Press Release
Feb 28, 2020
Denver -- The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) today announced it is naming the Translational Research Lectureship Award after longtime member and former IASLC CEO, Dr. Fred R. Hirsch. The award, which was previously named after Dr. Adi Gazdar, who passed away in 2018, will be called the Fred R. Hirsch Lectureship Award for Translational Research. The IASLC board also voted to name the IASLC Merit Award for Dr. Gazdar, to reflect his lifelong contributions and legacy.
The IASLC conveys lectureship awards each year at its annual World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) to celebrate individuals who are stars in the field of lung cancer and who have produced exemplary academic work and service to the IASLC, including the Translational Research Lectureship Award.
“This honor will further solidify our recognition of Dr. Hirsch’s service to the IASLC over the past 40-plus years,” said Dave Mesko, chief executive officer of the IASLC. “The over 8,000 members of the IASLC will see the Fred. R. Hirsch Lectureship Award for Translational Research as an understandable acknowledgement of the dedication that Fred has given to the lung cancer research community and to the IASLC.”
Dr. Hirsch served in many capacities with IASLC and was named CEO in 2013.He led the growth of the IASLC staff from 5 to 23. Under his tenure, membership in the organization doubled and the financial position strengthened. Also, during this time, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology moved to a new publisher and saw a tremendous growth in the impact factor. The IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) moved from every other year to an annual meeting under Dr. Hirsch’s time as CEO, culminating in record attendance and multiple practice-changing abstracts at his final WCLC as CEO, IASLC 19th WCLC in Toronto.
Dr. Hirsch is currently the Executive Director, Center for Thoracic Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Health; Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine; and the Joe Lowe and Louis Price Professor of Medicine and Associate Director, Tisch Cancer Institute.
The recipient of the award will be announced and recognized at the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer Singapore Worldwide Virtual Event January 28-31, 2021.
About the IASLC:
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated solely to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 8,000 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.
About the WCLC:
The WCLC is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting more than 7,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer, and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. The conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2020.iaslc.org.