Andre Nussenzweig, of NCI, has received the ninth annual Basser Global Prize from the Basser Center for BRCA at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.
Nussenzweig is branch chief of the Laboratory of Genome Integrity in the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research.
Each year, the Basser Global Prize recognizes a leading scientist who has conceptually advanced BRCA1/2-related research. Individuals with mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are at an increased risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic and other cancers.
Nussenzweig’s work on the fundamental aspects of DNA repair, replication, and genome integrity in cells has led to important discoveries that have applications for the development of biomarkers and targeted therapeutics for the treatment of BRCA-mutated cancers.
Nussenzweig will give the keynote address at the 10th annual Basser Center for BRCA Scientific Symposium on May 10 and 11, 2022.
The Basser Global Prize provides $100,000 in unrestricted support of the winner’s BRCA1/2-related research efforts, a Basser sculpture, and a $10,000 personal prize, which will be awarded at the symposium.
The Basser Center was established in 2012 with a $25 million gift from University of Pennsylvania alumni Mindy and Jon Gray in memory of Mindy Gray’s sister Faith Basser, who died of ovarian cancer at age 44. To date, Mindy and Jon have donated more than $55 million to the Basser Center in support of research and education to improve treatment and prevention strategies for hereditary cancers.
The Basser Global Prize was established and subsequently endowed by Shari Basser Potter and Leonard Potter.
