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Arizona Cancer Center director receives national recognition

The director of the Arizona Cancer Center has been named a research fellow - a recognition that will award him $500,000 over the next five years for unrestricted cancer research.

The National Foundation for Cancer Research awarded Dr. Daniel Von Hoff this fellowship in recognition of his outstanding scientific accomplishments and dedication, according to the NFCR.

"Dr. Von Hoff is one of the top scientists in the country if not the world," said Franklin Salisbury, Jr., president of the foundation. "He brings the basic science from the lab to the patient, something that is too often risky."

With this award, Von Hoff has collected $1.4 million in grants for cancer research since 1984.

Von Hoff deferred comment yesterday to Laurie Young, public relations representative for the College of Medicine, who said the grant was "unsolicited and unrestricted."

"It (the grant) is more like an award in recognition of his accomplishments than anything else," said Young, who is also an assistant specialist at the Arizona Cancer Center.

This fellowship will allow Von Hoff to explore any research initiatives that he deems worthwhile, according to the foundation.

Dr. Suijan Ba - also a cancer researcher and the science director for the NFCR - said she will help Von Hoff in his grant-assisted research.

"He was selected by recommendation of the scientists and the board of the NFCR based on academic achievement and outstanding research work that he has done for the NFCR," Ba said. "He has been the champion in helping the foundation to launch several initiatives."

Salisbury said the foundation's awards are prestigious.

"NFCR was founded in 1973 to be a catalyst for breakthroughs in cancer research by finding the best and the brightest scientists whose basic science cancer research in the laboratory is where cures for cancer are most likely to be found," he said.

This year, seven top researchers in the United States and Germany were chosen as NFCR fellows.

"We have spent $148 million since our founding," Salisbury said. "There is a lot of hope and promise in the future."

Salisbury said he was proud that his organization is operated through private funds.

"We raise money from individual donors and we don't get a single penny from the government," Salisbury said. "Our average gift is $14."