The members of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) have elected Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), as the President-Elect for the 2023 to 2024 term. Dr. LoRusso will become President-Elect on Monday, April 17, during the Annual Business Meeting of Members at the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando, Florida. She will assume the Presidency in April 2024 at the AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego, California.
Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc)
Experience and Goals as President-Elect
Dr. LoRusso currently serves as Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology at the Yale School of Medicine; and Chief of Experimental Therapeutics, Associate Cancer Center Director of Experimental Therapeutics, and Leader of the Phase I Disease Aligned Research Team at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital.
An internationally recognized expert in drug development and the early-phase clinical investigation of novel therapies, her innovative and tireless leadership has helped shape the field of translational and clinical cancer research and has greatly contributed to crucial therapeutic breakthroughs for patients with cancer.
As the AACR’s next President-Elect, LoRusso will work with the Officers and Directors of the AACR Board—and the more than 54,000 AACR members representing 130 countries—to further the association’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy, advocacy, and funding for cancer research.
“I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to promote the AACR’s mission and advocate for the support of cancer research on behalf of all AACR members,” emphasized Dr. LoRusso. “We are facing both exciting and challenging times in cancer research and cancer care delivery. It is critical for clinical research to keep pace with the unparalleled scientific discoveries that we are achieving if we are to reduce the suffering and mortality from cancer. Moreover, we must ensure that all patients have access to clinical trials. By bringing scientific discoveries into clinical trials and expanding the reach of trials to all populations, we will change the face of cancer. As AACR President, I look forward to championing the work of scientists, clinical trialists, clinicians, and patient advocates—all [of whom hope to] improve the care we provide patients with cancer,” she added.
“Dr. LoRusso is an extraordinary physician-scientist whose pioneering work has spanned basic, translational, and clinical cancer research and has led to paradigm shifts in the treatment of cancer,” highlighted Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), Chief Executive Officer of the AACR. “Additionally, she is a dedicated and supportive colleague and mentor whose years of service to the AACR have helped our organization grow in countless ways. The AACR and its global membership will benefit greatly from Dr. LoRusso’s vision, scientific expertise, and commitment to the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers as she assumes this new leadership position. We heartily congratulate her on her election as the AACR’s 2023 [to] 2024 President-Elect and 2024 [to] 2025 President,” she commended.
AACR Achievements and Honors
In 1988, Dr. LoRusso joined the AACR and subsequently served on the Board of Directors from 2015 to 2018. In 2022, she received the AACR–Joseph H. Burchenal Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. LoRusso currently serves with distinction as Chair of the AACR Exploratory Investigational New Drug/Biomarker-Driven Clinical Trials Task Force, Chair of the AACR–Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research Award Committee, and Co-Chair of the AACR Precision Combination Therapy Task Force—and has been a member of the AACR Project GENIE (Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange) External Advisory Board since its inception in 2015.
Dr. LoRusso’s extensive involvement with the AACR has also included serving as a member of the Scientific Program Committee of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics from 2003 to 2005; a faculty member of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop in 2004, 2005, and from 2009 to 2012, and Co-Director from 2016 to 2018; a member of the AACR–Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Lectureship Committee in 2006; a member of the Scientific Review Committee of 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 Clinical Research and Experimental Therapeutics Awards Selection Committee from 2007 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2014; a faculty member of the Australia & Asia Pacific Clinical Oncology Research Development Educational Workshop in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018; a member of the Annual Meeting Exhibits Committee from 2012 to 2014; a member of the Continuing Medical Education Committee from 2012 to 2014 and from 2017 to 2020; Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting Clinical Trials Committee from 2012 to 2015; a member of the Women in Cancer Research Council from 2012 to 2015 and Chair from 2016 to 2017; Co-Chair of the Annual Meeting Program Committee from 2013 to 2014 and from 2016 to 2017, and Vice Chair from 2018 to 2019; Chair of the Team Science Award Committee from 2016 to 2017; a member of the 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 June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism Judging Panel from 2017 to 2020; a member of the Satellite Educational Symposia Committee from 2018 to 2019 and Chair from 2019 to 2020; a member of the Nominating Committee from 2019 to 2021; a member of the Education and Training Committee from 2019 to 2022; and a member of the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report Steering Committee in 2022.
Further, Dr. LoRusso served on the editorial boards of the AACR journals Clinical Cancer Research from 2011 to 2014 and Molecular Cancer Therapeutics from 2012 to 2015. She was also Co-Leader of the Stand Up To Cancer–Melanoma Research Alliance Melanoma Dream Team.
Throughout her career, Dr. LoRusso has received numerous honors and awards, including:
- 2004: Michigan Society for Medical Research Bennett J. Cohen Educational Leadership Award for Medical Research
- 2007, 2009, 2011 to 2013, and 2018: Top Doctors honoree
- 2008: Marygrove College Distinguished Alumni Award
- 2008: Crain’s Detroit Business Heroes of Healthcare Award
- 2008: National Cancer Institute Michaele Christian Oncology Development Award
- 2010: American College of Osteopathic Internists Researcher of the Year Award
- 2013: Karmanos Cancer Institute Faculty Award for Clinical Excellence
- 2014: Michigan State University Distinguished Alumni Award
- 2014: European Society for Medical Oncology Targeted Anticancer Therapies Honorary Award
- 2014: Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center “the one hundred” honoree
- 2017: National Organization of Italian-American Women “Three Wise Women” honoree
- 2018: World Affairs Council of Connecticut Luminary Award.
Dr. LoRusso also received an honorary PhD from Michigan State University in 2015 and was elected as a fellow of ASCO in 2022.
Dr. LoRusso received her BS from Marygrove College and her DO from Michigan State University. Prior to her appointment at the Yale School of Medicine, she served in numerous leadership roles at Wayne State University’s Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, including as Director of the Phase I Clinical Trials Program and Director of the Eisenberg Center for Translational Therapeutics.
