Dr. Mina Sedrak, director of the Cancer and Aging Program and co-director of Cancer Control and Survivorship Research at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been awarded the King Hussein Cancer Research Award’s Young Investigator Award, which recognizes early-career scientists whose research is driving innovative and impactful advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
The international award is one of the Arab world’s most prestigious honors and was named in memory of the late King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan, who championed healthcare development and faced cancer himself, inspiring innovation and excellence in oncology research worldwide.
Sedrak was selected for his work investigating the biological mechanisms of accelerated aging in people with cancer and developing new strategies to prevent or reverse these effects. His research examines how cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapies can trigger cellular and molecular changes that accelerate aging, leading to frailty, chronic health conditions and functional decline. By identifying these processes, his work is paving the way for interventions that help patients not only survive cancer but also maintain their strength, independence and quality of life.
“I am deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Sedrak, an associate professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “This award reflects our shared commitment to improving not only how long cancer survivors live, but how well they live. Cancer treatments save lives, but they can also accelerate aging in ways that reduce quality of life. My goal is to develop therapies that protect patients from these effects and help them stay strong, independent and engaged in the lives they love.”
At UCLA, Sedrak leads an interdisciplinary, translational research team that bridges laboratory discoveries with patient-centered clinical trials. His research is redefining survivorship by shifting the focus from extending lifespan to improving health span, or the years survivors spend healthy, active and free from disability. His discoveries not only hold promise for cancer patients, but also offer insights into other age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes.
“By studying the connection between cancer and aging, we can uncover universal pathways that contribute to chronic disease,” Sedrak said. “The ultimate goal is to translate this science into actionable solutions that help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”
Sedrak has previously been recognized with numerous honors from the National Institute on Aging and the National Cancer Institute, including the Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders in Aging Award, GEMSSTAR Award, and Paul Calabresi Career Development Award. In 2024, he was chosen as the recipient of the Susan G. Komen Rising Star Researcher Award. In 2023, he was named among the 40 Under 40 in Cancer and selected to the 2024-2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Leadership Development cohort.