City of Hope leaders receive honors
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Two leaders at City of Hope received honors in recognition of their contributions to their fields.
Larry W. Kwak, MD, PhD, vice president and deputy director of City of Hope’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, was inducted into American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows. Induction is among the highest professional distinctions for a medical and biological engineer.
Kwak is recognized for pioneering breakthrough innovations in immunology and cancer vaccines.
His current research focuses on using the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to target the B cell-activating factor receptor on cancerous cells. The goal is to use it for patients who relapse after CD19-directed immunotherapy, and potentially as first-line CAR T-cell therapy treatment.
Rama Natarajan, PhD, professor and chair of the department of diabetes complications and metabolism at City of Hope, received the Edwin L. Bierman Lectureship from American Diabetes Association.
The award and lecture recognizes a leading scientist in the field of macrovascular complications and contributing risk factors in diabetes.
Natarajan, a member of the molecular and cellular biology of cancer program at City of Hope Comprehensive Caner Center, is recognized or her expertise in diabetes-related vascular complications and diabetes epigenetics.