Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – Laurentian University is pleased to announce that Dr. Amadeo M. Parissenti has been awarded the 2018–2019 Research Excellence Award. Dr. Parissenti was nominated by Dr. Osman Abou-Rabia, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture at Laurentian University, for his outstanding research in monitoring tumour response to chemotherapy and its potential to help patients. He received the award during Laurentian University’s Research Week Awards Gala held last Friday.
Dr. Parissenti’s research focuses on cancer treatments, including factors that promote or block the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He and his associated company, Rna Diagnostics, Inc., are currently involved in an international clinical trial examining the ability of their proprietary chemoresponse assay to predict early in treatment complete tumour destruction and improved survival for patients with breast cancer, with the goal to help healthcare providers offer the most effective treatments with minimal side effects.
“Dr. Amadeo Parissenti has attained an exceptional level of research excellence,” said Dr. Rizwan Haq, Interim Vice-President of Research at Laurentian University. “His work in cancer treatment has the potential to help not only reduce harmful and ineffective treatments, but also improve the quality of life, and increase survival rates in cancer patients.”
Dr. Parissenti is a tenured Full Professor with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Laurentian University, a tenured Full Professor with the Division of Medical Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), a Principal Investigator at the Health Sciences North Research Institute (HSNRI), and Chief Scientific Officer at RNA Diagnostics, Inc.
“I am honoured to receive the 2018–2019 Research Excellence Award and am grateful to my colleagues for this recognition,” said Dr. Amadeo M. Parissenti. “I also wish to thank Laurentian University and its Office of Research Services for guiding me in the patenting and commercialization of our chemoresponse assay and providing a stimulating environment for innovative research.”
Dr. Parissenti has an impressive publication record, including six co-authored book chapters and fifty-five peer-reviewed articles. He holds several patents, some of which were granted in many jurisdictions, and has received a number of awards, including the Best Intellectual Property Award from The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) as part of the Quest Business Competition in Toronto.
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