The Don Listwin Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cancer Early Detection recognizes a sustained contribution to, or singular achievement in, the cancer early detection field.
The 2022 Award goes to: Sudhir Srivastava, Ph.D., MPH, MS: Senior Scientific Officer and Chief of the Cancer Biomarkers Research Branch in the Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Transformative Programs in Cancer Detection
He is well-known for having established a number of transformative programs on translational research on cancer screening, early detection, risk assessment and enabling technologies including artificial intelligence with a network of leading experts in medicine, science, computational biology that has advanced scientific discoveries and revolutionized diagnostics in cancer early detection.
The Early Detection Research Network
In 2000, Dr. Srivastava developed and implemented a novel approach to collaborative clinical research on cancer biomarkers through the establishment of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN), a flagship program at the NCI that has begun translating biomarkers into clinical tests:
- More than 8 FDA approved tests
- More than 19 CLIA certified tests
- Pioneer in applying innovative technologies in biomarker validation
- Development of national informatics infrastructure
Strategic Programs and Initiatives
Dr. Srivastava developed several strategic programs promoting interdisciplinary approaches:
- The Alliance of Glycobiologists
- The Liver Cancer Consortium
- The Liquid Biology Consortium
- The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium
- The Cancer Imaging and Biomarkers Program
- The PreCancer Atlas
Early AI Adoption and Partnerships
His conceptualization and implementation of the EDRN informatics infrastructure, in collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has become a model for similar collaborations. He is respected as an early adapter of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence initiatives he launched in 1994, before the science became omnipresent in life sciences.
Recognition and Awards
In recognition of his leadership in cancer diagnostics, Dr. Srivastava has received:
- Featured in Wired magazine (August 2003)
- Distinguished Public Service Award (2016) - American Pancreatology Association
- Distinguished Clinical and Translational Proteomics Award (2017) - HUPO International
- Distinguished NCI Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program Alumni Award (2016)
International Collaborations: Dr. Srivastava has developed partnerships with Japan's Agency for Medical Development and Research, Cancer Research-UK, the China Cancer Institute/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and U.S. organizations such as Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Lustgarten Foundation, and Kenner's Family Research Foundation.