American Cancer Society Presents 2003 Medal of Honor Awards

American Cancer Society
Thursday, 5 June 2003

Nobel Prize recipient H. Robert Horvitz, PhD, will be among those honored by the American Cancer Society for their leadership in the battle against cancer. The Society will present its most prestigious award, the Medal of Honor, during a special evening ceremony on Thursday, June 5, in Washington, D.C. The American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor recognizes outstanding contributions in the areas of clinical research, basic research and cancer control.

The Society's 2003 award for basic research will be presented to H. Robert Horvitz, Ph.D. The award for clinical research goes to James O. Prochaska, Ph.D, and the Honorable Paul G. Rogers will receive the award for cancer control.

H. Robert Horvitz, PhD, is the David H. Koch Professor of Cancer Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the McGovern Institute of Brain Research, and a member of the MIT Center for Cancer Research. He won the 2002 Nobel Prize in medicine for his seminal research into programmed cell death – a process that is at the root of many of mankind's most dreaded diseases, including cancer. By identifying the specific genes that trigger and inhibit programmed cell death, Dr. Horvitz laid the foundation for developing effective cancer treatments and, ultimately, for finding a cure.

Before the 1970s, scientists regarded cell death as a default state. Cells died at random when they were so damaged that they could no longer sustain life. In the 1970s, that thinking was disproved when scientists discovered an actively regulated cell death process. As new cells are proliferated, old cells must die to maintain homeostasis. Diseases such as cancer occur when this balance is lost – when cells continue to proliferate without a corresponding number of cells being depleted.

Dr. Horvitz began his studies into programmed cell death shortly after it was uncovered. Working with the worm C. elegans, he identified the molecular agents – the specific genes and proteins – that trigger cell death, that inhibit cell death, and that dispose of dead cells. He found that similar agents were also present in other organisms, including humans. The implications of his research are staggering; by understanding the specific agents responsible for the process, scientists can now focus their research on treating and even curing diseases caused by programmed cell death gone awry – such as cancer.

James O. Prochaska, PhD, is director of the Cancer Prevention Research Consortium and Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. He also chairs Pro-Change Behavior Systems and is the author of more than 100 publications. His groundbreaking research revolutionized the field of behavior change, and his Stages of Change model is the hallmark of smoking cessation, substance abuse, cancer prevention and stress management programs worldwide. Dr. Prochaska's insight empowers thousands of people to modify high-risk behaviors – for good.

Dr. Prochaska identified five levels of readiness for personal change: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. He defined change as a process rather than a decisive action, and he identified measures of success to support people through each stage. Because his model first assesses a person's readiness to change and then provides a customized plan to progress from that particular stage, the model can reach entire populations and help them embrace a healthy lifestyle. A unique aspect of the Stages of Change model is that it both helps people defeat unhealthy behaviors – such as smoking, alcoholism and substance abuse – and adopt healthy behaviors – such as stress management, mammography screening and positive nutritional and exercise habits. Dr. Prochaska's research is the foundation of scores of diverse behavior change programs worldwide, and he has helped thousands of people enjoy longer, healthier lives as a result.

The Honorable Paul G. Rogers is a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Hogan and Hartson, where he specializes in representing providers, universities, medical centers, manufacturers, suppliers and associations in the health care industry. From 1955 to 1979, he served in the United States House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Subcommittee on Health and the Environment. During his 24 years of public service, Mr. Rogers spearheaded dozens of health care reform acts that have had a lasting positive impact on generations of Americans. As a result of his championship of legislation to advance public health, biomedical research and health professions education, he became known as Mr. Health.

The dozens of health care reform acts Mr. Rogers sponsored and saw through to enactment include the landmark National Cancer Act of 1971. This act laid the groundwork for the country's fight against cancer by increasing research funding, creating cancer treatment centers, conducting cancer control public awareness and educational campaigns and establishing an international research databank. With passage of the Clean Air Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, which he authored, he opened a new era for government action to safeguard the environment contributing to improved health for the nation to this day. He currently serves as Chairman of Research!America, which along with the Campaign for Medical Research, the American Cancer Society and other major health groups, led the drive to double the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from $13.7 billion in fiscal year 1998 to $27.1 billion this year. In recognition for his lifelong contributions to health and the environment, the main plaza of the NIH was designated by an Act of Congress as the “Paul G. Rogers Plaza” in 2001.

Medal of Honor recipients are chosen by the Society's National Awards Committee, which is chaired by the immediate past president of the Society. Past honorees include: George N. Papanicolaou, M.D., inventor of the Pap smear; Robert C. Gallo, M.D., recognized for his achievements in pioneering the field of human retrovirology; Judah Folkman, M.D., a leading researcher in the field of anti-angiogenesis; C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S. Surgeon General; former President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; advice authors Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren; and Benno Schmidt Sr., former chairman of the board of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 17 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org