Anil K. Rustgi, MD, Wins 2023 William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology
Anil K. Rustgi, MD, director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Herbert and Florence Irving Professor of Medicine, has received the annual William Beaumont Prize in Gastroenterology from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). The prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made major contributions that have significantly advanced the care of patients with digestive diseases through clinical or translational research.
A leading cancer researcher and physician, Dr. Rustgi has made substantial and lasting contributions to the fundamental molecular understanding of gastrointestinal cancers.
“This award is a reflection of the wonderful students, fellows, research associates, technicians and faculty with whom I have had the honor to work,” says Dr. Rustgi. “Engaged in team science and medicine, our group has had fulfilling collaborations with other groups at Columbia University and other institutions. I'm very appreciative and the credit goes to many others.”
The Rustgi lab at Columbia focuses on the intrinsic cellular processes and tumor microenvironmental cues that lead to the progression and metastasis of gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer. Using mouse models and 3D culture models, Dr. Rustgi and his team investigate the role of cancer-causing genes and tumor suppressor genes in the pathogenesis of GI cancers.
Dr. Rustgi is past president of the American Gastroenterological Association (16,000 members), was editor-in-chief of Gastroenterology and served as president of the American Pancreatic Association. Among his many awards and honors, Dr. Rustgi has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He also is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Established in 1976, the William Beaumont Prize recognizes an individual who has made a unique, outstanding contribution of major importance to the field of gastroenterology. Fellow Columbia faculty member, chief of Digestive and Liver Diseases and HICCC member, Timothy C. Wang, MD, received the award in 2019.
