Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation names first recipients of Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting innovative early career researchers, named the first recipients of the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists. This new award provides additional funding to scientists completing a prestigious Damon Runyon Fellowship Award who have greatly exceeded the Foundation's highest expectations and are most likely to make paradigm-shifting breakthroughs that transform the way we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Recipients of the Frey Award were selected by leaders in biomedical research based on the following criteria: exceptional productivity and significant accomplishments during the Damon Runyon Fellowship; potential of the scientist to become a leader in the field of cancer research; potential of the research to impact the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of one or more forms of cancer. They will each receive $100,000 to be used toward their research.

The Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists is named for the Foundation's retiring Chairman, in recognition of his 16 years of visionary leadership and role in transforming Damon Runyon into the premier charity funding today's best young cancer researchers.

Recipients of the Dale F. Frey Award:

Ken Cadwell, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow at Washington University in Saint Louis '08-'10)

Dr. Cadwell studies the link between inflammation and diseases such as cancer and Crohn's disease. He has discovered a new phenomenon whereby intestinal disease, in mouse, is triggered by a particular genetic mutation combined with viral infection. His long-term research goal is to learn how viral infections disrupt the balance of our immune system, hopefully leading to therapeutics that target these processes and prevent cancer. Dr. Cadwell recently moved to New York City, where he is now Assistant Professor at the New York University School of Medicine.

L. Stirling Churchman, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow at University of California, San Francisco '08-'11)

The process of transcription (how DNA is copied to RNA) is a key point at which gene expression is regulated. Dr. Churchman has developed a new technology that for the first time allows transcription to be examined at high resolution in live cells. She will use this technology to address questions about how transcription is controlled, potentially identifying new targets and pathways for cancer treatment.