The first winner of the Rowley Prize for 2009 was Dr Brian Druker

Dr Brian Druker is Joint Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology and JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research at the Oregon Health and Science University. He is also an HHMI scholar. Dr Druker was responsible for bringing imatinib, the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor, to the clinic for patients with CML.

Imatinib has transformed the lives of thousands of patients with CML. While there are many scientists and clinicians who made critical contributions to developing this drug and to clinically validating its effectiveness and safety, Dr Druker’s role was indisputably fundamental.  Janet Rowley was thrilled to hear that Dr Druker would be the first recipient. She said: “I admire Brian immensely and would be so honoured to have him be the first recipient of a prize named after me.” Dr Druker presented the Rowley Prize oration at the start of the CML meeting in Bordeaux.