The Pezcoller award for cancer research is one of the most prestigious awards that a cancer researcher can hope for. It is given to scientists who have made a great significant discovery in practical cancer research. The award winner for 2010 is Prof. Joseph Schlessinger from Yale University.

This award, as well as others, are important. Academia is not a well paying endeavor, so the promise of recognition, together with a monetary award, is extremely important to a scientist.

Although it is unlikely this is what motivates most scientists, if we can get the cure for cancer in this way – or help a generation of new scientists become more ambitious – then this is well worth it.