November 3, 2006

Martuza elected to IOM

Robert Martuza, MD, FACS, (left) chief of MGH Neurosurgery and director of the Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology at the MGH, recently was elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine (IOM), a part of the National Academy of Sciences. The IOM serves in an advisory role on issues of national importance in the fields of biomedical science, medicine and health and provides unbiased, evidence-based information to policymakers, professionals, leaders in society and the general public. Each year, 65 new members are elected to the IOM on the basis of their professional achievement and commitment to service.

Martuza is a renowned leader in the field of cancer research. His early work focused on the possibility that viruses could be genetically engineered to selectively replicate in cancer cells. This launched the study of oncolytic viruses, which are now studied in laboratories and cancer clinics around the world. Martuza's work with genetically engineered viruses also has been incorporated into clinical trials for malignant brain tumor therapies. Currently, his clinical interests focus on surgery for nervous system tumors — particularly acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, gliomas and the neurofibromatoses.