Cellular Oxygen Sensing Pathways - Sir Peter Ratcliffe - Lasker Lecture - 14th Annual APSA Meeting
Channel: American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)
Date: 2018-06-15

Sir Peter Ratcliffe, FRS delivered the 2018 Lasker/APSA Award Lecture at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) in Chicago, IL.  Our understanding of how cells sense and respond to oxygen levels, a critical process in diseases as diverse as stroke, cancer, and anemia, owes much to the work of Dr. Ratcliffe. He was recognized as one of three pioneers of the field of oxygen sensing with the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 2016.  A Fellow of the Royal Society, Dr. Ratcliffe continues to run an active laboratory at the University of Oxford, and his scientific legacy extends to the numerous trainees he has impacted, including past leaders of the ASCI.

In his lecture, "Peter Ratcliffe: Oxygen Sensing Pathways - Implications for Medicine", Dr. Ratcliffe reviewed the many twists and turns in the journey to his grand discovery.  His lecture provided both insight into the process by which a physician-scientist approaches scientific discovery as well as encouragement to the many trainees in the audience who may seem daunted by the complexity of science and the task of untangling the knots of knowledge.  As Dr. Ratcliffe relayed, many of his most exciting results were not borne of some genius unique to him but rather sprang from perseverance, curiosity, and serendipity.  APSA is grateful to the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation for making this award lecture possible.  To learn more about the Lasker Foundation, visit http://www.laskerfoundation.org/