 The Kidney Cancer Association today honored Dr. Michael L. Blute, Chair Emeritus of the Department of Urology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, from 1999 to 2006. Dr. Blute was presented with the Andrew C. Novick Award at the 11th International Kidney Cancer Symposium held in Chicago. The award and lecture is named for a urologic surgeon who pioneered cutting-edge techniques that have resulted in saving many thousands of lives. Throughout his training, Dr. Blute has received many awards and honors, including the Mosby Scholarship Book Award for Scholastic Excellence. He's also past president of the Minnesota Urologic Society. During his career, Dr. Blute has been funded by, among others, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the American Cancer Society. His surgical practice and research interests include prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer. The Novick Award provides funding for a young investigator award made collaboratively through the American Urological Foundation's grants program. The Kidney Cancer Association was founded in 1990 by a small group of patients including Eugene P. Schoenfeld, Ph.D., and medical doctors in Chicago. It's a non-profit charity incorporated in the state of Illinois and has also been federally designated as a tax-exempt organization. Reporting from downtown Chicago, I'm Bill Brough.