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The 2008 Jeffrey M. Trent Lecture in Cancer Research

Imatinib as a Paradigm for Targeted Cancer Therapies

Brian Druker, M.D.The sixth annual Jeffrey M.Trent Lecture in Cancer Research was held on Sept. 10, 2008. Presented by Brian Druker, M.D., director, Oregon Health and Science University Cancer Institute and JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research, the lecture will be presented at Masur Auditorium, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, Building 10 on the NIH campus. Dr. Druker also is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

About the Lecturer

Dr. Druker graduated from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital, Washington School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He then trained in oncology at Harvard's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr. Druker began his research career studying the regulation of the growth of cancer cells and the practical application to cancer therapies. His work was instrumental in the development of Gleevec (imatinib), a drug that targets the molecular defect in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). After completing a series of preclinical studies, he spearheaded the highly successful clinical trials of imatinib for CML. Imatinib is currently FDA approved for CML and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Dr. Druker is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, the American Association of Physicians, and the National Academy of Sciences.

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About the Jeffrey M. Trent Lectureship in Cancer Research

Dr. Trent was the National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) founding Scientific Director, serving in this role for more than nine years. His leadership and vision was instrumental in establishing NHGRI's Division of Intramural Research as one of the premier research programs in the world devoted to genetics and genomics. In recognition of his significant contributions to the research environment at NIH, NHGRI established the annual Jeffrey M. Trent Lecture in Cancer Research in 2003. This lecture is given by a prominent cancer researcher who brings the kind of energy, creativity and enthusiasm to cancer research that Dr. Trent has exemplified throughout his career.

Last Updated: February 10, 2014

Last updated: February 10, 2014