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Thank you to all of our participants and attendees! This year’s event has concluded. Save the Date for our 2025 NFCR Global Summit: Friday, October, 24, 2025.
A Cutting-edge Cancer Research Conference Featuring Leading Cancer Scientists, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Business Leaders, & Advocates. Download the Full Program >>>
Sponsorship Opportunities
Inquiries regarding sponsorship of our Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship event can be made to Executive Director, Brian Wachtel by e-mail at Bwachtel@nfcr.org or by phone at 1-800-321-CURE (2873). Learn more in our sponsorship packet.
Schedule Overview
8:45 AM: Part I: New Frontiers for Cancer Research (Sessions: New Approaches to Cancer Treatments, Early Detection & Cancer Prevention)
12:30 PM: Part II: Luncheon & AIM-HI Women’s Initiatives Award Ceremony
1:30 PM: Part III: Investors’ Perspectives for Early-Stage Companies
4:00 – 6:00 PM: Intermission
6:00 PM: Part IV: Reception, Dinner & Szent-Györgyi Prize Award Ceremony
Honorees
American Association for Cancer Research
2024 Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology Winner
Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph. D.
UCLA Health
2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research Winner
Keynote Speakers
Drew Pardoll, MD., Ph.D.
Director, Bloomberg- Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D.
2011 Pulitzer Prize Winner, Associate Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University
Testimonials
“The NFCR Global Summit is a different kind of meeting, which is what makes it so impactful. It's an immersive experience. It's where top global leaders, from all areas in cancer, all brainstorm together to develop next-level new approaches and form new partnerships. The spirit of this meeting is very uplifting.”
-Drew Pardoll, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Drew Pardoll, MD, PhD“I was very impressed by everything I heard. I found the presented research to be of really high quality and very innovative. This is very refreshing, and, in my opinion, sets AIM-HI and NFCR apart in a very good way.”
-Isidore Rigoutsos, Ph.D., Director, Center for Computational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
Isidore Rigoutsos, Ph.D.“Let me state right at the beginning that if I don’t attend another great conference for the next few years, I will not mind it because of what I was just given the opportunity to attend. Thank you very much for giving me such a prominent slot in the morning panel among some incredible women in the field. It was a humbling experience to be in the company of so many outstanding and accomplished. Congratulations on organizing a totally mind-blowing NFCR Global Summit and collecting a constellation of shining stars under one roof for several days! Besides the talks and panel discussions, the opportunity to network and exchange ideas with others was deeply appreciated. I also loved the way you mixed hard science, heartbreaking oncology stories, and glamorous dinners.”
-Azra Raza, M.D., Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine, Columbia University in New York
Azra Raza, M.D.“Absolutely wonderful, inspirational meeting…thanks so much to everyone involved and to NFCR for making it possible for us to get together. I am grateful to be included!”
- Monica Bertagnolli, M.D.
Monica Bertagnolli, M.D.“The Women’s Leadership Forum was spectacular and the chemistry between all of the people on the podium and the energy was wonderful. It was inspirational to all and especially young women who were there and might have been watching.”
-Dr. Raju Kucherlapati
Dr. Raju KucherlapatiFULL EVENT DETAILS
Part I: New Frontiers for Cancer Research
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM:
Welcome Remarks:
Dr. Sujuan Ba CEO of NFCR and Co-Founder of AIM-HI Accelerator Fund
Dr. Web Cavenee Chair of the Scientific Advisor Board of NFCR and UCSD Distinguished Professor
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM:
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM:
Keynote Presentation:
Drew Pardoll, MD., Ph.D. Director, Bloomberg- Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Session I: New Approaches to Cancer Treatments
Moderator: Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., Oregon Health & Science University
Panelists:
Aditya Bardia, M.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Jonathan Chernoff, M.D., Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center
Paul Mischel, M.D., Stanford University
Scott Lippman, M.D., University of California, San Diego
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM:
Coffee Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM:
Session II: Early Detection & Cancer Prevention
Moderator: Carlos Doti, M.D., AstraZeneca VP, Head of Oncology, US Medical Affairs
Panelists:
Ajay Goel, Ph.D., Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope
Samir Hanash, M.D., Ph.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center
Steven Lipkin, M.D., Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medicine
Sapna Syngal, M.D., MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM:
Break and Lunch
Part II: Luncheon Award Ceremony
12:30 PM – 12:55 PM:
AIM-HI Beacon Award Ceremony Honoring Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (hc)
Introduction of the 2024 Beacon Award Recipient by Sujuan Ba, Co-Chair of 2024 Beacon Award Selection Committee
Presenting the Beacon Award Medallion to the Recipient by the Award Selection Committee Members
2024 AIM-HI Beacon Award Winner Presentation
Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D. (hc), CEO, American Association for Cancer Research
12:55 PM – 1:20 PM:
AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition Award Ceremony
2024 AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition Winners Award Presentations
First Prize with Distinction
Nabanita Nawar, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & CEO, HDAX Therapeutics
Second Prize
Paraskevi Giannakakou, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & CSO, ARMA Bio
1:20 PM – 1:30 PM:
Coffee Break
Part III: Innovative Oncology Company Showcase and Investors’ Perspective
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM:
Welcome Remarks by Matt Tremblay, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of AIM-HI Accelerator Fund and CEO of Blackbird Laboratories and Blackbird BioVentures
Session I: Innovative Oncology Companies Showcase:
Jenny Lesser Herbach, MBA, CEO Adventris
Ronald Herbst, Ph.D., CMO Biolojic Design
Vipin Suri, Ph.D., CMO Clasp Therapeutics
Lily Zou, Ph.D., MBA, CEO Degron Therapeutics
Samir Khleif, M.D., CEO Georgiamune
3:00 PM– 3:10 PM:
Coffee Break
3:10 PM – 4:10 PM:
Session II: Investor’s Perspectives for Early-Stage Oncology Companies
Moderator: Matt Tremblay
Panelists:
Dave Greenwald, Ph.D. Vice President Business Development of Deerfield and CEO, Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals
Beverly Lu, Ph.D. Investor, Yosemite
Marie-Claire Peakman, Ph.D. Pfizer Ventures
Fei Shen, Ph.D. Managing Director, BI Venture Fund
4:10 PM – 6:00 PM:
Intermission Break
Part IV: Dinner Award Ceremony
Honoring Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D. (Black-tie Optional)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM:
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM:
7:30 PM – 8:55 PM:
Cocktail Reception
Emcee: Kristen Berset-Harris, Host of Great Day Washington, WUSA9
Opening Remarks by Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., CEO of NFCR, Co-Founder of AIM-HI & Founder of AFCR, Co-Chair of 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee
Introduction of Keynote Speaker by Azra Raza, M.D., Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine, Columbia University in New York
Keynote Speaker – Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., 2011 Pulitzer Prize Winner, Associate Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University
Introduction of 2023 Szent-Györgyi Prize Winner: Isaac Witz, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at Tel Aviv University
Presentation of the 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize Winner Dennis J. Slamon, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Panel Discussion Live from Press Club:
Panelists: Dennis Slamon, Margaret Foti, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Funmi Olopade, Mohit Manrao, and Shereen and Isabella Pavlides (cancer research advocates)
8:55 PM:
Closing Remarks by Dr. Alfred Slanetz, Chairman of NFCR
