A scientist from The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota received an international meritorious award for his abstract selected by the American Association of Indian Scientists.

The award was given at the AAISR’s 24th annual cancer research meeting just held in Washington, D.C .

Dr. Arsheed Ganaie is an investigator in the Molecular Therapeutics and Cancer Health Disparity lab headed by Dr. Saleem Bhat.

“We are proud of Dr. Ganaie’s important research progress and congratulate him on this recognition,” said Dr. Hormel Institute Executive Director Zigang Dong said in a press release. “This type of discovery helps us achieve the research progress that will result in improving cancer control and prevention.”

The research abstract focused on Development of a novel KRAS-targeting therapeutic agent for the treatment of malignancies such as pancreatic, lung and colon cancer, the diseases in which aberration in the activity of this protein (KRAS) plays as a driving force.

Employing a systematic validation by using in silico (molecular modeling), in solution, (testing targeted nature of therapy for recombinant proteins), cell models, patient-derived tumor models, and genetically engineered specimens (which mimic pancreatic cancer development in humans), the team showed that LP1 significantly blocks KRAS activity.

The AAISCR is a nonprofit organization affiliated with AACR and is established to promote communication among Indian Scientists working in cancer research specialty areas. The organization supports utilization of information and resources available to those who are starting their career as scientists. AAISCR focuses on the following activities to help scientists in finding answers to the cure of cancer:

•Promote scientific interactions by collaborative research.

•Exchange of ideas and technologies.

•Share scientific information and experiences.

•Provide honorarium/award for scientific excellence.

•Help translate the scientific discoveries into clinical applications.