The Waldenstrom's Award for lifetime achievement was presented to Brian G. M. Durie, M. D., last week for his many contributions to multiple myeloma research. The award is named for Professor Jan Waldenstrom, who was a pioneer in treating blood cancers, and was presented by the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) at the opening of the XII International Myeloma Workshop last week in Washington, D.C.

Durie is an accomplished hematologist/oncologist and medical researcher, and represents the interests of myeloma patients worldwide as Chairman of the IMF. In addition, he serves as national director for hematological malignancies at Aptium Oncology and acts as a myeloma specialist at Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center. He chairs three major research groups: the IMF's International Myeloma Working Group, the Myeloma Network for Aptium Oncology, and the Myeloma Committee (Co-Chair) for the Southwest Oncology Group.

Throughout his career, Durie has made several major research contributions toward the treatment of multiple myeloma, including developing an initial staging system for the disease. Recently, as the leader of the International Myeloma Working Group, he has worked to establish standards for diagnosing and treating the disease.

Many of his contemporaries have also offered their congratulations. "Dr. Durie's contributions to the myeloma field are too numerous to list," says S. Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic.

Durie, pointing to the doubling of survival rates in recent years, expresses optimism for the future of myeloma treatment.

For more information please visit the press release from the IMF Web site.