Nine Indian American scientists were recognized for their exceptional contributions to cancer research during the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held in Chicago. The honors were presented by the Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research (SAASCR), a nonprofit organization representing thousands of cancer researchers across the United States and Canada.
The awards celebrated achievements in several critical areas of oncology, including cancer diagnosis, prevention, immunotherapy, molecular medicine, and population health research. Many of the recipients are also actively collaborating with institutions in India to expand research partnerships, improve cancer-care systems, and encourage scientific innovation.
The awards ceremony took place on April 19 and was led by Dr. Rajvir Dahiya, president of SAASCR and professor emeritus at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, along with Dr. Dharam Pal Chauhan, the organization’s secretary and retired professor from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
Founded in California in 2004, SAASCR has grown into a major scientific organization with more than 5,000 members of Asian origin involved in cancer-related research and medical advancements.
Among the honorees was Dr. Gagan Deep of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, recognized for developing liquid biopsy technologies that support precision medicine and less invasive cancer detection methods. Dr. Muthusamy Thangaraju of Augusta University received recognition for his work on breast and colon cancer prevention and treatment through research in cancer metabolism and genetics.
Dr. Natarajan Aravindan from Oklahoma State University was honored for his studies in radiation biology and pediatric cancer resistance, while LSU Health Sciences Center professor Dr. Suresh K. Alahari was acknowledged for contributions to molecular medicine and cancer biology research.
Dr. Manjeet K. Rao of UT Health San Antonio earned recognition for work involving cancer vaccines, immune-oncology, and drug development targeting both pediatric and adult cancers. Baylor College of Medicine professor Dr. Erxi Wu was honored for advancements in neuro-oncology and cancer-target discovery research.
The organization also recognized Dr. Sattva Neelapu of MD Anderson Cancer Center for pioneering work in CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma treatment. Dr. Rafi Ahmed of Emory University was celebrated for his influential immunology research involving memory T-cells and antiviral immune responses.
Additionally, Dr. Shobha Srinivasan of the National Cancer Institute received recognition for leading community-focused cancer-control programs aimed at reducing healthcare disparities and improving public health outcomes.
