[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE LASKER-DEBAKEY AWARD COMES HOME TO MD ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the nation's highest honor for 
clinical research, the Lasker-DeBakey Award, was recently awarded to 
Jim Allison, Ph.D., chair of Immunology at The University of Texas MD 
Anderson Cancer Center.
  Dr. Allison has invented a completely new way to strike cancer. He 
has found a way to unlock the shackles of an immune system, freeing T 
cells to fight tumor cells. This discovery opens up brand new and very 
effective ways to treat cancer.
  A drug developed from this research was the first to increase 
survival of patients with late-stage melanoma and produced previously 
unheard of survival rates of up to 10 years.
  The drug, marketed as Yervoy, was approved by the FDA in 2001 and has 
been used to treat 59,000 people.
  In addition, during his time leading the immunology department at MD 
Anderson, Dr. Allison has established a cancer immunotherapy platform. 
This platform, a combination of expertise and infrastructure, brings 
together scientists and clinicians to better understand and advance 
cancer immunotherapy.
  This prestigious award honoring major achievements in basic science, 
clinical research, and public service around the world is rightly 
bestowed on Dr. Allison, as he has paved the way to extend the survival 
of current cancer patients and ultimately cure some types of cancer.
  Texas is proud to be home to such innovative and groundbreaking work 
happening at MD Anderson.
  And that's just the way it is.

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