José Baselga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
José Baselga
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Baselga in 2013
|
|
| Born | 3 July 1959 Barcelona, Spain
|
| Died | 21 March 2021 (aged 61) Cerdanya, Spain
|
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Alma mater |
|
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Oncology |
| Institutions |
|
José Baselga (born July 3, 1959 – died March 21, 2021) was a Spanish doctor and researcher. He spent his career working to find new ways to treat cancer, especially breast cancer. He focused on creating "targeted treatments" that attack cancer cells specifically.
Dr. Baselga worked at important medical centers like the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the Massachusetts General Hospital. He also helped start a major cancer research center in Spain. One of his most important achievements was helping to develop a breast cancer medicine called Herceptin. This medicine targets a specific protein called HER2, which is found in some aggressive breast cancers.
He also served as a top doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and was the president of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Contents
Early Life and Education
José Baselga was born in Barcelona, Spain, on July 3, 1959. He studied medicine at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, where he earned his medical and Ph.D. degrees in 1982.
After finishing his studies in Spain, he moved to New York. There, he completed a special training program in medical oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He then stayed on as a faculty member, focusing on breast cancer medicine.
A Career Fighting Cancer
Dr. Baselga began his career at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He worked with another scientist, John Mendelsohn, to study how special proteins called monoclonal antibodies could target cancer cells in breast and lung cancers.
Later, he went back to Spain and started the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona. He led this center from 1996 to 2010. Under his leadership, it became a top place for cancer research and new treatments.
Returning to the United States, he became the chief of the blood and cancer divisions at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he went back to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to become its chief medical officer.
Developing Targeted Cancer Treatments
Throughout his career, Dr. Baselga was known for developing treatments that specifically target cancer cells. He played a key role in creating the breast cancer medicine Herceptin. This medicine uses a special antibody to find and attack the HER2 protein, which is often found in aggressive breast cancers.
His research showed that Herceptin, when used with chemotherapy, could help people with HER2-positive breast cancer live longer. He was also involved in developing other targeted cancer drugs like cetuximab, pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and lapatinib. He also studied why some cancers become resistant to drugs and how to overcome this.
In 2019, Dr. Baselga joined AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company, as the head of oncology research and development. He worked there until his death, helping to develop new cancer treatments and build the company's cancer research programs.
Personal Life
José Baselga was married to Silvia Garriga, and they had four children. They were married for 30 years.
Dr. Baselga passed away on March 21, 2021, at his home in Cerdanya, Spain. He was 61 years old.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Baselga received many awards for his important work in cancer research:
- Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (1992–1993)
- Career Development Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (1994–1997)
- American Italian Cancer Foundation Prize for Scientific Excellence in Medicine (2007)
- American Association for Cancer Research–Rosenthal Family Foundation Award (2008)
- King Jaime I Award in Medical Research, Valencia, Spain (2008)
- Gold Medal, Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, New York (2010)
- Joseph B. Martin Award, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (2012)
- Elected Member, National Academy of Medicine (2014)
- John Wayne Clinical Research Lecture Award, Society of Surgical Oncology (2016)
- XXVIII Catalonia International Prize (2016)
- European Society for Medical Oncology Lifetime Achievement Award (2017)
See also
In Spanish: José Baselga para niños
- Cancer (2015 PBS film)
