Credit: Medical University of South Carolina
Patrick M. Woster, Ph.D. of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is among the 396 members selected as a 2017 AAAS Fellow due to their distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The AAAS is recognized as the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of scientific journals, including Science.
As part of the AAAS' Section on Pharmaceutical Sciences, Woster was elected for his contributions to the field of medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, particularly for the study of polyamine analogues and small-molecule epigenetic modulators as potential therapeutics in cancer and infectious disease. Woster, who is an Endowed Chair in Medicinal Chemistry through the SmartState Center of Economic Excellence and a member of the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, serves as chair of the Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences and director of the MUSC Drug Discovery Core.
Woster's research interests include the design, synthesis and evaluation of antitumor agents as well as the development of analogues with potent activity against a variety of cancer cell lines. Most recently, he has been working to develop a new gene-modifying sickle cell disease treatment, which could be fast-tracked to human clinical trials in as little as three years.
"Dr. Woster's commitment to innovation and discovery is reflected in the significant contributions he makes to scientific knowledge through his own research as well in the inspiration he provides as department chair. His leadership continues to drive new advancements in innovative research and teaching, productivity and collaboration and development of novel programs and initiatives," said Philip D. Hall, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCOP, dean of the MUSC College of Pharmacy.
This year's AAAS Fellows were formally announced in the AAAS News & Notes section of the journal Science on 24 November 2017.
The tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874. Currently, members can be considered for the rank of Fellow if nominated by the steering groups of the Association's 24 sections, or by any three Fellows who are current AAAS members (so long as two of the three sponsors are not affiliated with the nominee's institution), or by the AAAS chief executive officer. Fellows must have been continuous members of AAAS for four years by the end of the calendar year in which they are elected.
New Fellows will be recognized at the AAAS Fellows Forum during the 2018 AAAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.
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About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute designated center) Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org.
About MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
The Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largest academic-based cancer research program in South Carolina. The cancer center comprises more than 120 faculty cancer scientists with an annual research funding portfolio of $44 million and a dedication to reducing the cancer burden in South Carolina. Hollings offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, therapies and surgical techniques within multidisciplinary clinics that include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, pathologists, psychologists and other specialists equipped for the full range of cancer care, including more than 200 clinical trials. For more information, visit http://www.hollingscancercenter.org
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