Bradley R. Cairns ’87

Bradley R. Cairns’ career is impressive. While at Lewis & Clark College, Brad majored in chemistry and graduated with honors. He then enrolled in Stanford University, where he earned a Ph.D. in cell biology. In 1999 he completed a postdoctoral degree in genetics at Harvard Medical School.

Brad is currently associate professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah. In May 2000, he was one of 48 assistant professors nationwide to be named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, a prestigious and important honor. The investigator appointment allows Brad to continue his leading research into therapies for curing childhood cancer.

During the past few years, Brad has been a lecturer at some of the world’s leading universities and research organizations, including Oxford University, Institute Pasteur, Marie Curie Institute, Imperial Cancer Research Foundation, and Ludwig Institute. He is also a contributing editor for the journal Trends in Biochemical Sciences and a referee for nine others.

In 2001, Brad received the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, which honors an alumnus/a for rendering superior performance in his or her chosen field and superior service to his or her chosen community within 15 years of graduation.

(Posted December 2004)