The Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals and the American Society for Clinical Investigation have awarded with the twelfth annual Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine.
Witte, founding director emeritus of the , was chosen for this award in recognition of his pioneering discoveries that have fundamentally reshaped the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and other cancers.
He discovered the in the ABL protein and demonstrated the role of in leukemia. This work was instrumental in the development of Gleevec, the first targeted therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, marking a transformative shift from traditional chemotherapy to precision medicine.
He also co-discovered the gene for , or BTK, a protein essential for normal B-lymphocyte development. When mutated, BTK leads to X-linked agammaglobulinemia, a serious immune deficiency disorder. This discovery enabled the development of targeted drugs, including ibrutinib, now used to treat multiple forms of leukemia and lymphoma.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine,” said Witte, a university professor of microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics, member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-director of the UCLA Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. “This recognition underscores the importance of basic research in advancing new treatments for devastating diseases like cancer. I am grateful to my colleagues and collaborators who have contributed to this work and to the patients whose courage inspires our continued efforts.”
Established in 2014, the Harrington Prize honors physician-scientists whose work is distinguished by its innovation, creativity and potential for clinical application. A committee composed of members of the ASCI Council and the Harrington Discovery Institute Scientific Advisory Board selected Witte from a pool of nominees representing leading academic medical centers across six countries.
“Owen’s pioneering discoveries have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment, leading to life-saving therapies that have benefited patients worldwide,” said Dr. Michael Teitell, director of the Jonsson Cancer Center and a longtime colleague of Witte’s. “His work exemplifies the power of scientific ingenuity in translating fundamental research into clinical breakthroughs.”
As part of the honor, Witte will deliver the Harrington Prize Lecture at the 2025 AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting on April 25-27 and will be a featured speaker at the 2025 Harrington Scientific Symposium on May 21-22.
