The members of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) elected a new 2024 to 2025 President and President-Elect at the AACR’s Annual Business Meeting of Members during the AACR Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego.
New President
The AACR welcomed Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), FAACR, as President of the AACR. Dr. LoRusso currently serves as Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Chief of Experimental Therapeutics, Associate Cancer Center Director for Experimental Therapeutics, and Leader of the Phase I Disease Aligned Research Team at the Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital; and serves with distinction as Chair of the Exploratory IND/Biomarker-Driven Clinical Trials Task Force, Co-Chair of the Precision Combination Therapy Task Force, a member of the Global Affairs Committee, a member of the Annual Meeting Clinical Trials Committee, and an ex officio member of the Finance and Audit Committee at the AACR.
An internationally recognized expert in drug development and early-phase clinical investigation of novel therapies, Dr. LoRusso’s innovative leadership has helped shape the field of translational and clinical cancer research and has contributed to crucial therapeutic breakthroughs in cancer care. Previously, she served in numerous leadership roles at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University, including Director of the Phase I Clinical Trials Program and of the Eisenberg Center for Translational Therapeutics. She was Co-Leader of the Stand Up To Cancer–Melanoma Research Alliance Melanoma Dream Team and was elected Fellow of ASCO in 2022.
Dr. LoRusso joined the AACR in 1988 and was elected Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2023. In her 36 years with the organization, she served as a member of the Scientific Program Committee at the AACR–National Cancer Institute–European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics from 2003 to 2005; a faculty member in 2004, 2005, and from 2009 to 2012 and Co-Director from 2016 to 2018 of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop; a member of the AACR–Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship Committee in 2006; a member of the Scientific Review Committee at the Second Annual International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development in 2007; a member of the AACR–Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research Committee from 2007 to 2009; a member of the AACR–Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award Committee from 2007 to 2009; a member of the AACR Clinical Research and Experimental Therapeutics Awards Selection Committee from 2007 to 2009 and 2012 to 2014; a faculty member of the AACR Australia & Asia Pacific Clinical Oncology Research Development Educational Workshop in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018; a member of the AACR Annual Meeting Exhibits Committee from 2012 to 2014; Co-Chair of the AACR Annual Meeting Clinical Trials Committee from 2012 to 2015; a member from 2012 to 2015 and Chair from 2016 to 2017 of the AACR Women in Cancer Research Council; a member of the AACR Continuing Medical Education Committee from 2012 to 2014 and 2017 to 2020; Co-Chair from 2013 to 2014 and 2016 to 2017 and Vice Chair from 2018 to 2019 of the AACR Annual Meeting Program Committee; a member of the AACR Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018; a member of the AACR Project GENIE External Advisory Board since its inception in 2015; Chair of the AACR Team Science Award Committee from 2016 to 2017; a member of the AACR Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee from 2016 to 2019; a member of the AACR Cancer Progress Report Steering Committee in 2017; a member of the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism Judging Panel from 2017 to 2020; a member from 2018 to 2019 and Chair from 2019 to 2020 of the AACR Satellite Educational Symposia Committee; a member of the AACR Nominating Committee from 2019 to 2021; a member of the AACR Education and Training Committee from 2019 to 2022; a member from 2021 to 2022 and Chair from 2022 to 2023 of the AACR–Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research Award Committee; and Chair of the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report Steering Committee in 2022. Dr. LoRusso also served on the editorial boards of the AACR journals Clinical Cancer Research from 2011 to 2014 and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics from 2012 to 2015.
Throughout her career, Dr. LoRusso has received numerous honors and awards. Among them were the:
- Michigan Society for Medical Research Bennett J. Cohen Educational Leadership Award for Medical Research (2004)
- Top Doctors honoree (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018)
- Marygrove College Distinguished Alumni Award (2008)
- Crain’s Detroit Business Heroes of Healthcare Award (2008)
- National Cancer Institute Michaele Christian Oncology Development Award (2008)
- American College of Osteopathic Internists Researcher of the Year Award (2010)
- Karmanos Cancer Institute Faculty Award for Clinical Excellence (2013)
- Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award (2014)
- ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Honorary Award (2014)
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center the one hundred honoree (2014)
- National Organization of Italian-American Women “Three Wise Women” honoree (2017)
- World Affairs Council of Connecticut Luminary Award (2018)
- AACR–Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research (2022).
“I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to serve as AACR President for the coming year. This is an exciting time for cancer research and cancer care delivery, but we are facing challenges as well. Clinical research must keep pace with the unparalleled scientific discoveries that we are achieving if we are to continue to reduce suffering and mortality from cancer. Moreover, we must ensure that all patients have access to clinical trials. If we do this, we will change the face of cancer,” underscored Dr. LoRusso. “I look forward working with my fellow AACR members to promote the AACR’s mission and advocate for the support of cancer research—all with an eye to improving the care we provide for patients with cancer,” she concluded.
New President-Elect
The AACR also welcomed Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR, as President-Elect of the AACR from 2024 to 2025. She currently serves as Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto; as well as Director of the Phase I Clinical Trials Program, Co-Director of the Robert and Maggie Bras and Family Drug Development Program, Clinical Lead for the Tumor Immunotherapy Program, the BMO Chair in Precision Cancer Genomics, and a senior medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at the University Health Network. Dr. Siu will assume the Presidency in April 2025 at the AACR Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Immediate Past President
The AACR noted that Philip D. Greenberg, MD, FAACR, will serve as Immediate Past President of the AACR from 2024 to 2025. Dr. Greenberg currently serves as the Rona Jaffe Foundation Endowed Chair, Professor, and Head of the Program in Immunology in the Division of Clinical Research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
