2008 Media Releases

US Prof Arnold Levine, Eminent Scientist Who Discovers The Most Commonly Mutated Gene In Cancers Cells, To Deliver The 3rd Humphrey Oei Distinguished Lectures
Monday, 05 November 2007

Singapore, 05 November 2007 - The National Cancer Centre Singapore will hold its 3^rd Humphrey Oei Distinguished Lecture on Monday, 12^th November 2007. Delivering the lecture will be Prof Arnold Levine, from The Simons Center for Systems Biology, Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, US.

His lecture is titled: “Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the p53 Pathway: Cancer, Gender and Fecundity”. It will be delivered at NCCS Lecture Hall at 11.45 a.m.

Prof Levine, whose name synonymous with the p53 gene, has made significant contributions in the field of oncology in his research causes of cancer in both humans and animals. He discovered the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which acts to protect humans from developing cancer. He has also identified genetic polymorphisms that alter the course of cancers, as well as novel biological processes that protect individuals from developing cancers. Following his discovery, thousands of researchers have followed his footsteps, seeking to focus on the p53 gene, which is the most commonly mutated gene in cancer.

Prof Levine is currently a joint professor in the Paediatrics and Biochemistry Departments at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. He holds honorary degrees from other institutions such as Rider University, and received numerous honours, including the Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Biomedical Research from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in year 2000. He also won the Mott Prize from the General Motors Foundation, the Bristol Meyers Prize for Cancer Research, the first Albany Medical College Prize, and the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize from Columbia University.

Background
The Humphrey Oei Distinguished Lecture Series was launched on 8^th November 2006. Its first speaker was Dr Sydney Brenner, an internationally renowned scientist, sharing his knowledge with many of the researchers and scientists. The 2 nd lecture was delivered by one of the world’s leading virologist, Sir John Skehel, on 19^th April 2007.

About NCCS
The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is premier cancer research and treatment facility in Singapore and in the region. It was established in 1997 and sees about 68 per cent of the public sector medical oncology cases and 74 per cent of radiation oncology cases. NCCS not only houses the most number of oncologists in Singapore but is also equipped with the largest number of equipment to provide the latest radiation oncology care in Singapore. For more information, visit NCCS website at www.nccs.com.sg


For further information, please contact Corporate Communications:

Adeline Teo
Executive, Corporate Communications
National Cancer Centre Singapore
Tel. 62369429 / 81257251
dcctsf@nccs.com.sg

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