Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, is escorted offstage by President Barack Obama after receiving the National Medal of Science, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, May 19, in Washington, D.C. Established in 1959, the National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation, created in 1980, recognizes those who have made contributions to America’s competitiveness, quality of life, and helped strengthen the country’s technological workforce. (Drew Angerer | Getty Images)

A 65-year-old Indian American scientist received the prestigious ‘National Medal of Science’ award from President Barack Obama, writes Lalit K. Jha. (@Siliconeer, #Siliconeer, #USNationalMedalofScience, #IndianAmerican, #DrRakeshKJain, #Harvard, #IITK, #IITKanpur, #NationalScienceFoundation)

Dr. Rakesh K. Jain, a professor of tumor biology at the Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School, received the award from President Obama along with 16 other recipients of the ‘National Medals of Science and National Medals of Technology and Innovation,’ May 19.

The award function was initially scheduled for Jan. 22 but was postponed due to a major snowstorm, the White House said, May 16.

Awarded annually, the Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and mathematics.

The National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America’s competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen nation’s technological workforce.

Jain, an IIT-Kanpur alumnus, has received numerous awards for his work on tumor biology, particularly research on the link between tumor blood vessels and improving the effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

He received his B Tech degree from the IIT-Kanpur in Chemical Engineering in 1972.

The National Medal of Science was created by statute in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation.