Organic chemist Michael Jung wins American Association for Cancer Research Award

Michael Jung, PhD

Michael Jung, a UCLA distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry who is also a professor of medical and molecular pharmacology and member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been selected the recipient of the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry in Cancer Research. The prestigious award is presented for outstanding chemistry research, which has led to important contributions to cancer research or the treatment of patients with cancer.

Jung, associate dean for entrepreneurship and innovation at UCLA, will be recognized for his scientific achievements during the AACR annual meeting March 29 to April 3 in Atlanta.

Jung designs molecules that do not exist in nature. Two molecules he has developed in his laboratory, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, are being used to treat thousands of men who have a serious form of prostate cancer.

He recently received the LA BioStar Award from Cal State Los Angeles for his contributions to biomedicine. Last year, he received the Amgen Early Innovator Award for his research on Alzheimer’s disease.

 In 2017, Jung and his wife Alice endowed the Michael and Alice Jung Chair in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery to enable UCLA to hire a faculty member who will conduct drug discovery research with the goal of producing effective new pharmaceuticals.

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