Charles R. Thomas, Jr., M.D., professor and vice chair in the department of radiation oncology and adjunct associate professor in the department of medicine, division of medical oncology, was selected to receive the Minority Scholar Award in Cancer Research from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Dr. Thomas will be presented with the award during a formal banquet and gala at the 96th Annual AACR meeting April 16 in Anaheim, Calif.
Dr. Thomas was one of two recipients who were selected from 600 extra-mural nominations of AACR Minority Scholar Awards in Cancer Research who make contributions to the prevention and cure of cancer. As part of Dr. Thomas’ award he will receive a commemorative plaque and an honorarium of $1,000.
"I am honored to receive this honor and wish to express my gratitude to the AACR for its commitment to training researchers in the war on cancer,” Dr. Thomas said. “The support that I have received from AACR has allowed me to appreciate the commitment involved in nurturing creative young oncologists during formative aspects of their academic career development."
Dr. Thomas was recently elected as chair of the GI Committee of the Patterns of Care Study within the American College of Radiology (ACR). He is a member of the gastrointestinal cancer program within the San Antonio Cancer Institute, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. He participates in the clinical investigation of combined modality therapy involving novel systemic compounds and ionizing radiotherapy.
Dr. Thomas is an active investigator for the institutional Southwest Oncology Group grant and serves on the GI and Lung Working Groups for this organization. He also is an active member of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Dr. Thomas is the co-principal investigator for two National Institutes of Health grants. He was recently appointed a member of the editorial board of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology and associate editor for oncology for the journal Diseases of the Esophagus.
More than 20 years ago, AACR members began an important dialogue about the advancement of minority investigators in the field of cancer research. The result was the creation of a new award program designed to enhance the education and training of early career minority investigators by providing financial awards for participation in AACR conferences.
