Cory Abate-Shen, Richard Axel Named AAAS Fellows

Richard Axel, MD, and Cory Abate-Shen, PhD, of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science. The society was founded in 1848 and includes nearly 250 affiliated societies and academies of science.

Cory Abate-Shen was selected for her “distinguished contributions to the cancer biology field, particularly for the development of mouse models to understand how basic cellular mechanisms are co-opted in cancer.” Abate-Shen is the Michael and Stella Chernow Professor of Urologic Sciences, director of research in the Department of Urology, and an associate director of Columbia's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and leader of its Prostate Program. She is a leader in the field of urological oncology and was recently selected as an American Cancer Society Research Professor.

Richard Axel has been named a fellow of the AAAS for “distinguished contributions in the fields of olfaction and neuroscience.” He is a University Professor, co-director of Columbia’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, and an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2004, Axel won a Nobel Prize for discoveries of odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system.

The long tradition of AAAS Fellows began in 1874 to honor AAAS members for distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

This year 416 members have been named Fellows and will be presented with an official certificate and a gold and blue rosette pin at the 2019 AAAS annual meeting in February.