College of

Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Natarajan Aravindan, professor of physiological sciences at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, has received a prestigious award recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to cancer research.

The Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research honored Aravindan with an AACR-SAASCR award for pioneering breakthroughs during the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting on April 19 in San Diego.

The award recognizes researchers whose discoveries have advanced the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The award was presented by SAASCR President Dr. Rajvir Dahiya and Secretary Dr. Dharam Pal Chauhan presented it.

Aravindan leads an internationally recognized molecular oncology and radiation biology research program focused on therapy resistance, tumor evolution, immune evasion and aggressive solid cancers, including high-risk pediatric cancers.

His research established Retinal Degeneration Protein-3, or RD3, as a key regulator of tumor plasticity, immune silence and poor clinical outcomes. The discovery has reshaped scientists’ understanding of treatment failure and disease progression in neuroblastoma and several adult cancers, including bladder, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.

In addition to identifying new biological mechanisms of cancer progression, Aravindan’s laboratory has developed tumor-targeted molecular and peptide-based therapies, precision nanotherapy approaches and radio-immunotherapeutic strategies. His team also created innovative preclinical models designed to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical applications.

Aravindan serves as the Kerr Endowed Chair for Biomedical Laser and Bio-photonics Research, Williams Companies Foundation Presidential Professor and founding director of the All-of-Us Research and Education Program at OSU. He also holds adjunct appointments in radiation oncology and pathology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and is a member of the NCI-designated Stephenson Cancer Center Cancer Biology Program.

His research has received continuous support from federal and foundation funding sources, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Kerr Foundation and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has served in editorial and advisory roles for national and international scientific organizations.

Founded in 2004, SAASCR is a nonprofit organization comprising more than 5,000 cancer scientists affiliated with the American Association for Cancer Research. The organization recognizes researchers whose work advances cancer biology and improves outcomes for patients worldwide.

The AACR Annual Meeting is one of the world’s largest gatherings of cancer researchers, clinicians and industry leaders, bringing together experts from across the globe to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine.