Dr. Frank L. Meyskens Jr., a UC Irvine oncologist, researcher and director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCI Medical Center, has been named the Daniel G. Aldrich Jr. Endowed Chair for his achievements in cancer prevention and treatment research and in medical education.

The chair -- established in 1988 to honor and further the research of a scholar and teacher of the highest distinction -- is named in recognition of UCI's founding chancellor. Former UCI chancellor and world-renowned atmospheric scientist Ralph J. Cicerone previously held the position.

"Dr. Meyskens' considerable and impressive research contributions continue to make a difference people's lives," said UCI Chancellor Michael V. Drake. "The Aldrich Chair was created to ensure the high caliber of academic excellence at UCI, and I am proud that it will support Dr. Meyskens' efforts to enhance care for our patients."

Meyskens is nationally recognized for his work on chemoprevention, which uses vitamins, minerals and nontoxic chemicals to treat healthy individuals who may be at increased risk for cancer. Chemopreventive agents can either stop genetic mutations that lead to cancer or prevent processes that lead to excessive replication of damaged cells.

Meyskens is currently the principle investigator of a National Institutes of Health-funded clinical trial at UCI studying the effects of chemopreventive agents. In February, he received the American Society of Preventive Oncology's Distinguished Achievement Award for his significant research contributions.
"It is an honor to hold the chair named in recognition of UCI's founding chancellor," said Meyskens, who is also senior associate dean in the College of Health Sciences. "I plan to use the endowment to further my clinical research in melanoma and prevention."

Meyskens has been director of the Chao Center for 16 years. The only facility in Orange County to be an National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and one of only 39 nationwide, the center serves patients through its oncology, surgical, women's and pediatric cancer programs.

Meyskens is the founding member of the International Society of Cancer Prevention (and president from 1999 to 2004) as well as an active member of many professional organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research, where he has served on numerous committees.

The author of hundreds of research articles and book chapters, Meyskens lectures around the world on topics such as cancer prevention, nutrition and the development of new cancer drugs and treatments. He also sits on the editorial boards of several prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Meyskens received his medical degree from UC San Francisco. He also received postgraduate training at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. He lives in Irvine with his wife and three children.

About the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center: Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, the Chao Center is one of only 38 facilities nationwide to attain this recognition. This means that cancer patients have access to new therapies years in advance of their general availability, as well as a full spectrum of conventional approaches. Patient therapies are managed by a multidisciplinary team of highly trained cancer specialists who are sensitive to the physical, emotional and economic impacts of the illness on patients and families. It is located at UCI Medical Center in Orange.

About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.