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Webster K. Cavenee, PhD

Webster K. Cavenee, PhD

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
University of California
San Diego, California

Class of 2013

Recognized for having provided the first indisputable evidence of tumor suppressor genes, Dr. Cavenee has conducted research that has fundamentally changed the understanding of tumor initiation and progression.

Dr. Cavenee’s recent research has focused on gliomas, and his team has found that an abnormal version of EGFR, named EGFRviii, is common in the most rapidly progressive primary brain tumors in humans. His team has been working to develop an understanding of resistance to targeted therapies, hypothesizing that targeting these genes, together with the primary target, will lead to more durable responses.

Career Highlights

2018 Helen Keller Award in Vision Research
2018 Weinman Award in Cancer Research
2017 Lifetime Achievement Award, Society for Neuro-oncology
2017 Chinese Academy of Engineering
2016 Friendship Award, Government of The People’s Republic of China
2016 Feldman Founder’s Award, National Brain Tumor Society
2014 AACR Margaret Foti Award
2012 Elected to the Leopoldina German Academy of Science
2008 Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2007 Elected to the Institute of Medicine
2007 AACR-Princess Takamatsu Award
2007 Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Prize, National Foundation for Cancer Research
2003 Fellow, National Foundation for Cancer Research
1998-1999 President, AACR
1997 Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
1997 Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
1994 Farber Prize, American Association of Neurological Surgeons
1994 Fellow, International Union Against Cancer
1994-1997 Board of Directors, AACR
1990 Charles S. Mott Award, General Motors Cancer Research Foundation
1988 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research (Rhoads Prize), AACR
1977 PhD, University of Kansas School of Medicine