This news item is about: Robert S. Weiss, PhD, associate professor for molecular genetics, earned the 2008 Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, which comes with $1,000 prize. He will present his research findings at a College of Veterinary Medicine seminar on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, during which time he will be presented with his award. The award has been provided to schools of veterinary medicine since 1985, promoting the accomplishments and research productivity of faculty in the early stages of their career. Weiss's long-term goal is to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment in animals and humans. His particular research interest focuses on genome maintenance mechanisms and how the cells behave to preserve the DNA sequence.