Robert Weinberg, a 1976 Rita Allen Foundation Scholar, is the recipient of the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Science of Oncology Award.

Weinberg is a founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he continues to serve, and a Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His newest honor is particularly significant because the prominent recognition reflects the respect of his colleagues. The award is a testament to his standing in science and the numerous contributions he has made as a pioneer in cancer research.

Weinberg is most widely known for his discoveries of the first human oncogene—a gene that causes normal cells to form tumors—and the first tumor suppressor gene.

ASCO, the award sponsor, is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer. Founded in 1964, ASCO has more than 27,000 members from the United States and abroad.