Cancer research prize to BRIC group leader Kim Jensen

Kim Jensen has on May 25th 2013, been awarded the Junior Research Prize from the Danish Cancer Society. Frede Olesen, President of the Danish Cancer Society, accompanied the prize with praising words: 

“Kim is an outstanding scientist, who has helped bridging the gap between stem cell research and cancer, and has provided new knowledge about cancer development and causes for intestine cancer.”

Stem cells and cancer

More specifically, Kim Jensen’s research group is investigating the process of homeostasis and the regulation of adult stem cells in relation to cancer. It has become clear, that the early cancer cells that initiate many types of tumours show characteristics of stem cells and the aim of Kim Jensen's research is to identify regulatory factors that control stem cell behaviour and are involved in the early cancer development.

“The prize is a great acknowledgement of my research and a good motivation to continue our work. My group is working towards a better understanding of the mechanisms which control cancer cells. My hope is that our research can provide more exact diagnosis methods and treatment better tailored the individual cancer patient.”

Bridging basic research and clinical research

Kim Jensen came to BRIC in February 2013 from a position as junior group leader at Cambridge University.  

“We are very glad we have been able to recruit Kim Jensen to BRIC. At BRIC, we are trying to bridge the current gap between basic cancer research and the clinical research and here Kim’s approach fit perfectly and will help us reach this goal”, says BRIC director Kristian Helin.

Kim Jensen is looking at basic mechanisms in stem cells and cancer cells, but is constantly aware of the challenges in the clinic when undertaking his research. His lab I also doing studies directly focusing at clinical problems and his group contains both basic researchers and medical doctors.

“For me, relating basic research questions to the clinical problems doctors are faced with in treatment of cancer patients, are a strong motivation. And by working closer together, we hope to contribute significantly to better diagnoses and treatments for cancer patients, says Kim Jensen.

The Danish Cancer Society’s Junior Research Prize

The Junior Research Prize is awarded each year by the Danish Cancer Society to a scientist under the age of 40, who has made a special contribution to cancer research. The purpose of the prize is to support and encourage young scientists to help build the next generation of cancer scientists. This year, the prize of DKK 75.000 was also awarded to epidemiologist Anja Olsen from the Danish Cancer Society.