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Professor Ian Smith, Head of the Breast Unit at The Royal Marsden, has been awarded a prestigious award for his research work.
Professor Smith, who has worked at the hospital for over 30 years, is receiving the 2009 Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research at this year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in the US.
The award, which was established in 1992, is presented to researchers who have made important advances in breast cancer research, prevention and treatment, and who have provided leadership in the field.
'Surprised and thrilled'
Professor Smith said: “I am both surprised and thrilled to have received this award and I see it as a tribute to all my colleagues with whom I have worked with over many years here at The Royal Marsden and The Institute of Cancer Research.”
The award involves Professor Smith giving a Plenary Lecture at the San Antonio Symposium entitled Getting the Best Out of Neo-adjuvant Therapy.
He will then attend a reception to receive the award and will be presented with a $20,000 prize for use in his breast cancer research activities.
Well-deserved award
Since its inception 18 years ago there have only been two other European awardees. One of these was to Professor Trevor Powles, who like Professor Smith was also Head of the Breast Unit at The Royal Marsden.
Professor Martin Gore, Medical Director at The Royal Marsden, said he was delighted for Professor Smith and added: “This is a very well-deserved award and it cements Ian’s reputation as a world-class breast cancer clinician and researcher.”
Five-day event
For the past 35 years, The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium has been held annually to provide state-of-the-art information on breast cancer research.
The five-day event attracts thousands of specialists from around the world, and aims to achieve a balance of clinical, translational and basic research, providing a forum for interaction, communication, and education for a broad spectrum of researchers, health professionals and those with a special interest in breast cancer.
