Richard Pestell
Encyclopedia
Richard G. Pestell, M.D., Ph.D.
is an internationally renowned expert in oncology
and endocrinology
who currently serves as the Director of the Kimmel Cancer Center, Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology and Associate Dean of Cancer Programs at Jefferson Medical College, and Vice President of Oncology Services at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
, Pestell received his M.B.B.S. in 1981 from the University of Western Australia
, and his M.D. and Ph.D. in 1991 and 1997, respectively, from the University of Melbourne
. He was a postdoctoral clinical and research fellow in medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital
and a postdoctoral research fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School
, respectively, from 1991 to 1993.
Following his postdoctoral research, Pestell was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine
at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
in Chicago, Illinois from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, Pestell left Chicago to become an associate professor, and later professor, in the Department of Medicine and Developmental and Molecular Biology
at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
in New York, New York. Pestell would later serve as Chair of the Division of Endocrine-Dependent Tumor
Biology at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center from 2000 to 2002.
In 2002, Dr. Pestell was named Director of the Lombardi Cancer Center at the Georgetown University Medical Center
. During this tenure, Pestell also served as Associate Vice President of the Georgetown University Medical Center, and the Francis L. and Charlotte Gragnani Chair of the Department of Oncology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine
. While serving as Director of the Lombardi Cancer Center, Pestell led the successful effort for renewal of its National Cancer Institute
designation, and founded the Capital Breast Care Center with Andrea Jung
of the Avon Foundation.
responsible for the spread of secondary, or metastatic cancer throughout the body. The study found that the migration of cancer cells throughout the body that caused these secondary tumors could be halted by knocking out a gene that also controls the cell cycle, called Cyclin D1
.
In 2007, Pestell, along with other researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center, discovered that a protein
known as AKT1
may play an important role in the spread of about one quarter of all breast cancers. Their studies showed that this protein could be a potential target for new drugs to stop or slow the growth and progression of breast cancer.
In 2010, Pestell, again with other researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center, provided definitive proof for the long suspected theory that inflammation
in the breast is key to the development and progression of breast cancer
. Their studies demonstrated that deactivating this inflammation selectively within the breast reduced the growth of the breast cancer stem cells responsible for tumor development, and stopped breast cancer from forming.
Pestell is also the author of more than 220 research papers and reviews and sits on the editorial boards of a number of journals.
-
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
is an internationally renowned expert in oncology
Oncology
Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with cancer...
and endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
who currently serves as the Director of the Kimmel Cancer Center, Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology and Associate Dean of Cancer Programs at Jefferson Medical College, and Vice President of Oncology Services at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Education and Early Career
A native of AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Pestell received his M.B.B.S. in 1981 from the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, and his M.D. and Ph.D. in 1991 and 1997, respectively, from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He was a postdoctoral clinical and research fellow in medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and a postdoctoral research fellow in medicine at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, respectively, from 1991 to 1993.
Following his postdoctoral research, Pestell was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine
Molecular medicine
Molecular medicine is a broad field, where physical, chemical, biological and medical techniques are used to describe molecular structures and mechanisms, identify fundamental molecular and genetic errors of disease, and to develop molecular interventions to correct them...
at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, located in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois and situated near Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile, is one of Northwestern University's 11 schools and colleges...
in Chicago, Illinois from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, Pestell left Chicago to become an associate professor, and later professor, in the Department of Medicine and Developmental and Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a graduate school of Yeshiva University. It is a not-for-profit, private, nonsectarian medical school located on the Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus in the Morris Park neighborhood of the borough of the Bronx of New York City...
in New York, New York. Pestell would later serve as Chair of the Division of Endocrine-Dependent Tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
Biology at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center from 2000 to 2002.
In 2002, Dr. Pestell was named Director of the Lombardi Cancer Center at the Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is the medical campus at Georgetown University. It is also a $225 million biomedical research and educational organization. The Medical Center contains over 80% of Georgetown University's sponsored research funding and is led by Howard J...
. During this tenure, Pestell also served as Associate Vice President of the Georgetown University Medical Center, and the Francis L. and Charlotte Gragnani Chair of the Department of Oncology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine, a medical school opened in 1851, is one of Georgetown University's five graduate schools. It is located on Reservoir Road in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, adjacent to the University's main campus...
. While serving as Director of the Lombardi Cancer Center, Pestell led the successful effort for renewal of its National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
designation, and founded the Capital Breast Care Center with Andrea Jung
Andrea Jung
Andrea Jung is a Canadian-American business executive. In 2001, she was named one of the 30 most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal....
of the Avon Foundation.
Accomplishments
In 2003, Pestell, along with other researchers from Georgetown University, identified a geneGene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
responsible for the spread of secondary, or metastatic cancer throughout the body. The study found that the migration of cancer cells throughout the body that caused these secondary tumors could be halted by knocking out a gene that also controls the cell cycle, called Cyclin D1
Cyclin D1
G1/S-specific cyclin-D1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCND1 gene.Immunohistochemical staining of cyclin D1 antibodies is used to diagnose mantle cell lymphoma.-Interactions:...
.
In 2007, Pestell, along with other researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center, discovered that a protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
known as AKT1
AKT1
RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKT1 gene. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene.- Function :...
may play an important role in the spread of about one quarter of all breast cancers. Their studies showed that this protein could be a potential target for new drugs to stop or slow the growth and progression of breast cancer.
In 2010, Pestell, again with other researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center, provided definitive proof for the long suspected theory that inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
in the breast is key to the development and progression of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Their studies demonstrated that deactivating this inflammation selectively within the breast reduced the growth of the breast cancer stem cells responsible for tumor development, and stopped breast cancer from forming.
Pestell is also the author of more than 220 research papers and reviews and sits on the editorial boards of a number of journals.
Awards and Recognitions
| Year(s) | Award |
|---|---|
| 1998–2002 | Irma T. Hirschl Weil Caulier Career Scientist Award |
| 2000–Present | Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation American Society for Clinical Investigation The American Society for Clinical Investigation, or ASCI, established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.-Organization and Purpose:... (ASCI) |
| 2002 | Diane Belfer Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research |
| 2002–2005 | Francis L. and Charlotte Gragnani Endowed Chair |
| 2005 | Australia Endocrine Society, Keith Harrison Award |
| 2008 | Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Western Australia University of Western Australia The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the... |
External links
- Office of the Director - Kimmel Cancer Center
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- Interview with Dr. Richard Pestell
-