Tampa, Fla. (April 29, 2011) –  Dr. Paul Sanberg, Distinguished University Professor and senior associate vice president for research and innovation at the University of South Florida, received the Everfront Award at the 4th Pan Pacific Symposium on Stem Cell and Cancer Research held earlier this month in Taichung, Taiwan.

The Everfront Award honors outstanding research contributions in stem cell and cancer research, including pre-clinical, clinical and translational work, and is presented to a researcher at the forefront of his or her field. Dr. Sanberg, who also serves as executive director of the USF Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, has spent decades in stem and cell therapy research.

Dr. Paul Sanberg

Dr. Sanberg’s stem cell research expertise, his efforts in innovation, technology transfer and translational medicine, and his initiatives in developing academic exchanges between Taiwanese and U.S. researchers were noted by symposium chair Dr. Shinn-Zong Lin, neurosurgeon and superintendant of the China Medical University Hospital.  In particular, Dr. Sanberg’s pioneering efforts in regenerative medicine for neurodegenerative disorders, capture the award’s core criteria, Dr. Lin said.

Dr. Sanberg, a keynote speaker at the symposium, praised Taiwan and the China Medical University Hospital for their globally important research agendas as they work to bring innovative stem cell therapies to the patient’s bedside under international standards.  Senior officials of both the Taiwanese and South Korean Food and Drug Administrations held open discussions with academic, clinical and industry leaders worldwide at the symposium.

– USF Health –

USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health and Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group.  Ranked 34th in federal research expenditures for public universities by the National Science Foundation, the University of South Florida is a high impact global research university.

Media Contact:
Randolph Fillmore, (813) 974-3154 or rfillmor@health.usf.edu