IIT Alumni, Dr. Rakesh Jain Awarded the Highest Science Award by President Obama

President Barack Obama will felicitate Dr. Rakesh Jain, a 65-year-old Indian-American professor at the Harvard Medical School with the US’ highest honours for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology. Dr Rakesh K Jain, an IIT-Kanpur alumni is a professor of tumor biology at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Harvard Medical School.

Dr Rakesh Jain has received numerous awards for his work on tumor biology, particularly research on the link between tumor blood vessels and improving the effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. He received his B.Tech degree from the IIT-Kanpur in Chemical Engineering in 1972. Jain is among the nine latest recipients of the National Medal of Science. He will receive the National Medal of Science at a White House ceremony early next year.

Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation, America’s highest honors for achievement and leadership in advancing the fields of science and technology.It was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the Medal recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering.

“Science and technology are fundamental to solving some of our Nation’s biggest challenges. The knowledge produced by these Americans today will carry our country’s legacy of innovation forward and continue to help countless others around the world. Their work is a testament to American ingenuity,” Obama said.