110 Years of Research Propelling Cancer Prevention and Cures
Dear Colleagues and Friends:
On May 7, 1907, eleven prominent scientists met at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., to develop an organization of investigators “to further the investigation and spread the knowledge of cancer.” This date marks the founding of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the first scientific society in the world to focus specifically on cancer.
One hundred and ten years after the birth of this vital organization, we are pleased to present the 2017 AACR Annual Report. The report highlights the AACR’s progress during the past year in support of our mission: to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, funding, and advocacy. It also commemorates the 110th anniversary of the AACR’s founding, with sidebars featuring historical data and members of the cancer community discussing the impact that the AACR has made on their lives.
In April 2017, the AACR returned to Washington—the city of its founding—to host the Annual Meeting. The theme of that meeting, “Research Propelling Cancer Prevention and Cures,” is also the theme of this report. The report summarizes a spectacular year of growth and innovation for the AACR, one that is worthy of our proud history. The Annual Meeting again set attendance records, as more than 21,800 scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, and advocates gathered to share the latest advances in cancer science. AACR Project GENIE laid the groundwork to nearly double its dataset—expanding its registry to more than 39,000 tumor sequences and associated clinical data—and completed its first two sponsored clinical studies, moving closer to delivering on the promise of using precision medicine to benefit cancer patients. And the AACR demonstrated its commitment to global scientific excellence by expanding its programs to the African and South American continents, hosting new conferences in Cape Town, South Africa, and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
This anniversary year was a time for the AACR to honor its storied past. But from those 11 founders in 1907 to our 40,000 members today, the AACR has always looked to the future. Every day, our basic and translational scientists strive to make the next discovery and our clinicians strive to develop and administer the next breakthrough treatment to help our survivors continue their journeys. Together, as we advance the frontiers of cancer science and medicine, we are leading discoveries, targeting cures, and saving lives.
Michael A. Caligiuri, MD
AACR President 2017-2018
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc)
AACR Chief Executive Officer
Nancy E. Davidson, MD, FAACR
AACR President 2016-2017
