AACR Grantee Summit: Igniting Innovation in Cancer Research

October 5-7, 2025
W Philadelphia
1439 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

DAY 1

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Reception with light hors d’oeuvres (Time and Location: TBD)

DAY 2

Monday, October 6, 2025

7:30 – 8:30 am

Check-In and Breakfast

8:30 – 8:45 am

Welcome and Opening Remarks (Location: TBD)

  • Margaret A. Foti, PhD, MD, (hc), American Association for Cancer Research
  • Sheila A. Stewart, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine
  • Manuel Hidalgo, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine

8:45 – 9:15 am

Keynote

  • Lillian L. Siu, MD, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

9:15 – 10:15 am

Grantee Presentations Session I
15 minutes each (10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A)

10:15 – 10:40 am

Break

10:40 – 11:40 am

Panel Session: Scientist, Industry Representative, and Patient Advocate

Views on Drug Development (Moderator: TBD)

  • Industry Representative: William Pao, MD, PhD, Revelio Therapeutics
  • Scientist: Keith Flaherty, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Advocate: TBD

11:40 am – 1:10 pm

Lunch and Learn Session

1:10 – 1:55 pm

Distinguished Speaker

  • Keith Flaherty, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

1:55 – 2:55 pm

Exploring Collaborative Opportunities and Entrepreneurship

  • Michael Caligiuri, MD, City of Hope
  • William Pao, MD, PhD, Revelio Therapeutics

2:55 – 3:20 pm

Break

3:20 – 4:20 pm

Grantee Presentations Session II
15 minutes each (10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A)

4:20 – 5:20 pm

AI Perspectives: Exploring AI’s Impact on Basic and Clinical Science

5:20 – 7:30 pm

Poster Session (Location: TBD)

7:30 – 9:30 pm

Light Reception with Remarks

  • John Zhang, PhD, American Association for Cancer Research
  • Mitch Stoller, American Association for Cancer Research
  • Guest Speaker: TBD

DAY 3

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

8:00 – 9:00 am

Breakfast (Location: TBD)

9:00 – 9:30 am

Keynote

  • Katerina A. Politi, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

9:30 – 10:30 am

Grantee Presentations Session III:
15 minutes each (10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A)

10:30 – 10:55 am

Break

10:55 – 11:55 am

Fireside Chat (Location: TBD)

11:55 am – 1:00 pm   

Lunch with Round Table Discussions (Location: TBD)

1:00 – 2:00 pm

Grantee Presentations Session IV:
15 minutes each (10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A)

2:00 – 2:25 pm

Break

2:25 – 3:25 pm

Poster Session Winners Presentations (Location: TBD)

3:25 – 3:30 pm

Announcement of Oral Presentation Winners

3:30 – 3:45 pm

Summary and Closing Remarks

About this Event:

The two-day summit serves as a dynamic gathering tailored for grantees, esteemed funding partners, distinguished special guests, and AACR staff. The gathering promises to showcase impactful research funded by AACR grants and foster collaborations, partnerships, and networking opportunities.

You may anticipate fully engaging in intellectual and social exchanges through a number of enriching activities such as scientific sessions, a poster session, roundtables, workshops, welcoming reception, and more!