Dr. Richard T. Silver (Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY) has been at the forefront of clinical cancer research since 1958, when he coauthored a groundbreaking paper that reported the first significant success in achieving remissions in acute leukemia. Since then, Dr. Silver has established himself as a leading authority on clinical cancer research and the face of CR&T.

As a researcher and medical oncologist, Dr. Silver has written hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, written or edited several books, created over 100 abstracts and served on numerous review boards. Throughout his distinguished career, he has combined clinical investigation, teaching and private practice to make progress towards finding a cure for cancer. As a member, chairman and the president of multiple boards, including the New York State Society of Medical Oncologists and Hematologists, Dr. Silver has been involved in a variety of medical societies, visiting professorships and international lectures.

He is also a recipient of numerous awards, including routine recognition among The Best Doctors in New York, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Science. In 2000, CR&T and Weill Cornell established the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professorship of Hematology and Medical Oncology to honor his life’s work and dedication.

Dr. Silver was one of the first physicians to use the anti-viral agent interferon in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and the first to report its effectiveness against polycythemia vera. He developed courses to train physicians in the biopsy of bone marrow and interpretation of the results. His research contributed significantly to current understandings of how infections develop in leukemia.

In addition to his pioneering work in clinical hematology, Dr. Silver has advanced the treatment of solid tumors through innovations in chemotherapies for breast and ovarian cancer. His career reflects the special role that blood cancer research plays in the development of treatments for all cancers.