William G. Kaelin, Jr.
About William G. Kaelin, Jr.
William G. Kaelin, Jr. is a Nobel Prize-winning professor of medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, known for his research on tumor suppressor proteins and cancer.
William G. Kaelin, Jr. Education and Training
William G. Kaelin, Jr. earned his undergraduate and M.D. degrees from Duke University. He completed his training in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he also served as chief medical resident. Kaelin further honed his expertise as a clinical fellow in medical oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His postdoctoral research was conducted in David Livingston’s laboratory, and he was a McDonnell Scholar.
William G. Kaelin, Jr.’s Professional Titles
William G. Kaelin, Jr. holds multiple prestigious positions in the medical community. He is a professor of medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and a professor at Harvard Medical School. Additionally, Kaelin serves as a board member, bringing his expertise and leadership skills to various organizations.
William G. Kaelin, Jr. Research Focus and Discoveries
William G. Kaelin, Jr.'s research primarily focuses on understanding how mutations in tumor suppressor proteins contribute to cancer. He made significant discoveries regarding the VHL protein, which led to the clinical testing of VEGF inhibitors for kidney cancer. His work has also provided insights into cellular responses to changes in oxygen levels. Notably, his group demonstrated that leukemic transformation by mutant IDH could be reversed and discovered the mechanism by which thalidomide-like drugs kill myeloma cells by degrading transcription factors.
Awards and Honors Received by William G. Kaelin, Jr.
William G. Kaelin, Jr. has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to medical science. In 2019, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Other notable awards include the Paul Marks Prize for cancer research, the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Prize, the 2010 Canada International Gairdner Award, the ASCI’s Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award, the Scientific Grand Prix of the Foundation Lefoulon-Delalande, the Wiley Prize in Biomedical Sciences, the Steven C. Beering Award, the AACR Princess Takamatsu Award, the ASCO Science of Oncology Award, the Helis Award, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Prize, and the Massry Prize.
William G. Kaelin, Jr. Academic and Professional Memberships
William G. Kaelin, Jr. is a member of several esteemed academic and professional organizations. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the American College of Physicians. His leadership experience includes positions on the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors, the AACR Board of Trustees, and the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Board. Furthermore, he has been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator since 1998.