‘Rising Star’ in Prostate Cancer Research Receives Prestigious Early Investigator Award

The Endocrine Society has recognized Himanshu Arora, Ph.D., a prostate cancer researcher at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, assistant professor in the Department of Urology, and an investigator at the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute (ISCI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, with its 2021 Early Investigator Award.

Dr. Arora was one of only five researchers worldwide to receive the award this year from the 18,000-member society. The award recognizes early-career research accomplishments and comes with a monetary award.

When he discovered he won the award, Dr. Arora said, “I was delighted and felt extremely honored and humbled. The Endocrine Society is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious societies — and getting this recognition is a reflection that we are moving in a right direction.”

Dr. Arora and members of his lab focus on exploring the therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy against different stages of prostate cancer and using machine-learning tools to study the progression of the cancer.

“UM is a fantastic place — especially if you are interested in doing translational research,” he said.

Crediting his mentors

Dr. Arora credits mentorship from senior leaders, such as Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., chair of the Department of Urology, and Joshua M. Hare, M.D., founding director of ISCI, in helping to foster his career.

“He is one of our rising stars,” Dr. Hare said. “He approaches his research projects with intense energy and extraordinary curiosity. As a result, he is a highly productive and prolific young investigator highly deserving of this wonderful award.”

Collaborating with Dr. Hare, Dr. Arora demonstrated that a compound that increases nitric oxide levels can suppress castration-resistant prostate cancer in animal research, for example. The discovery offers hope to prostate cancer patients with few therapeutic options.

“I would be wrong not to thank all the other faculty, my former and current lab members, collaborators, and friends at UM who have been involved in mentoring me in some way or the other,” Dr. Arora said.

Identified as a leader

Since joining the faculty in the UM Department of Urology, Dr. Arora has demonstrated his ability to manage the intricacies of a laboratory and conduct quality experiments to see impactful results.

Dr. Arora has received multiple previous awards, including the American Urological Association’s Urology Care Foundation 2020 Research Scholar Award.

He completed his master’s degree in biotechnology from Devi Ahilya University in Indore, India. He also was awarded the Korean Government Scholarship for his Ph.D. degree in molecular biology from the National Institute of International Education.

Tags: Dr. Dipen J. Parekh, Dr. Himanshu Arora, Dr. Joshua Hare, Early Investigator Award, Endocrine Society, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center