THE prestigious Musgrave Gold medal of the Institute of Jamaica will be awarded to Dr Professor Franklyn Prendergast, former Rhode Scholar and an outstanding authority in the field of Cancer Research, tomorrow at 11:00 am in the Lecture Hall of the Institute of Jamaica.

An established teacher and researcher, Dr Prendergast is the Director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Research in Rochester, Minnesota. He has published over 150 research papers, which include cutting edge research in the field of Biomedicine. These include the structure, dynamics and function of proteins, the biochemistry and biophysics of bioluminescence, bio-imaging and computational biology.

Born in Linstead, St Catherine and a past student of Calabar High School, Dr Prendergast’s career path is decorated with numerous awards and accomplishments. He graduated with honours from the University of the West Indies in 1968 and entered Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar in 1969.

Upon his graduation from Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts and Masters Degree in Physiology, Dr Prendergast subsequently completed a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.

His extensive involvement in numerous professional organisations and societies in the United States include The National Academy of Sciences, The National Cancer Advisory Board and the American Chemical Society. Dr Prendergast has also served for the past 14 years on the Board of Scientific Advisors for the National Cancer Institute.

The Musgrave Gold Medal is awarded for distinguished eminence in Literature, Science or Art. The medal was first awarded to Edna Manley in 1941 for her sterling contribution to Art and Literature. Other noted gold medallists include Louise Bennett-Coverley for her distinguished eminence in Poetry and Theatre Arts and Professor Rex Nettleford for his work in Arts and West Indian Cultural Development.