ESU alum Randal Scott included on sesquicentennial scientist list

Scott is co-founder of Redwood City-based Genomic Health

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Randy Scott trading card

EMPORIA, KS (06/16/2011)(readMedia)-- An Emporia State alum whose work with cancer research helps doctors and patients fine tune treatment plans is among 150 Kansas scientists, engineers and inventors selected by the Ad Astra Kansas Initiative.

Dr. Randal W. Scott of Los Altos, Calif., is co-founder and now executive chairman of the board of Genomic Health, a Redwood City, Calif., company.

Scott, a native of Augusta, Kan., earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from ESU in 1979 before going on to earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry from The University of Kansas.

The genesis for founding Genomic Health came in January 1999 as Scott watched a close friend battle cancer, according to information on the company's website, www.genomichealth.com.

Watching the struggle made Scott realize "that despite all the research to map and understand the human genome, there is little being done to help patients get the best care based on the molecular make-up of their specific tumor."

Since the company's founding in 2000, work has focused on breast cancer. Additional work with colon cancer began in 2009. In January of this year, work began with prostate cancer. The company's researchers also are studying non-small cell lung cancer, renal cancer and melanoma.

Through 2011, Ad Astra is releasing a group of recognized scientists each month as a way to inspire Kansas youths in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. New cards will be added each month until the collection of 150 is complete.

The Ad Astra Kansas Initiative is a 10-year old grassroots organization with the purpose of celebrating science in Kansas; also, with the purpose of reminding Kansans that the state motto is as current in Kansas today as it was 150 years ago.

For more information or to download trading cards for each scientist, go to www.adastra-ks.org.

-ESU-