William N. Rom, New York University School of Medicine, and Joseph R. Testa, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, received the 1999 Irving J. Selikoff Awards for Cancer Research, last Friday.
The awards are made by the Ramazzini Institute to recognize scientists who demonstrate excellence in expanding Dr. Irving J. Selikoff's agenda for applying to occupational disease "new discoveries about how molecules in the cells can be changed, how they repair themselves and how to detect damaged cells."
Rom, a member of the task force created by Selikoff a decade ago to explore the impact on occupational disease of the human genome project, was cited for his "outstanding contributions in understanding the origins of lung cancer."
Testa was honored for his "outstanding contributions to understanding the origins of mesothelioma," a cancer of the lining of the body usually associated with exposure to asbestos.
Founded by Selikoff, a world leader in linking cancer and other diseases with pollutants such as asbestos, The Ramazzini Institute is a multi-national institute that promotes partnerships of scientists from government, universities, unions and employers in research.