Johnian medic receives Fulbright Award

Harveer Dev, St John’s College alumnus and clinician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, has received the Fulbright Royal College of Surgeons  Research Scholar Award, enabling him to carry out research at Harvard University.

An academic clinician in Urology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Harveer Dev has been granted the Fulbright Royal College of Surgeons Research Scholar Award to enable him to carry out research at Harvard University on one of the most selective and prestigious scholarship programmes in the world.

Harveer, who studied medicine at St John’s, has been selected to conduct doctoral research with Harvard into the development and progression of prostate cancer. He will explore mutations in the genes which regulate DNA repair pathways, in order to guide treatment plans for individual patients. Harveer said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity to advance our understanding into the fundamental mechanisms underpinning prostate cancer. I am excited to be able to work with colleagues at Harvard who are at the forefront of their field, and hope the work will improve our understanding of the disease, and ultimately the survival of our patients”.

Harveer came to St John’s from Heckmondwike Grammar School, Yorkshire, to study medicine in 2005. As an undergraduate, he became a Rolleston Scholar and received the William Harvey prize in clinical medicine. He developed his research interest in prostate cancer at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, before starting academic surgical training at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He has also worked with the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and will be returning to St John’s later this year, to begin a PhD at the College, supported by the Wellcome Trust.

Commenting on his time at St John’s, he said:

“I am extremely fortunate to have studied at John’s. The excellent standard of tuition contributed to my firm grounding in the sciences which underpin medicine. As well as imparting knowledge, my tutors conveyed an excitement for the subjects which really inspired my career in cancer research alongside surgery. I have continued to support the College by supervising undergraduates in clinical medicine, and I am excited to return to St John's to extend the research from my Fulbright year abroad.”

The Fulbright Programme, established by Senator J. William Fulbright after World War II, is a bi-lateral transatlantic scholarship programme offering awards for research or study in any field, at UK and US universities. It was set up to promote leadership, learning and educational exchange between the two nations.

The Fulbright Commission selects scholars on the basis of not only academic excellence, but focus, ambassadorial skills, and a range of extra-curricular and community activities. The Fulbright Award includes a maintenance allowance and support towards tuition fees, as well as a unique programme of cultural education and activities. For more information, see http://www.fulbright.org.uk/.