Nominations open for Mayer Mitchell Award

Nominations are open for the 2020 Mayer Mitchell Award for Excellence in Cancer Research, which is presented annually to a promising cancer researcher at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute or the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

The award was established in 2009 by University of South Alabama Trustee Arlene Mitchell in honor of her late husband, Mayer Mitchell, a Mobile businessman, longtime USA trustee and formative figure in the establishment of MCI.

The recipient is chosen upon the recommendation of a faculty committee and will receive a monetary award of $10,000. This year’s winner will be announced by Zoom on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m.

The 2019 recipient was Natalie R. Gassman, an assistant professor of physiology and cell biology at the USA College of Medicine, who conducts research at MCI. Gassman’s work focuses on characterizing the influence that environmental exposures have on DNA repair and characterizing how DNA repair proteins are altered or modified in the context of cancer.

Nominees will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Originality and creativity of the research conducted
• Degree to which the purposed research could substantially contribute to the current state of knowledge
• Entrepreneurial ideas including patent activity and success
• Scientific articles submitted and accepted for publication
• Grant submission activity and success
• Peer recognition, honors and awards received
• Commitment to the mission of the MCI as envisioned by Mayer Mitchell
• Perception of being a team player
• Responsible stewardship of USA funds

Nominations and supporting documentation should be submitted to Milton Pierson at the Mitchell Cancer Institute, 1660 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604-1450, or by email at mcpierson@southalabama.edu. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 2.