Press Release From The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
October 18, 2007
Contact: Michele Fisher
732/235-9872
fisherm2@umdnj.edu
Prestigious International Award Given to
Interim
Director of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Dr. Joseph R. Bertino Recognized in Amsterdam
for Advances in Compassionate Cancer Care
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NEW BRUNSWICK — Showing that cancer research is more than just beakers and test tubes, Joseph R. Bertino, M.D., the interim director and chief scientific officer of The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) and university professor of medicine and pharmacology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is being honored with a prestigious international award today in Amsterdam, recognizing him for advances he has made in compassionate cancer patient care.
The Bob Pinedo Cancer Care Prize was created by the Amsterdam-based, Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) to honor H.M. Bob Pinedo, M.D., Ph.D., who has been honored and recognized worldwide for his pioneering work and research in oncology and global healthcare for more than three decades. The work of Dr. Pinedo, who is a professor of medical oncology at the Vrije University Medical Center (VUmc) in Amsterdam, has focused on drug resistance, angiogenesis and immunology in the area of cancer.
The Prize is awarded with the hope of inspiring others in the oncology field to keep compassion and integrity at the forefront when developing programs and meeting patient needs worldwide. The award, which includes a bronze trophy in the shape of Pinedo’s hand – symbolizing strength and hope of healing – is being presented to Dr. Bertino at the annual VUmc Cancer Center Amsterdam Oncology Symposium, which draws 400 of the world’s top cancer scientists, researchers and clinicians. It is co-organized by MKI, a non-profit organization, which has a mission to empower healthcare providers in developing and transitional countries to disseminate programs aimed at improving quality of life.
Bertino, who also is an American Cancer Society professor, has been recognized internationally for his role in finding curative treatments in the areas of leukemia and lymphoma. He is the author and co-author of more than 400 scientific publications, and is currently leading his laboratory in the study of the relationship between tumor suppressor gene abnormalities and drug resistance and the use of drug resistant genes to protect bone marrow from chemotherapy toxicity. His academic acceptance speech at the symposium focuses on the latter.
Bertino, who – like Pinedo – strongly believes in the promise held in the translation of lab research directly to the patient bedside, said he feels extremely honored, “This award serves as an inspiration to help guide the next generation of those in the oncology field in the footsteps of Dr. Pinedo. He has consistently and graciously shown us the human side of our work, and it should be the goal of all of us to continue to recognize that aspect as we work collectively toward the goal of eradicating cancer.”
Peter S. Amenta, M.D., Ph.D., interim dean, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, which encompasses CINJ, says Bertino is highly deserving of the honor, “Dr. Bertino is a world-class leader in cancer research,
having devoted most of his life to unlocking the mysteries of this disease. His accomplishments have resulted in some of the mechanisms applied toward new therapies and treatments, and we are fortunate to have him leading New Jersey’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
This is the second year the Bob Pinedo Prize is being awarded. Last year’s recipient was Bruce A. Chabner, M.D. professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and clinical director and chief of hematology/oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center.
About The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is dedicated to improving the prevention, detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer. CINJ’s physician-scientists engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice quite literally bringing research to life. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a center of excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. To support CINJ, please call the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation at 1-888-333-CINJ.
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides a mechanism to rapidly disseminate important discoveries into the community. Partner Hospitals: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Atlantic Health (Morristown Memorial Hospital and Overlook Hospital). Affiliate Hospitals: Bayshore Community Hospital, CentraState Healthcare System, Cooper University Hospital*, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton (CINJ-Hamilton), Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Somerset Medical Center, Southern Ocean County Hospital, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, and University Medical Center at Princeton. *Academic Affiliate
