Science and Education

AACR CANCER CENTERS ALLIANCE

In September, during a policy briefing to release the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023, the AACR announced the launch of a major initiative that has the potential to accelerate the important work of the nation’s cancer centers. Under the leadership of AACR Past President (2021–2022) David A. Tuveson, MD, PhD, FAACR, the AACR Cancer Centers Alliance was formed to bring together the cancer centers with the goal of markedly expanding their scope and impact for the benefit of all patients with cancer. Ninety-four cancer centers signed on to become members of this new Alliance.

While its goals are broad-based and comprehensive, the Alliance—which was the result of a series of meetings of cancer center directors convened by the AACR beginning in 2022—will initially focus on four main areas of collaboration:

• Basic and translational research (Subgroup chair: John L. Cleveland, PhD)
• Clinical research, clinical trials, and regulatory science and policy (Subgroup co-chairs: Carlos L. Arteaga, MD, FAACR, and Louis M. Weiner, MD)
• Education, training, professional advancement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (Subgroup chair: Ruben A. Mesa, MD)
• Speaking with a unified voice to address priorities in cancer science, clinical trials, and patient care (Subgroup chair: Cheryl L. Willman, MD)

With its ability to identify and accelerate scientific priorities that will lead to lifesaving discoveries, the AACR is uniquely positioned to support the cancer centers’ goal to marshal their resources and collaborate directly, effectively, and synergistically to advance the nation’s cancer mission.

LEADING PROGRESS IN PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH

In July, with the support of its Pediatric Cancer Working Group, the AACR hosted two events focused on addressing the most critical challenges in pediatric cancer research:

• AACR Childhood Cancer Predisposition and Surveillance International Workshop. Garrett M. Brodeur, MD, chaired a workshop on “Optimizing Pediatric Surveillance and Care through Precision Genetics.” Experts from childhood cancer predisposition centers around the world were convened to review the state of pediatric predisposition science and identify ways in which the AACR can accelerate progress in the field, and to update previously published recommendations for surveillance and prevention for the most common pediatric cancer predisposition syndromes. Participants will document their progress by publishing position papers in the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research that comprehensively describe common, less common, and rare childhood diseases and disorders that are associated with cancer predisposition in the first two decades of life.

AACR STUDENT MEMBERSHIP: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF CANCER RESEARCH

More than 2,700 AACR members—five per cent of the total AACR membership—are high school students or undergraduates with an interest in cancer research. By tailoring programs for and offering professional development opportunities to this critical cohort, the AACR fosters the next generation of leaders in the cancer research community.

• AACR Undergraduate Scholar Awards. Since 1997, the AACR has offered travel awards to support attendance at the AACR Annual Meeting for meritorious third-year undergraduate students majoring in science, to inspire these emerging scientists to pursue careers in cancer research. In April, the AACR brought 23 Undergraduate Scholar Award recipients to the Annual Meeting in Orlando to explore the state of the art in cancer research.
• Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition. More than 200 undergraduate students attended the AACR Annual Meeting to participate in the nineteenth edition of this annual event. Many of the students presented their work in a poster session and received feedback on their research from AACR leaders. Presenters of the most highly rated posters received The Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research, which are funded by AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc(, to encourage college students to pursue careers in cancer research.

• Undergraduate Student Caucus and Poster Competition. More than 200 undergraduate students attended the AACR Annual Meeting to participate in the nineteenth edition of this annual event. Many of the students presented their work in a poster session and received feedback on their research from AACR leaders. Presenters of the most highly rated posters received The Margaret Foti Foundation Undergraduate Prizes for Cancer Research, which are funded by AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc(, to encourage college students to pursue careers in cancer research.

• Special Program for High School Students. The Science Education and Career Advancement Committee hosted the AACR Special Program for High School Students at the AACR Annual Meeting 2023 in Orlando. Nearly 200 high school students participated in interactive lectures on cancer development and made connections with scientist mentors who encouraged them to focus on the cancer problem in their future studies.

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION

The AACR offered CME credit at 17 different meetings in 2023, including 14 conferences, one workshop, one joint providership meeting, and the AACR Annual Meeting 2023. AACR journals offered credit to investigators for reviewing manuscripts, and the AACR offered ten additional on-demand CME activities as part of the Project Livin’ Label series in partnership with the FDA. A total of 3,112 researchers and clinicians claimed CME credit from the AACR in 2023, and an additional 229 physicians obtained Medical Knowledge Maintenance of Certification (MOC) points through the American Board of Internal Medicine’s MOC program.