New York, NY, June 16, 2015—Ludwig Cancer Research announced today that Richard Kolodner, current head of the Ludwig Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and longtime Ludwig member, has been named director of its San Diego Branch. Kolodner succeeds Webster Cavenee, who will take on a new role at Ludwig as director of Strategic Alliances in Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers.
“Richard is a natural choice to lead the Ludwig San Diego Branch. During his nearly 20 years as a Ludwig member, Richard has contributed immensely as both a scientist and a leader,” said Edward McDermott, President and CEO, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. “Under Richard’s leadership, Ludwig San Diego will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries that advance our understanding of cancer and how to defeat it.”
Richard joined Ludwig San Diego as a member in 1997, bringing with him a record of accomplishment in molecular biology and genetics from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As head of the Ludwig Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, his study of how cells ensure the stability of their genomes and repair their DNA to prevent mutations has significantly informed our understanding of the genetic events that are involved in the emergence of cancer.
“We are also very pleased that Web will continue to lead Ludwig’s international efforts in addressing adult and pediatric brain cancers,” added McDermott. “As director of Strategic Alliances in CNS Cancers, he will lead Ludwig’s partnerships with the new Global GBM Alliance and the Defeat GBM initiative of the National Brain Tumor Society.”
During his 30 years as a Ludwig member and Branch director, Web has done a great deal to advance our understanding of cancer. He is perhaps known best for his groundbreaking contributions to cancer genetics and his dissection of the role played by mutant epidermal growth factor receptors in GBM. Most notably, in that regard, he helped lead one of the teams that developed a uniquely targeted antibody against one of those mutants. The antibody developed in that Ludwig program has since been adapted and taken into clinical trials for the treatment of GBM.
In addition to their roles as members of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, San Diego, Kolodner is a distinguished professor of cellular and molecular medicine, and Cavenee is a distinguished professor, both at the University of California, San Diego.
About Ludwig Cancer Research
Ludwig Cancer Research is an international collaborative network of acclaimed scientists that has pioneered cancer research and landmark discovery for more than 40 years. Ludwig combines basic science with the ability to translate its discoveries and conduct clinical trials to accelerate the development of new cancer diagnostics and therapies. Since 1971, Ludwig has invested more than $2.5 billion in life-changing science through the not-for-profit Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the six U.S.-based Ludwig Centers.