Smita Bhatia, director of the Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship in the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been selected to receive the Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Cancer Institute.
The award provides funding to investigators with exceptional records of productivity in cancer research to continue or embark upon new projects of unusual potential in cancer research. Award recipients are cancer researchers who have served as principal investigators on a National Cancer Institute grant for the last five years and have demonstrated outstanding productivity. In addition to the honor, Dr. Bhatia will be the principal investigator on a seven-year, $6.2 million grant project on how personalized treatment of childhood cancer can minimize toxicity.
“This award provides me with the necessary resources to undertake a high-risk but potentially high-reward project,” Dr. Bhatia said. “The ultimate goal is the ability to minimize long-term toxicity while optimizing cures for children with cancer. I am very excited to embark on this project and am very grateful to the NCI for this award.”
Dr. Bhatia also serves as vice chair for outcomes research in the university’s department of pediatric oncology. A native of India, Dr. Bhatia earned her medical degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She holds a master of public health degree from the University of Minnesota.