Wistar Institute researcher awarded American Cancer Society research professorship

PRINCETON, N.J. — PHILADELPHIA — (Oct. 22, 2019) — The American Cancer Society (ACS), the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has awarded a Research Professorship to Dmitry l. Gabrilovich, M.D., Ph.D., Christopher M. Davis Professor and leader of the Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program at The Wistar Institute. This lifelong designation, accompanied by a five-year $400,000 commitment, is the most prestigious research grant made by ACS.

The grant is one of 75 research and training grants totaling $38,422,250 approved by ACS in the second of two grant cycles for 2019, which will fund investigators at 57 institutions across the United States and include three new Research Professorships.

The Gabrilovich laboratory will continue its groundbreaking work to understand the roles played by myeloid immune cells in promoting tumor growth and will also explore new evidence indicating these cells may be re-programmed to participate in the antitumor immune response. The work will uncover previously unknown features of myeloid cells in cancer and, more importantly, will provide new approaches to their therapeutic targeting.

“I am grateful to the American Cancer Society for this distinguished recognition,” said Gabrilovich. “With support from this award, we will further expand our knowledge of the biology of myeloid cells in cancer and design new approaches to selectively target these cells that play a fundamental role in our body’s antitumor response and therapy response.”

ACS Research Professors are leaders in innovative and influential fields that are changing the direction of cancer research.

“Dr. Gabrilovich is a pioneer in studies of tumor associated immune cells and the development of new approaches to target tumor immunity for cancer treatment,” said Susanna Greer, Ph.D., director of clinical research and immunology at ACS. “His ACS Research Professor grant focuses on fundamental questions of tumor immunity and has the potential to generate high impact findings.”

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The American Cancer Society Extramural Research program currently supports research and training in a wide range of cancer-related disciplines at more than 200 institutions. With an investment of more than $4.9 billion since 1946, the ACS is the largest private, nonprofit source of cancer research funds in the United States and has funded 49 researchers who have gone on to be awarded the Nobel Prize. The program primarily funds early career investigators, giving the best and the brightest a chance to explore cutting-edge ideas at a time when they might not find funding elsewhere.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to http://www.cancer.org.

About The Wistar Institute

The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease research, and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, Wistar has held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. wistar.org.