William G. Nelson, a member of the School of Medicine
faculty since 1992, has been selected to
lead the
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns
Hopkins.
Nelson, who specializes in prostate cancer genetics
and treatment, is nationally known as a
leader in translational cancer research who, with Johns
Hopkins colleagues, discovered the most
common genome alteration in prostate cancer. The discovery
led to new diagnostic tests for the
disease and has fueled interest in new drug discovery and
other treatment options, now ongoing at
Johns Hopkins.
In announcing the appointment, which followed a
national search, Edward D. Miller, the Frances
Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker Jr., M.D., Dean of the
Medical Faculty and chief executive
officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, said that Nelson "has
the energy and talent to ensure the cancer
center's continued success as a leader in discovery and
patient care, but also to face the scientific and
administrative challenges that science and health care
delivery face in the 21st century."
Nelson previously served as associate director for
translational research and co-director of the
Prostate Cancer Program. He has been in a leadership role
for the partnership program with Howard
University Cancer Center, which was created to build cancer
research capabilities there and to
enhance minority participation in cancer research. Miller
added that Nelson has made a major
contribution over many years to the success of the cancer
center in his role as associate director for
translational research.
He was one of three co-chairs of the National Cancer
Institute's Translational Research
Working Group, which re-engineered translational cancer
science across the nation, and has been a
member of the scientific advisory boards of several
companies focused on the development of new
technologies and treatments for human cancer. He is a
member of the American Association of Cancer
Research's board of directors, president of the National
Coalition for Cancer Research and a member
of the scientific advisory board of the Prostate Cancer
Foundation.
Nelson enrolled at Yale University as a chemistry
major with thoughts of a career in law but
after graduating, briefly took a stint as a laboratory
technician with Yale dermatologist and cell
biologist Joseph McGuire. McGuire had begun early clinical
trials of retinoid-based drugs for a rare
skin disease in children, and Nelson's job was to further
decipher the molecular biomarkers of the
disease — research based on the field now called
proteomics. That experience led to a life-changing
commitment to medical research and set him on course for a
career in medicine.
As the new director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive
Cancer Center, Nelson said he will
focus on continued growth of the center with clinical
faculty recruitments and expanded research
opportunities. "We have the perfect discovery engine within
our cancer center and tremendous
opportunities. This is a great place to be, and the right
time to be here."
Nelson received his bachelor of arts degree from Yale
in 1980 and in 1987 earned his medical
degree and PhD at Johns Hopkins, where he also completed a
residency in internal medicine and a
fellowship in medical oncology.
Nelson's appointment will be officially marked on
Friday, Dec. 5, at a ceremony in the cancer
center's clinical facility, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Building. At that time, he also will be
installed as the Marion I. Knott Director and Professor of
Oncology.
Nelson succeeds Martin Abeloff, longtime director of
the cancer center, who died in
September 2007.
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