Contact: Ellen Bank
843.792.2626
Nov. 29, 2001
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ron Feldman of Charleston was among 19 students nationally recognized for their research work in breast cancer and has been awarded a $30,000 grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Feldman is a student at the Medical University of South Carolina where he is the fifth year of the university's Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a program offering students the opportunity to earn both and M.D. and Ph.D. degree.
The 27-year-old Feldman was recognized for his doctoral research being conducted in the Hollings Cancer Center laboratory of Dennis Watson, Ph.D. The title of his thesis is: "The role of an epithelial specific ets transcription factor in breast development and cancer."
The Komen Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1982 dedicated to fighting breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. It provides support by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
"The ability for Ron to obtain this highly competitive award is a credit to his articulation of his thesis research," said Watson. "While the size of the award is not large, it is a significant award, being highly prestigious. Besides validating the importance of the research, this award sets Ron apart as unique in the MUSC student community."
Feldman began his undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Georgia before graduating from the College of Charleston in 1996. He also served a year-long pre-intramural research training award (pre-IRTA) position at the NIH before entering MUSC.
"I was very excited to receive the news about this award," said Feldman. "The grant gives me the freedom to conduct more studies in areas where funding was lacking. It's definitely an added bonus. The award will be very helpful in allowing me to continue with this work."
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