Steven M. Larson, MD

Steven M. Larson, MD, is one of the world's foremost experts in targeted radiotherapy and molecular imaging. His research, which spans three decades, has resulted in many novel findings especially in understanding cancer. Using carbon-14 labeled media and a sensitive radiodetector system, Dr. Larson was able to rapidly identify bacterial and cell growth, a technology that is used widely today for detecting mycobacterium tuberculosis, including assessing drug sensitivities.

Dr. Larson has successfully tackled the problems of antibody production, radiolabeling, humanization of the antibody, minimizing host immune response, and developing methodologies to quantify response. His research in detection of colo-rectal cancer has been successfully applied in the treatment of patients with advanced tumors.

As an expert on translational aspects of nuclear medicine, Dr. Larson has made significant contributions to the advancement of positron emission tomography (PET) as a clinical tool for oncology. He was recruited to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1983, in part to establish a state of the art PET center for NIH researchers. His success in this endeavor led to an NIH Directors Medal in 1987 for him and his colleagues.

While conducting cutting-edge research in targeted therapy and related molecular imaging, Dr. Larson continues to be heavily involved in teaching, administration, and clinical care. Dr. Larson currently serves as Chief of the Nuclear Medicine Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), Director of Radiology Research in the Department of Radiology and Director of the PET Center at MSKCC. He also is Professor of Radiology at Cornell University Medical College.

Dr. Larson has authored or co-authored 430 manuscripts in major peer reviewed journals, including Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, Radiology, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Nuclear Medicine. He has also served on several governmental advisory committees and study sections at the NIH, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He was awarded the Wylie medal of the FDA for his contributions to the development of radiopharmaceutical regulations. Other awards include the Louise and Lionel Berman Foundation, Inc. award for accomplishments in the field of nuclear medicine involving the peaceful use of atomic energy, the first Ralph G. Robinson Lecture Award of the American College of Nuclear Physicians, the Berson Yalow Award from the New England Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, and the G. V. Hevesy Lecture-Medal. It is very fitting to add the RSNA Outstanding Researcher award to the impressive list of Dr. Larson's accomplishments and honors.