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Contact:
Kati Tusinski
Phone: 977.8016
tusinski@slu.edu
March 11, 2002
ST. LOUIS--Two members of the Saint Louis University faculty--Maurice Green, Ph.D., professor and chairman and founder of the Institute for Molecular Virology and Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology--received Spirit of Health Awards by the American Cancer Society on Saturday night.
Additionally, Dr. Green has been selected by the Academy of Science of St. Louis to receive the Peter H. Raven Lifetime Award for his distinguished career and was named a Fellow of the Academy in the fall.
Dr. Green is an internationally known molecular virologist who has spent the majority of his research career at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He ranks at the very top of the list of scientists whose research has defined the molecular properties of DNA viruses.
In addition to conducting groundbreaking research, he nourished the careers of a number of research scientists around the world who have made notable contributions to science.
The IMV continues to attract leading scientists from around the world while Dr. Green continues to direct a productive research program more than 40 years after his arrival at Saint Louis University.
Green will be among the honorees at a dinner at the Sheraton City Center on April 4, 2002.
Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the department of
biochemistry and molecular biology at Saint Louis University School of
Medicine. He conducts groundbreaking research into the molecular pathway
of leukemia in the hopes of creating drugs that shut down that pathway.
Dr. Shilatifard's research into a family of proteins called MLL (mixed
lineage leukemia gene) and ELL (11-19 lymphoid leukemia gene) was
honored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with the organization's
Scholar Award last year. He was only the second researcher in Missouri
to be named a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar.
Dr. Shilatifard was selected in part due to his extensive research and
discovery of the molecular role of both the MLL and ELL proteins. The
MLL protein plays a key role in a large percent of acute myelogenous
leukemia resulting from the chromosomal translocation in children. Dr.
Shilatifard's lab is studying the role of both MLL and ELL proteins in
the development of childhood leukemia.
