AACR Honors Giuseppe Bernardi, M.D., With Award for Distinguished Public Service

CHICAGO — The American Association for Cancer Research will present Giuseppe “Gios” Bernardi, M.D., with the 2012 AACR Award for Distinguished Public Service.

“The AACR recognizes and commends Dr. Bernardi for his enduring passion and commitment to enhancing the ever-growing landscape of cancer research worldwide,” said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (h.c.), chief executive officer of the AACR. “As the president of the Pezcoller Foundation, he has been a vital force in fostering close relationships among multiple research institutions, cancer centers, organizations, and associations such as ours. His leadership, drive and hard work have been important factors in strengthening international cancer research, and we have been privileged at the AACR to have the special opportunity of working with him for so many wonderful years.”

The AACR Award for Distinguished Public Service will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012 during the opening ceremony on Sunday, April 1, at 8:15 a.m. CT in the Skyline Ballroom of McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, Ill.

Bernardi served as president of the Pezcoller Foundation in Trento, Italy, from 2001 to 2011, and he currently holds the position of president emeritus of the foundation. During his long tenure as president, he was tireless in his devotion to the foundation’s mission of promoting cancer research through awards, conferences, publications, seminars and symposia. He served on the foundation’s Board of Directors for many years and helped establish its vision of furthering cancer research through a variety of mechanisms including international collaborations. Clearly, his work has had far-reaching implications for advancing cancer research and improving patient care.

Bernardi has been a skillful and enthusiastic steward of the Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Cancer Research, which was established in 1998 to recognize an active, outstanding scientist each year who has made a major scientific discovery in basic cancer research or who has made significant contributions to translational cancer research. Such work must be ongoing and hold promise for continued substantive contributions to progress in the field of cancer. 

Bernardi was influential in establishing the Stanley J. Korsmeyer Lecture in 2006, which is given annually in Padua by the Pezcoller Foundation-AACR awardee to showcase significant breakthroughs in cancer research. He has served as the editor of the Pezcoller Foundation Journal.

Bernardi received his medical degree from the University of Milan in 1948. He specialized in the fields of radiology and physiotherapy, hygiene, preventive medicine and hospital engineering. After his formal training, Bernardi became a surgeon and would later work as a radiologist in the Hospital of Trento. He was radiology director in several hospitals located in Levico and Trento, Italy.

In addition to his medical responsibilities and commitments, Bernardi has been very active in other professional organizations. He served for 10 years as a board member of the National Agency for Care and Welfare of Medical Doctors and founded the Italian Federation of Homeopathic Medicine, serving as its president from 1993-1998.

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About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR’s membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research that have the potential for patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.  

For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

Media Contact:
Tara Yates
(215) 446-7110
Tara.Yates@aacr.org
In Chicago, March 31 – April 4:
(312) 528-8206

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