Researchers receive outstanding investigator awards from National Cancer Institute

Steven Artandi, Laura Attardi and Amato Giaccia will receive up to $600,000 annually for seven years to study cancer processes.

Laura Attardi

Steve Artandi

The National Cancer Institute has awarded three School of Medicine researchers outstanding investigator awards.

The awards support long-term projects of “unusual” potential with up to $600,000 per year for seven years. Stanford’s recipients are Steven Artandi, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and of biochemistry; Laura Attardi, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and of genetics; and Amato Giaccia, PhD, professor of radiation oncology.

Artandi researches how tumors acquire immortal growth properties, a fundamental characteristic of human cancer. He and his lab team hope to develop therapeutic approaches to reverse the process, without which cancer cells cannot persist.

Amato Giaccia

Attardi plans to use the award to understand how a tumor suppressor protein called p53 inhibits pancreatic cancer development, and how mutant versions of the protein can promote the disease.

Giaccia will investigate the role of lipid metabolism in cancer and seek to identify ways this information could lead to new therapeutic approaches targeting solid tumors.

Over 40 investigators from around the country received the outstanding investigator awards, which were presented for the first time this year. 

About Stanford Medicine

Stanford Medicine is an integrated academic health system comprising the Stanford School of Medicine and adult and pediatric health care delivery systems. Together, they harness the full potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education and clinical care for patients. For more information, please visit med.stanford.edu.

2023 ISSUE 3

Exploring ways AI is applied to health care