Giulio Draetta and Laura Esserman recieved the 2024 American Italian Cancer Foundation Prize for Scientific Excellence in Medicine

Dr. Draetta’s educational background includes a PhD in Clinical Pathology and Biochemistry from the University of Naples Medical School in Italy, completed in 1985, and an MD in Medicine from the same institution in 1981. His postgraduate training includes prestigious fellowships, such as the Robertson Fellow in Genetics and Biochemistry at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and a Fogarty International Center Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically at the National Cancer Institute. Early in his career, Dr. Draetta also completed clinical training in Internal and Emergency Medicine at the University of Naples Medical School.

Dr. Draetta’s work focuses on advancing cancer treatment through genomics, tumor metabolism, and precision medicine, with an emphasis on understanding the genetic drivers of cancer and developing targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes. His leadership and research are central to MD Anderson’s ongoing innovations in cancer care.

About Laura Esserman

Laura Esserman, MD, MBA is a leading breast surgeon and breast oncology specialist at UCSF, where she is also a Professor of Surgery and Radiology and the Director of the UCSF Breast Care Center. A pioneer in personalized medicine, Dr. Esserman is known for her work on reducing over-diagnosis and over-treatment, particularly in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS).

Since 2002, Dr. Esserman has led the I-SPY TRIALS, a groundbreaking national public-private collaboration that includes partners like the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the FDA, more than 20 cancer research centers, and major pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The I-SPY Trials aim to accelerate the drug development process, reducing both time and cost in bringing new therapies to market. This trial model has become a benchmark for translational research and is being applied to other disease areas, including the I-SPY COVID trial, which Dr. Esserman spearheaded to rapidly evaluate treatments for COVID-19.

In addition to her work on the I-SPY Trials, Dr. Esserman was instrumental in creating the Athena Breast Health Network, a UC-wide initiative designed to integrate clinical care with research. The network follows 150,000 women from screening through treatment and long-term outcomes. As part of this effort, she also launched the WISDOM study, which aims to personalize breast cancer screening by testing a risk-based approach tailored to each woman’s individual breast cancer risk and preferences, comparing it to the current standard of annual screening.Dr. Esserman’s efforts in transforming how we approach breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research continue to have a profound impact on improving care and outcomes for women worldwide.

Dr. Laura Esserman has published over 300 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is frequently featured in prestigious media outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Health Magazine, Prevention Magazine, and on major news networks like ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, and NPR’s Science Friday.

Recognized for her groundbreaking work, Dr. Esserman was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2016. She has also received several prestigious honors, including the 2016 Stanford Business School Ernest C. Arbuckle Award, the 2016 Personalized Medicine World Conference Pioneer and Luminary Award, and the 2018 Giant of Cancer Care in Cancer Diagnostics award. Additionally, she was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Most Influential Women in Business in 2018.