Dr. James Bearden, hematology-oncologist with Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, was recognized by the National Institutes of Health with the prestigious Harry Hynes Award.
Dr. James Bearden, hematology-oncologist with Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, was recognized by the National Institutes of Health with the Harry Hynes Award in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
Bearden is the sixth person to receive this prestigious award since its inception in 2001.
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Community Clinical Oncology Program established the Harry Hynes Award to recognize and acknowledge individuals displaying outstanding commitment to clinical research by community investigators.
The award was named for Dr. Harry Hynes, the principal investigator of the Wichita Community Clinical Oncology Program, for his dedication and commitment to bringing clinical trials to the community setting.
“Dr. Bearden helped change the face of cancer care in South Carolina,” said David Church, vice president of oncology and support services for Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute in Greer.
“He is very humble about all he has done for the Spartanburg Community and it is wonderful to see him recognized in this way. This award is well deserved,” Church said.
Bearden has been involved in community-based research for many years. He served as a co- principal investigator and then as the principal investigator beginning in 1983 for a Community Clinical Oncology Program and is now a co-principal investigator of a large community NCORP.
Bearden was also the primary investigator for Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute’s NCI Community Cancer Center Program (NCCCP). Dr. Bearden’s efforts resulted in more than $30 million in grant dollars being allocated to Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through the aforementioned programs.
The honor recognizes Dr. Bearden’s extensive efforts in research with the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), national networks for testing and validating medical interventions against cancer and for delivering the benefits of scientific discovery to public and community physicians.
He has worked extensively within the community to build additional care networks for the indigent and underserved populations.