Rockville, MD. (October 6, 2025) – The 2025 NFCR Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship will convene an extraordinary roster of world-renowned scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and patient advocates on October 24, 2025, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
This is a signature annual gathering where the leaders driving the future of oncology come together under one roof to challenge the status quo, reveal bold ideas, share insights, and spark collaborations that shape what’s next in cancer research and patient care.
World Renowned Leaders, Visionary Topics, Global Impact
This year’s keynote will be delivered by Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., the newly elected President of the National Academy of Sciences and distinguished leader who previously served as Director of the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
Other distinguished speakers and participants are Webster K. Cavenee, Ph.D. (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research/UC San Diego), a globally acclaimed leader in cancer genetics and tumor biology; Lisa Coussens, Ph.D. (OHSU Knight Cancer Institute), internationally recognized for tumor immunology and former President of American Association for Cancer Research; Ronald DePinho, M.D. (MD Anderson Cancer Center), a leading voice in cancer biology and drug development; Tony Hunter, Ph.D. (Salk Institute), recipient of the 2025 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research. Also in attendance will be Raju Kucherlapati, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School), a world-renowned geneticist whose work has shaped modern precision medicine; Nathan Lear (AstraZeneca), Head of Advanced Medical Analytics and a leader in applying AI and machine learning to transform clinical trials and patient care; Kornelia Polyak, M.D., Ph.D. (Dana-Farber), breast cancer expert; and Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D. (UCLA Health), a pioneer in breast cancer precision medicine and recipient of the 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research.
2025 NFCR Global Summit Programming Highlights
- Precision Medicine & AI in Oncology
Cancer’s next frontier will be shaped by artificial intelligence and precision medicine. Sessions will highlight breakthroughs in AI-driven cancer discovery, adaptive therapy, predictive medicine, and early detection, with speakers from AstraZeneca, Cedars-Sinai, Dana-Farber, Harvard, MD Anderson, OHSU, Stanford, UC San Diego, and the University of Maryland. - AIM-HI Oncology Leadership & Entrepreneurship Forum
The future of cancer breakthroughs depends on translating discoveries into therapies. This forum, led by Patty Obermaier (Former VP of Microsoft/Health Tech), will feature emerging oncology companies (ResNovas Therapeutics, Chiara Biosciences, Acurion, and Window Therapeutics) alongside leading investors from Eos BioInnovation, PagsGroup, and others, offering attendees rare access to both the science and business of cancer innovation. - Szent-Györgyi Prize & Evening Ceremony
The capstone of the NFCR Global Summit is the Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research, awarded this year to Tony Hunter, Ph.D. for his discovery of tyrosine phosphorylation — a breakthrough that launched the era of targeted cancer therapies and paved the way for more than 50 FDA-approved drugs. The evening will be emceed by Kristen Berset-Harris, cancer survivor and former WUSA-9 host, and will include a “Live from the Press Club” panel with iconic cancer research leaders.
More than a meeting. The NFCR Global Summit is an opportunity to be part of “what’s next” in the fight against cancer.
The NFCR Global Summit is designed to catalyze new collaborations to develop, news to be made, and action plans to be developed, organically generated and mutually stimulated real-time provocative and thoughtful discussions. This event convenes the leading voices shaping cancer research, provides direct access to innovators and investors, and takes place at the National Press Club — a historic venue known as the stage where major developments are announced to the world.
A testimonial from 2024 keynote speaker Dr. Drew Pardoll (Johns Hopkins) captures the essence of the NFCR Global Summit:
“This meeting is very different, which is what makes it so much fun. It’s a mix of outstanding basic research scientists, translational investigators, clinical investigators, and people from the private sector. Bringing these perspectives together fosters brainstorming and real collaboration — while celebrating successes and acknowledging the work still ahead.”
Space is limited (by design). Reserve your tickets now for the 2025 Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. All net proceeds support NFCR’s cutting-edge cancer research programs.
Learn more and register at: https://www.nfcr.org/events/global-summit-2025/
For sponsorship inquiries, contact Sponsorship@nfcr.org, or call 1-800-321-CURE (2873). Ask for Brian Wachtel, Executive Director of NFCR.
Press and media are encouraged to attend. Interested outlets should contact Jonathan Larsen, NFCR Chief Marketing Officer, at jlarsen@nfcr.org
About the National Foundation for Cancer Research
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded in 1973 by Nobel Laureate Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi and attorney/business entrepreneur Franklin Salisbury, Sr. NFCR provides scientists in the lab with the critical seed funding they need to make game-changing discoveries in cancer detection, treatments, prevention, and ultimately, a cure for all cancers. NFCR has distinguished itself in the cancer research sector by emphasizing “high-risk, high-impact” long-term and transformative pioneering research fields often overlooked by other major funding sources. With the support of more than 5.7 million individual donors over the last 52 years, NFCR has provided more than $420 million in funding to cancer research, prevention, and public education. NFCR-supported research has led to some of the most significant life-saving discoveries that benefit patients today.
To learn more about the National Foundation for Cancer Research, visit www.NFCR.org
About the AIM-HI Accelerator Fund
The AIM-HI Accelerator Fund (AIM-HI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2019 with an initial capacity-building grant from the National Foundation for Cancer Research to accelerate the translation of cancer drug discoveries by investing in seed-stage oncology companies. AIM-HI Accelerator Fund bridges the gap between innovative cancer discoveries and high-impact cancer treatments and technologies, and facilitates an ecosystem for early-stage companies and entrepreneurs.
To learn more about the AIM-HI Accelerator Fund, visit www.AIM-HIAccelerator.org
About the Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research
The Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research was established in 2006 by the National Foundation for Cancer Research in honor of its co-founder, Albert Szent-Györgyi, M.D., Ph.D., recipient of the 1937 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine. The award recognizes outstanding scientists whose seminal discovery or pioneering body of work has contributed to cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment and has had a lasting impact on understanding cancer, holding the promise of improving or saving the lives of cancer patients.
The 2025 Prize is awarded to Tony Hunter, Ph.D., of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, for his discovery of tyrosine phosphorylation — a groundbreaking finding that transformed cancer biology and led directly to the development of life-saving targeted therapies. You can find the prior winners here: https://www.nfcr.org/szent-gyorgyi-prize-past-winners/
