Cleveland Clinic researchers honored for contributions to science and technology
Cleveland - Three Cleveland Clinic researchers were recently named as Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which seeks "to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people."
The following individuals were recognized for their contributions to science and technology at the Fellows Forum on February 19, 2011, during the AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.:
- Thomas A. Hamilton, Ph.D., Chair, Immunology, Lerner Research Institute;
- Qing Kenneth Wang, Ph.D., Molecular Cardiology, Lerner Research Institute;
- Ram Ganapathi, Ph.D., Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute.
Hamilton and Wang were elected Fellows under the AAAS's Section on Medical Sciences, and Ganapathi was elected as a Fellow under the Section on Pharmaceutical Sciences.
AAAS states: "Election as a Fellow of AAAS is an honor bestowed upon members by their peers. Fellows are recognized for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications."
Hamilton was recognized for contributions to the understanding of inflammatory processes, particularly at the level of cytokine and chemokine gene expression and mRNA stabilization. "We continue to work toward definition of the molecular events that control the expression of inducible genes during the initiation and resolution of both inflammation and cell stress responses," Hamilton said. "Specifically these studies focus upon alterations in transcription and mRNA metabolism that can produce significant changes in levels of gene products that have important roles in coordinating the outcome of injury."
Wang was recognized for the discovery of the first gene for the lethal heart rhythm disorder Brugada syndrome, identification of mechanisms of channelopathies, and fundamental contributions to the field of arrhythmias, seizures, and sudden death. "We have identified nine genes that cause various cardiovascular and neurological diseases," said Wang, who is also Professor of Molecular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University.
Ganapathi was recognized for contributions in the field of cancer pharmacology, molecular prognostication and anti-cancer drug development. "We continue our work on clinically active anti-tumor drugs to determine the mechanism of action and pathways of resistance, so that pharmacogenomics and targeted approaches can be exploited to maximize efficacy and reduce toxicity of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer," said Ganapathi, who is Director of Clinical Pharmacology at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
Provided by Lerner Research Institute
