Carl June, MD
Carl June, MD, was named a winner of the 2024 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy. Dr. June is the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center.
The Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences was founded in 2013 and honors “transformative advances toward understanding living systems and extending human life.” Each of the five main prize categories comes with an award of $3 million.
As a pioneer in the development of CAR T-cell therapy, Dr. June’s work has led to six U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals in the treatment of blood cancers. Now, countless trials evaluating CAR T-cell treatments are in progress around the world.
Dr. June has published more than 500 manuscripts, won countless scientific achievement awards, and been interviewed by international news outlets.
“Dr. June’s tireless commitment to advancing T-cell immunotherapy research has been life-changing for many patients affected by cancer, who have lived longer, fuller lives, thanks to the discoveries made in his lab,” said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. “We are proud to see one of Penn’s most esteemed scientists recognized for the impact of his foundational work to develop a new class of cancer immunotherapy treatment.”
The 10th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony will honor Dr. June and other recipients on April 13, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Source: Penn Medicine News, September 14, 2023. Breakthrough Prize.