NFCR at AACR 2025

The National Foundation for Cancer Research is proud to share that four past or current NFCR-supported scientists will receive awards at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting.

Those receiving recognition include:

Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D, will receive the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research.

In 2022, Dr. Jain was awarded the Szent-Gyorgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research presented by NFCR for his breakthrough discoveries on overcoming barriers posed by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which improved the delivery and efficacy of anti-cancer medicines.

Dr. Jain is a current NFCR-support scientist for more than 25 years who focuses on improving the immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, for GBM patients.

NFCR is immensely proud to be a long-term partner of Dr. Jain in his pursuit of cures.

Learn More About His NFCR-Supported Work >>>

Robert C. Bast Jr., MD, will receive the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research.

Dr. Bast received NFCR support from 2001-2018 and is globally recognized for his lifesaving work that has improved the early detection of ovarian cancer, one of the ‘silent killers’ due to the difficulty of recognizing the symptoms in the most treatable stages of the disease. Learn More About His NFCR-Supported Work >>>

Ronald A. DePinho, MD, FAACR, will receive the AACR Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship.

A current NFCR-supported scientist through the AIM-HI Initiative for Translational Research was also awarded the Szent-Gyorgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research presented by NFCR in 2009 for groundbreaking discoveries in cancer biology and for his association of aging with genetic disorders. His NFCR-supported work targets STAT3, a critical signaling protein hyperactivated in over 50% of cancers, including breast, colorectal, liver, lung, and stomach. STAT3 plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis, immune suppression, and metastasis.

Learn More About His NFCR-Supported Work >>>

Alice T. Shaw, MD, PhD, will receive the AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research.

Dr. Shaw received NFCR support from 2014 to 2019, focusing on developing effective treatments for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a rare but aggressive form of lung cancer. Her findings in this early-stage work have led to a first-in-human clinical trial initiated in 2019, offering new hope for patients with resistant ALK+ lung cancer. Learn More About Her NFCR-Supported Work >>>

This impressive showing of NFCR-connected researchers being honored on one of the biggest stages in our industry demonstrates our commitment to funding the work of researchers who will lead us to a cure for ALL types of cancers.

“We have always taken pride in supporting leaders in our industry who will follow the science to cure this dreaded disease, and our long-term partnership with these researchers emphasizes our willingness to ensure progress continues to a cure. Donors can trust NFCR to identify worthy candidates for their charitable giving.” – Executive Director & Chief Development Officer Brian Wachtel.

NFCR is committed to supporting leading researchers who pave the way to cures for all types of cancer. If you would like to support projects like these, please make a gift today to help make cures possible for ALL types of cancer.

Donate Now >>>

NFCR-Supported Scientists Participating in AACR 2025

In addition to these awards, several NFCR-supported researchers will participate in different capacities, from speaking to mentoring. The NFCR-supported researchers who will be participating in AACR 2025 include:

Elana Fertig
Kornelia Polyak
Danny R. Welch
Valerie Weaver
Himisha Beltran

Visit our Scientists’ Pages to learn more about their NFCR-Supported Projects!

Dr. Ba on the Move

Finally, NFCR CEO Dr. Sujuan Ba will attend this year’s AACR Annual Meeting, attend panels, and engage in discussions with leaders across the cancer ecosystem. Follow along on LinkedIn and X to see updates as they happen from Dr. Ba’s learnings and takeaways!

Powering Tomorrow’s Cures Through Vision and Partnership

When donors support NFCR, they directly help translate cancer research into cures. Our long-standing relationships with pioneering researchers, institutions, and initiatives ensure that contributions directly fuel high-impact projects led by the most accomplished innovators.

Looking ahead, NFCR’s collaborative model and focus on integrating insights from diverse disciplines position us optimally to drive progress by accelerating the translation of bold science into treatments that directly benefit patients worldwide.

With over 50 years of advancing paradigm-shifting discoveries, NFCR remains boldly dedicated to supporting the field’s brightest minds, forging synergies, and transforming innovative research into cancer cures.