "Copper is Required for Oncogenic BRAF Signaling and Tumorigenesis" by Christopher Counter, PhD, Duke University School of Medicine; and
• "The Path to New Medicines: The K-RAS Story" by Peter Lebowitz, MD, PhD, Janssen Research & Development.

All presenters will then participate in a panel discussion on "The Future of Cancer Therapy," moderated by Brooke Grindlinger, PhD, the New York Academy of Sciences.

For more information, visit www.nyas.org/Janssen2015. For press inquiries, including press passes to the conference, please contact Diana Friedman (dfriedman@nyas.org; 212-298-8645).

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About The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research

The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research was established by Johnson & Johnson to honor the memory of Dr. Paul Janssen -- one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate pharmaceutical researchers. He helped save millions of lives through his contribution to the discovery and development of more than 80 medicines. The winners of the Dr. Paul Janssen Award are chosen by an independent selection committee of the world's most renowned scientists. Learn more at www.pauljanssenaward.com.

About the New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With more than 20,000 members in 100 countries around the world, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy's core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org.