American Cancer Society Funded Researchers Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and Chemistry

ATLANTA, October 9, 2024 - The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Dr. David Baker. He was honored for his work in computational protein design. Baker joins scientists Dr. Victor Ambros and Dr. Gary Ruvkun, who were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work on the discovery of microRNA, a molecule that governs how cells in the body function. They join 50 other investigators funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) who have previously received this prestigious honor. The Nobel Prize is seen as the pinnacle of scientific achievement.

Dr. David Baker received an ACS grant in 1995-1996. Dr. Ambros also received several early career grants from ACS between 1980-1990 and Dr. Ruvkun was given a faculty research award grant from ACS from 1991-1995. Both researchers have also served as mentors on awarded grants from ACS.

"The discovery of microRNA has led to a greater understanding of the impact gene regulation can have on diseases such as cancer. Dr. Ambros' and Dr. Ruvkun's work has proven to be essential to our understanding of how organisms develop and function and will continue to play a pivotal role in future cancer research and treatment methods," said Dr. Karen Knudsen, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "Dr. Baker's work on computational protein design has helped open up new vaccine applications and aided in the creation of new drugs that have had a tremendous impact on cancer treatment. ACS prides itself on identifying and funding talented investigators, and we are so proud to have supported this important work."

The Nobel Prize is awarded in memory of Alfred Nobel since 1901 and celebrates achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, peace, and economic sciences. An awards ceremony will be held in December for the honorees.

The American Cancer Society is honored to have now funded 53 investigators who went on to win the Nobel Prize. This is a tribute to the ACS research program and the strength of its peer-review process.

Learn more about ACS-funded research on cancer.org.

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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been the only organization improving the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at
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