Kyoto Prize Laureate Alfred G. Knudson Jr., MD, PhD, of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, will discuss his groundbreaking work at a free lecture beginning at 4:30 p.m. March 3 in UC San Diego’s Price Center Theater.
A geneticist and physician, Knudson is internationally recognized for his "two-hit" theory of cancer causation, which explained the relationship between the hereditary and non-hereditary forms of a cancer and predicted the existence of tumor-suppressor genes that can suppress cancer cell growth. This now-confirmed theory has advanced understanding of errors in the genetic program that turn normal cells into cancer cells.
As one of three 2004 Kyoto Prize Laureates, Knudson’s appearance is sponsored by the Inamori Foundation of Japan, established in 1984 to honor and support individuals who have contributed greatly to scientific progress, cultural advance and human betterment.
He will be introduced by Ernest Beutler, MD, chairman of the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute.
Other Kyoto Prize Laureates appearing in San Diego during the three-day Kyoto Laureate Symposium are computer scientist Alan Curtis Kay, PhD, who will speak at 9:30 a.m. March 3 at San Diego State University, and philosopher Jurgen Habermas, who will speak at 3 p.m. March 4 at the University of San Diego.
For further information contact Betsy Shed at 858-822-2611 or Kyoto@ucsd.edu.
# # #
News Media Contact: Nancy Stringer, 619-543-6163