Penn Medicine’s Basser Center awarded its 2025 Basser Global Prize and BRCA Impact Award to two cancer researchers.
The Basser Global Prize and BRCA Impact Award are funded by Leonard Potter and 1987 College graduate Shari Potter and seek to honor those who have taken strides in BRCA research. It awarded the global prize to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher Ephrat Levy-Lahad for her work on BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and the impact award to Harvard professor and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researcher Alan D'Andrea for his cancer genetics research.
The center, which is housed within the Abramson Cancer Center, is focused on researching and treating BRCA-related cancers. The global prize was last awarded to University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio professor Patrick Sung.
Levy-Lahad will receive $100,000 for research, a $10,000 cash prize, and a sculpture in her name. She will also deliver the keynote address at the 14th annual Basser Center Scientific Symposium in May 2026.
“The Basser Global Prize recognizes scientists who are transforming our understanding of BRCA-related cancers and inspiring hope for the future,” Executive Director of the Basser Center for BRCA Susan Domchek wrote in Penn Medicine's announcement. “Dr. Levy-Lahad’s innovative work exemplifies the scientific excellence and collaboration that drives progress forward for individuals and families affected by BRCA mutations.”
Levy-Lahad has previously worked on population screening programs for BRCA as well as clinical translational research for 30 years since the cloning of BRCA1. She is “one of the world’s leading experts on inherited breast cancer among Jewish women,” according to the Basser Center.
“I am immensely honored to receive the Basser award,” Levy-Lahad wrote in Penn Medicine's announcement. “My hope is that it will further awareness of general testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations for prevention of breast and ovarian cancer.”
She has also promoted genetic cancer screenings for Israeli and Ethiopian Jews and co-led the Middle East Breast Cancer Study in working with Palestinian patients.
D’Andrea received the impact award for his work toward "unraveling the Fanconi Anemia/BRCA pathway," which has "contributed significantly to the development of new anti-cancer drugs."
His discovery that the Fanconi Anema genes act in a “common pathway” that intersects with BRCA1 and BRCA2 has allowed new inhibitors to begin to be tested in clinical trials. Other researchers have been able to use this information to develop new anti-cancer drugs.
In addition, D’Andrea’s discovery of two DNA repair targets — POLQ and USP1 — has led to the development of new inhibitors that are currently in clinical trials.
“It is my honor to receive this award from the Basser Center,” D’Andrea wrote in the announcement. “I share the award with the families with inherited mutations BRCA1, BRCA2, and Fanconi Anemia Genes, who have been my close collaborators in my research.”
Staff reporter Luke Petersen covers national politics and can be reached at petersen@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies philosophy, politics, and economics. Follow him on X @LukePetersen06.
