The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) honored Waun Ki Hong, MD, with the 10th annual Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research at the 2016 AACR Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, April 16–20.
Waun Ki Hong, MD
The Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research was established in 2007 to recognize a true champion of cancer research whose leadership and extraordinary achievements in cancer research have had a major impact on the field. Such achievements may include scientific contributions to the acceleration of progress against cancer, significant accomplishments in the national or international awareness of the importance of cancer research, or other ways demonstrating a sustained extraordinary commitment to cancer research.
Dr. Hong is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology and the Samsung Distinguished University Chair in Cancer Medicine Emeritus at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His landmark, novel clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of larynx-sparing treatment; launched the field of cancer chemoprevention; and established the groundbreaking BATTLE (Biomarker-Integrated Approaches of Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer Elimination) approach, which has galvanized the field of precision medicine in cancer.
Other Professional Activities
Dr. Hong served as President of the AACR (2001–2002) and was elected to the inaugural class of Fellows of the AACR Academy in 2013. He was influential in expanding AACR’s international membership and played a major role in promoting multidisciplinary translational cancer research.
He was also one of the founding editors of Clinical Cancer Research. He is currently a senior editor of Cancer Discovery, editorial board member of Cancer Prevention Research, Co-Chair of the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)-Farrah Fawcett Foundation Joint Scientific Advisory Committee (JSAC), member of the SU2C-American Cancer Society JSAC, member of the SU2C-Cancer Research UK-Lustgarten Foundation JSAC, and has served on various other editorial boards and committees for the AACR. Dr. Hong has also provided mentorship in the Scientist↔Survivor Program; career sessions for the Women in Cancer Research membership group; and grant-writing workshops for associate members. ■
