November 8, 1999
Frederick Li, M.D., receives American Cancer Society Medal Of Honor
Frederick P. Li, M.D., vice-chair for population sciences at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and professor of Clinical Cancer Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, has been named the winner of the 1999 Medal of Honor in Clinical Research from the American Cancer Society (ACS).
The award, the highest honor bestowed by the ACS, was presented to Li at the organization's annual meeting in New Orleans on November 7. It is one of three medals of honor - one given to a clinical researcher, one to a basic scientist, and one to a lay person - awarded annually by the ACS for outstanding contributions to the control of cancer.
Li's research focuses on inherited cancer-susceptibility genes, and his work has given new impetus to cancer-prevention efforts in high-risk populations. Last year, Li received a Clinical Cancer Research Professorship from the ACS, which provides financial support for his research.
Individuals are nominated for ACS medals of honor by members of the organization and by other people interested in cancer control. Winners are chosen by the Society's National Awards Committee, which is chaired by the immediate past president of the ACS.
"Fred is an outstanding cancer scientist," said David Rosenthal, M.D., professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and immediate past president of the ACS. "The amazing part of his research is that he started studying risk factors - especially inherited risk factors - before it was popular to do so. His work has tied in closely with discoveries about mutations in the p53 gene that are related to cancer."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Photos of Dr. Li are available upon request.
