Wahl honored for leadership in nuclear medicine and imaging
Radiologist developed new cancer therapies, established research fund
Wahl
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) recently presented the 2024 Minoshima-Pappas Transformative Leadership Award to Richard Wahl, MD, professor of radiology and of radiation oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Wahl is only the second recipient of the award, which the SNMMI established to recognize individuals who have brought meaningful improvements to the science and practice of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging.
Wahl, a member of the National Academy of Medicine, practices at Barnes Jewish Hospital and is the former director of the School of Medicine’s Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, has contributed to several advances in the field of nuclear medicine and imaging, most notably by developing the first FDA-approved radioimmunotherapies — radioactive compounds that bind specifically to cancerous cells — for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He also pioneered the use of PET imaging to assess a wide range of cancers. His work has also resulted in a number of FDA-approved drugs and devices that use radioactive tracing compounds to bind to specific proteins to diagnose and treat cancers.
As past president of SNMMI, Wahl was the driving force behind the creation of the SNMMI Mars Shot Fund. The $100 million fund provides grant support for research in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging that has the potential to improve patient outcomes. The fund started disbursing grants last year and is supporting seven research projects across the country.
