Indian-American Professor Dr. Rakesh K Jain along with 16 other scientists, engineers, innovators and mathematicians will be receiving the prestigious National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation from US President Barack Obama on 22nd January.
Dr. Rakesh K Jain is an alumnus from the IIT-Kanpur and has carved a niche for himself in the field of tumor Biology. He is presently a Professor and Director, Edwin L. Steele Laboratory of Tumor Biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the Harvard Medical School.
National Medals of Science and Technology is awarded annually and is a token of appreciation for work of individuals who have made a mark in the field of science, engineering, and mathematics.
Dr. Jain elaborated about his work and said that the aim of his research was to understand the effects of the microenvironment that includes the tumor blood circulation and matrix in the growth of the tumor cells and its response to treatment.
Dr. Jain’s work entails developing new strategies to control the microenvironment of the tumor and use them for early cancer detection, prevention, and treatment in humans.
Tumors are complex structures, and there is a need to develop a broad range of imaging technologies, mathematical models, and animal studies.
It encompasses multiphoton microscopy, genetically created mice with surgically inserted transparent windows that enable video visualization of different gene expression and its role in tumors and the surrounding tissues.
Dr. Rakesh K Jain’s work gives a better understanding of the molecular, cellular and anatomical hurdles in the way of better cancer prognosis. The National Medal of Science was created by a decree in 1959 and is administrated for the White House by the National Science Foundation.
The US President has stated, the nation’s biggest challenges can be overcome with the help of Science and Technology. The award giving ceremony will take place in the White House.
