Recognition Awards were given to Logan Spector (left, holding certificate) and Peter Villalta (right, holding certificate) from Cancer Center research program leaders DeAnn Lazovich and Stephen Hecht.

(Nov. 30, 2007) The Masonic Cancer Center revived its quarterly Recognition Program November 28, 2007, with an event recognizing the accomplishments of the research programs within the Population Sciences area of the Masonic Cancer Center. Leaders of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program and the Prevention and Etiology Research Program reported on their programs' achievements, and two individuals were recognized by the programs for their outstanding contributions to the Cancer Center.

Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program

Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Research Program, described the research interests of the program's members, and highlighted current projects in the program's research areas of tobacco and cancer; mechanisms of carcinogenesis; and chemoprevention. Hecht said the program's strengths include its collaborative environment, monthly seminars, and its members' leadership and participation in national and international organizations and events. View the presentation slides.

Hecht presented a Recognition Award to Peter Villalta, Ph.D. Villalta coordinates Mass Spectometry Services within the Cancer Center's Analytical Biochemistry shared resource. In messages of support for Villalta receiving the award, researchers who use the facility described him as a good teacher with high standards for quality data, and as someone who creates a "really positive sense of community for researchers." Villalta was also praised for his ability to accommodate researchers' needs with consideration, patience, and diplomacy.

Prevention and Etiology Research Program

DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., co-leader of the Prevention and Etiology Research Program, gave a presentation describing the growth of the program's membership and the program's research projects, including its case-control and cohort studies, and the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC) and Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC). Lazovich also discussed the program's goals to establish a new program for outcomes and survivorship; to grow its affiliation with the Cancer Research Network; to enhance translation of the program's research; and to promote collaboration among researchers within the program and with other Cancer Center research programs. View the presentation slides.

Lazovich presented a Recognition Award to Logan Spector, Ph.D. Spector is principal investigator for multiple studies exploring causes of childhood cancer, an editor and contributor to the Causes of Childhood Cancer newsletter, and he manages the program's Cancer Epidemiology Interest Group seminars. Lazovich said through these monthly seminars, Spector has organized 29 scientific presentations that have fostered intra- and inter-programmatic collaboration.