Sharon Pitteri, PhD, and Brian Rutt, PhD, receive 2021 Distinguished Investigator Award

June 4th, 2021

The Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research has selected 35 researchers to receive the Academy’s 2021 Distinguished Investigator Award. The Department of Radiology is pleased to announce that Sharon Pitteri, PhD, and Brian Rutt, PhD, are among the new class of researchers.

Among the criteria to receive the 2021 Distinguished Investigator Award, honorees demonstrated sustained productivity, including at least 25 peer-reviewed scientific research publications in which the awardee is the first author or senior author, and demonstrated accomplishments as an independent investigator with a substantial ongoing research program, including at least six cumulative years of funding as the principal Investigator of a major competitive extramural research grant.

The laboratory of Dr. Pitteri is focused on the discovery and validation of proteins that can be used as molecular indicators of risk, diagnosis, progression, and recurrence of cancer. Dr. Rutt has ongoing research projects involving MRI, including technology development, basic science and clinical applications, and neurosurgical guidance.

Aside from being elected to the 2021 Academy Council of Distinguished Investigators, Dr. Pitteri was honored with the Breast Cancer Research Program Breakthrough Award, Department of Defense - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, in 2015. Among Dr. Rutt’s other honors, he was inducted as a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2009.