Ronald Levy
Encyclopedia
Ronald Levy is an American medical doctor and scientist at Stanford University
. He specializes in lymphoma
, including Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Burkitt's Lymphoma
and Hodgkin's Disease
His research investigates how the immune system
can be harnessed to fight lymphoma. His work has led to the concept that antibodies can be used as personalized anticancer drugs and to the development of an antibody-based drug, Rituxan, that is widely used to treat lymphoma.
in 1963, and an MD from the Stanford University School of Medicine
in 1968.
He did his residency and internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital
, and is board-certified in oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
, the Karnofsky Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and others. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and of the Institute of Medicine.
, Levy said that he was very surprised when he was notified by the prize committee about his victory. He was awarded $200,000, a medal, and a certificate in English and Arabic. He and his family were invited to visit Saudi Arabia
and have dinner with the Saudi King Abdullah
. Levy's wife is Israel
i and one of his daughters was born in Israel, yet his family and he were able to travel to Saudi Arabia with no problems. They were "treated to royal hospitality." Coincidentally, the King Faisal International Prize was first awarded 30 years ago, around the same time that Levy began his work in this field.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He specializes in lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, including Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Burkitt's Lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system...
and Hodgkin's Disease
His research investigates how the immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
can be harnessed to fight lymphoma. His work has led to the concept that antibodies can be used as personalized anticancer drugs and to the development of an antibody-based drug, Rituxan, that is widely used to treat lymphoma.
Personal
He is currently married and has three daughters, Tali, Karen, and Naomi, and two grandchildren, Kiva and Ilana.Education
Levy received an A.B degree in Biochemistry from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1963, and an MD from the Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
in 1968.
He did his residency and internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
, and is board-certified in oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Honors and awards
Levy's work has been recognized with multiple honors and awards, including the King Faisal International Prize, the Damashek Prize, the American Cancer Society's Medal of Honor, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's di Villiers International Achievement Award, the C. Chester Stock Award from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center is a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 as the New York Cancer Hospital...
, the Karnofsky Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and others. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and of the Institute of Medicine.
King Faisal International Prize in Medicine
In 2009 Levy was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, sometimes called the "Arab Nobel Prize." He was awarded the prize for his work on Rituxan. In an interview with HaaretzHaaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
, Levy said that he was very surprised when he was notified by the prize committee about his victory. He was awarded $200,000, a medal, and a certificate in English and Arabic. He and his family were invited to visit Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and have dinner with the Saudi King Abdullah
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is the King of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd. When Crown Prince, he governed Saudi Arabia as regent from 1998 to 2005...
. Levy's wife is Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i and one of his daughters was born in Israel, yet his family and he were able to travel to Saudi Arabia with no problems. They were "treated to royal hospitality." Coincidentally, the King Faisal International Prize was first awarded 30 years ago, around the same time that Levy began his work in this field.