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Pediatric oncologist named executive director of Israel Cancer Research Fund
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Mark A. Israel, MD, has been appointed executive director of the Israel Cancer Research Fund, the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to funding cancer research in Israel.
Israel — a pediatric oncologist and translational scientist — previously served as director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center from 2001 through 2016. He also served as professor in the department of pediatrics, medicine, and molecular and systems biology at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
For the past 12 years, he has served as a volunteer member of Israel Cancer Research Fund’s (ICRF) scientific review panel and chair of the panel that evaluated translational cancer research proposals.
“Cancer research has never been more exciting or promising, and that is particularly true in Israel,” Israel said in a press release. “Israeli science knows no bounds. ICRF provides a singular opportunity to help build more recognition and support for the world-class cancer research of Israeli scientists, and to arm and empower its finest practitioners with the resources necessary to change the world.”
Prior to joining Dartmouth, Israel served as professor in the departments of neurological surgery and pediatrics at University of California, San Francisco, where he directed Preuss Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology. He also held several positions at NCI, including head of the molecular genetics section of the Pediatrics Branch.
A group of North American physicians, scientists and lay leaders founded ICRF in 1975 to ensure adequate funding for promising cancer research and prevent the loss of Israel’s top cancer researchers to other institutions outside the country due to lack of funding.
“Mark Israel is well equipped to communicate Israel’s critical role as a major source of innovation and discovery in the understanding and treatment of cancer,” Rob Densen, president of ICRF International, said in the release. “We are thrilled to have a clinician, researcher and administrator of Mark’s caliber and clear commitment to the cause as our national executive director. We believe that this appointment reflects on the strength and appeal of the ICRF mission and augurs well for the future.”