The American Cancer Society has honored Moon S. Chen, Jr., with its Humanitarian Award. Chen is professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center and head of the UC Davis Cancer Center's Cancer Control and Prevention Program.

In an award announcement, the society emphasized Chen's "unfailing commitment and considerable contributions to the field of public health" and the "millions of people saved because of his work in cancer control research."

The society also cited Chen's "dedication to addressing and improving the health of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders" and his "leadership in investigating and securing funds for continued research focusing on the health disparities within minority populations."

Chen received the award at the society's 90th annual meeting in Atlanta in November.

One of the nation's leading investigators into the cancer burden of ethnic minority groups, Chen is the principal investigator of an $8.5-million National Cancer Institute-funded project to eliminate disparities in cancer incidence, awareness and early detection among Asian American populations. The project is headquartered at UC Davis.

Two years ago Chen was appointed by President Bush to serve a six-year term on the influential National Cancer Advisory Board, which advises the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and the director of the National Cancer Institute on national cancer policy, including decisions about cancer research funding.

Last year he was appointed co-chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Trans-HHS Cancer Health Disparities Progress Review Group. The group is charged with integrating all agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services in a collaborative effort to eliminate disparities in cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, incidence and treatment nationwide.