October 10, 2007
Dana-Farber researcher elected to Institute of Medicine
IOM elects 65 new members, four foreign associates
William G. Kaelin Jr., MD
William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, physician and researcher at Dana-Farber, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
"It is a great pleasure to welcome these distinguished and influential individuals to the Institute of Medicine," said IOM President Harvey V. Fineberg. "Members are elected through a highly selective process that recognizes people who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. Election is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health."
Kaelin, elected with 64 others, is also a professor at Harvard Medical School and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The IOM's total membership now totals 1,692.
Current active members elect new members from among candidates nominated for their professional achievement and commitment to service. An unusual diversity of talent is assured by the Institute's charter, which stipulates that at least one-quarter of the membership be selected from outside the health professions, from such fields as the natural, social, and behavioral sciences, as well as law, administration, engineering, and the humanities.
Kaelin's research focuses on tumor suppressor genes, so called because they help to prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous. The long-term goal of his work is to lay the foundation for the development of new anticancer therapies based on understanding the normal functions of such genes.
Kaelin earned his medical degree from Duke University. He completed his internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a medical oncology clinical fellowship and a postdoctoral research fellowship at Dana-Farber. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Paul Marks Prize from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Award from the American Association of Cancer Research.
Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the IOM has become recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on human health issues. With their election, members make a commitment to devote a significant amount of volunteer time as members of IOM committees, which engage in a broad range of studies on health policy issues.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
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