The NFCR Global Summit is where the brightest minds from across the cancer research ecosystem unite to shape the future of the fight against cancer. This unique event is more than just a conference—it’s a dynamic think tank where groundbreaking ideas are sparked through organic, unscripted discussions. New partnerships form every year, collaborations are strengthened, and impactful action plans are created.
Program Highlights
Award Winners:
Dr. Michele Carbone, University of Hawaii Cancer Center
2026 Szent-Györgyi Prize Winner
Dr. Laura Esserman, University of California, San Francisco
2026 AIM-HI Beacon Award for Women Leaders in Oncology
Keynote By:
Dr. Bruce Beutler
2011 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Featured Presentations:
Doug Lowy, M.D., Deputy Director of NCI
Topic: Latest Clinical Results on Prevention of HPV-associated Cancers
Kapil Parakh, M.D., MPH, Ph.D., Senior Medical Lead, Google
Topic: Google and AI in Life Science
Ludmil Alexandrov, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Topic: Molecular Twins – Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
With a focus on cutting-edge topics like Precision Medicine, AI in cancer research, and advances in early detection, the 2025 summit promises to drive transformative breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Attendees don’t just listen—they lead, influencing the future of cancer research and potentially changing the course of the battle against cancer.
Summit Topics Overview:
Part I — Scientific Symposium Focus on AI Molecular Twins: Redefining Cancer Prediction, Early Detection, and Precision Care
Start Time: 8:30 am
AI, computational biology, and Molecular Twins technologies are transforming how we predict, detect, and treat cancer. Discover how data-driven precision medicine is bringing us closer to earlier interventions and better outcomes for every patient.
Part II — AIM-HI Leadership & Entrepreneurship Forum
Start Time: 2:00 pm
Breakthrough discoveries need bold leaders and smart capital to reach patients. This forum explores how entrepreneurship, strategic investment, and collaborative ecosystems are accelerating the next generation of cancer innovation.
Part III — Szent-Györgyi Prize Dinner & Award Ceremony
Start Time: 5:30 pm
The summit’s grand finale: a black-tie celebration honoring Dr. Michele Carbone, whose groundbreaking discoveries have reshaped our understanding of cancer. Join us in celebrating the courage, perseverance, and scientific vision that move medicine forward.
Testimonials About the NFCR Global Summit:
“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 KucherlapatiWatch:
Sponsorship Opportunities
Why Should You Attend This Event?
- This high-impact gathering is designed to spark breakthroughs and forge powerful partnerships.
- Collaborate, network, and contribute to the search for cures across all cancer types.
- Unite with diverse leaders and advocates who share a common mission: advancing cancer research and improving patient outcomes.
Honoree
HONORING: Dr. Michele Carbone
University of Hawaii Cancer Center
2026 Szent-Györgyi Prize Winner
Keynote
Dr. Bruce Beutler
2011 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine
Section
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).
Featured Programs
New Frontiers for Cancer Research
This Scientific Symposium brings together world-class cancer researchers and experts in oncology to share their challenges and findings. We aim to facilitate future collaborations and information sharing across institutions through keynote speeches and panel discussions on key research areas.
This forum helps our research community remain at the cutting edge of science, where breakthroughs become new drugs and technologies to best detect and treat cancer.
Scenes from our 2025 New Frontiers for Cancer Research Sessions
Leadership Forum
Forum topics include the direction of the healthcare industry, the traits that characterize business leaders, and how young entrepreneurs in STEM can best prepare themselves as future leaders.
Biotech investment veterans exchange opinions on hot topics in oncology and provide advice to start-up companies seeking institutional funding.
Scenes from our 2025 Leadership Forums
Szent-Györgyi Prize Award Ceremony
The Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress for Cancer Research is the principal scientific program of the National Foundation for Cancer Research. Named in honor of our Co-Founder and Noble Laureate, Albert Szent-Györgyi, this award recognizes scientists whose seminal discovery or pioneering body of work has had a lasting impact on understanding cancer and holds the promise of improving or saving the lives of cancer patients.
The Award Ceremony is celebrated with a cocktail reception and dinner (black-tie optional). The prize honorees will give a speech highlighting their award-winning accomplishments and their impacts on cancer patients.
Scenes from our 2025 Szent-Györgyi Prize Award Ceremony.
A Cutting-edge Cancer Research Conference Featuring Leading Cancer Scientists, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Business Leaders, & Advocates. Download the Full Program >>>
FULL EVENT DETAILS
Details are Subject to Change
Part I: Precision Medicine & AI in Oncology
8:30 AM – 8:40 AM:
Welcome Remarks:
Sujuan Ba, Ph.D. CEO of NFCR and Co-Founder of AIM-HI Accelerator Fund
Web Cavenee, Ph.D. Chair of the Scientific Advisor Board of NFCR and UCSD Distinguished Professor
8:40 AM – 9:10 AM:
Keynote Address:
Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., 17th Director of the National Institutes of Health; Senior Fellow in Healthcare Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM:
Session I: AI in Cancer Research – from Discovery to Societal Impact
Moderator: Kornelia Polyak, M.D., Ph.D., Dana Farber
Panelists:
Alexander Anderson, Ph.D., Moffitt Cancer Center
Jeffrey Golden, M.D., Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Bruce Johnson, M.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dan Theodorescu, M.D., Ph.D., University of Arizona
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM:
Coffee Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM:
Session II: AI in Cancer Diagnosis and Management
Moderator: Jennifer Grandis, M.D., UCSF
Panelists:
Maximilian Diehn, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University
Ruijiang Li, Ph.D., Stanford University
Paul Macklin, Ph.D., Indiana University
Kun-Hsing Yu, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard University
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM:
Session III: AI in Early Detection and Prevention
Moderator: Nathan Lear, AstraZeneca
Panelists:
Ludmil Alexandrov, Ph.D., UCSD Bioengineering
Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., Oregon Health & Science University
Elana Fertig, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine
Sam Hanash, M.D., Ph.D., MD Anderson
12:30 PM:
Break and Lunch
Part II: AIM-HI Oncology Leadership Forum
Master of Ceremonies: Patty Obermaier, MBA
1:00 PM:
1:05 PM – 1:20 PM:
Welcoming Remarks
Master of Ceremony: Patty Obermaier, MBA, Founder & CEO of Resigility
From Idea to IND: Legal Building Blocks for a Biotech Startup
Catherine Pan-Giordano, Partner & Corporate Group Head, New York Office, Dorsey & Whitney
1:20 PM – 1:30 PM:
AIM-HI Venture Competition Award Ceremony
Dr. Pamela Garzone, Chief Development Officer of Anixa Biosciences, & Dr. Dimitra Georganopoulou, General Partner of Qral Ventures, co-chairs of the Venture Competition Investment Committee, presenting the Award Certificates to the Winners
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM:
Emerging Oncology Companies Showcase:
Moderator: Ron DePinho, M.D., MD Anderson
Presentations:
Michelle Arkin, Ph.D., ResNovas Therapeutics
Kirsten Flowers, MBA, Chiara Biosciences
Rick Fultz, Acurion
Chih-Kao Hu, Ph.D., Window Therapeutics
2:30 PM – 2:50 PM:
Coffee Break
Part III: Early-Stage Oncology Companies and Investor’s Perspective
2:50 PM – 3:50 PM:
Investors’ Perspectives for Early-Stage Oncology Companies
Moderator: Matt Tremblay, Ph.D., Blackbird
Panelists:
Mey Boukenna, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Pags Group
Cynthia Cai, Ph.D., MBA, Venture Partner, Viva BioInnovator; President, Tharton Consulting
Dimitra Georganopoulou, Ph.D., General Partner of Qral Ventures
Jimmy Lu, MBA, J.D., Co-Founder & Managing Director, Eos Bioinnovation
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM:
Closing Remarks – Matt Tremblay, Ph.D.
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM:
Intermission Break
Part III: Dinner & Szent-Györgyi Prize Award Ceremony
Honoring Tony Hunter, Ph.D. (Black-tie Optional)
6:00 PM – 6:55PM:
7:00 PM – 7:30 PM:
7:30 PM – 8:55 PM:
Cocktail Reception
Emcee: Kristen Berset-Harris
Opening Remarks by Sujuan Ba, Ph.D., CEO of NFCR, Co-Founder of AIM-HI & Founder of AFCR, Co-Chair of 2025 Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee
Introduction of 2025 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
Award Presentation of the 2025 Szent-Györgyi Prize Winner: Tony Hunter, Ph.D. American Cancer Society Professor, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Panel Discussion Live from Press Club:
Anna D. Barker, Ph.D., Chief Strategy Officer, Ellison Medical Institute
Thomas Clark, Cancer Patient Caregiver & Cancer Research Supporter
Alison Dziarmaga, Ph.D., Vice President, US Franchise Head, Breast Cancer, AstraZeneca
Jennifer Grandis, M.D., Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco
Tony Hunter, Ph.D., American Cancer Society Professor, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
8:45 PM:
Closing Remarks – Kristen Berset-Harris
