Franklin G BergerDr. Berger is currently Director of Research & Outreach within the Colorectal Cancer Prevention Network at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. He obtained a BA in Biology from the State University of NY at Buffalo in 1969, and a PhD in iochemistry from Purdue University in 1974. In 1976. He began his career in cancer research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, where he was located until 1985 when he moved to the University of South Carolina. There, he was Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences until 2018, during which time he served as Department Chair (1996-2002) and was founding Director of the Center for Colon Cancer Research (2002-2018). For nearly 40 years, he ran a research laboratory focused on a variety of topics in mammalian molecular genetics, including colorectal cancer therapy and prevention. His efforts were generously supported by grants from the NIH, and resulted in over 130 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Much of his research in colorectal cancer involved molecular mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

Most recently, Dr. Berger has carried out investigations involving the efficacy of colorectal cancer screening in the community setting, and has been actively engaged in community outreach efforts directed at increasing colorectal cancer awareness and screening, particularly within uninsured and medically underserved populations throughout the State of South Carolina. With the support of grants from foundations, as well as federal and state agencies, he has led the design and implementation of education and evidence-based screening programs across the State. He recently guest-edited a special focus issue of the journal COLORECTAL CANCER (Future Science Group, publisher) dedicated to early-onset colorectal cancer.

Numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellow trained in Dr. Berger's laboratory, and went on to academic and/or corporate careers in scientific research. Among Dr. Berger's awards for his efforts in the laboratory and the community are the SC Governor's Award in Science (2005), the Distinguished Service Award from the SC Gastroenterology Association (2009), election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2010), the Laurel Award in Cancer Prevention from the Prevent Cancer Foundation (2012), and a Commendation (Senate Bill S.1260) from the South Carolina General Assembly (2018). Read More Read Less