Given to Honorary Fellow Professor Tony Hunter for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research.
The Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research was established in 1997 to recognize a scientist who has made a major scientific discovery in basic cancer research, or who has made significant contributions to translational cancer research; who continues to be active in cancer research, and has a record of recent and noteworthy publications; and whose ongoing work holds promise for continued substantive contributions to progress in the field of cancer.
Professor Hunter is honoured for his significant discovery of tyrosine kinases. This pioneering work has led to proven success in the usage of cancer chemotherapeutics that target disease-causing tyrosine kinases. Furthermore he is credited with being the first to demonstrate that dysregulated tyrosine phosphorylation by activated tyrosine kinases, such as the viral Src protein, can cause malignant transformation.
Dr. Hunter’s highly regarded work has led to the discovery and development of many effective drugs targeting aberrant kinase signaling in cancer cells.