AACR Grants and Awards

A Long-standing Collaboration Funds Decades of Research

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a long-standing partner of the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR). Between 1993 and 2023, GSK provided $1.465 million in research funding through the AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award. This generous award represents a joint effort to encourage and support tenure-eligible junior faculty whose research focuses on cancer etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention and may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature. 

Twenty-seven researchers have been awarded this grant since its introduction, and they have impacted cancer research by sharing their science. Collectively, award recipients have had 56 scientific publications with more than 19,000 citations of their work. They have been part of 45 presentations and multiple collaborations across the research community. Additionally, grantees have leveraged this award to secure funding from other sources totaling almost $10 million over their respective grant terms. In other words, for every $1 invested by GSK, grantees were able to secure another $5.62 in subsequent funding. 

The 2024 AACR Gertrude B. Elion Award was granted to Peter M.K. Westcott, PhD, a researcher at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, whose work focuses on early cancer progression, specifically in colorectal cancer (CRC). Early-onset cancer is increasing worldwide, with CRC now the first and second cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women under 50, respectively. The funding encourages bold and fast research, enabling acceleration with cutting-edge techniques to define early CRC progression at a microscopic level. The award-funded research is also helping to invigorate other programs at his lab.  “We have only just begun, but the discoveries we are already making are incredibly exciting,” said Dr. Westcott. “As we scale up and go big, I can’t wait to see where the next 10 months of this award takes us, and beyond!”

An additional benefit of this funding opportunity was networking with other AACR-funded early-career scientists at the inaugural AACR Grantee Summit held October 7 to 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. Networking and mentorship opportunities are an invaluable part of the AACR grants program. 

The AACR looks forward to hearing updates on Dr. Westcott’s progress and to continued collaboration with GSK in supporting future generations of cancer researchers.

Photo of Dr. Westcott courtesy of Vera LaMarche, AACR Grantee Summit 2024

Party with a Purpose Raises Funds for Cancer Research Progress

On October 27, 2024, the Friends of the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR) Foundation hosted the 21st Annual Party with a Purpose gala. In addition to raising funds for lifesaving cancer research, the event honored three individuals who are demonstrating dedication and progress in the fight against cancer. 

Former Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter received the Humanitarian Award for his cancer advocacy work and years of dedication to bettering the community. As mayor and as a member of the Philadelphia City Council, Nutter fostered initiatives focused on health, safety, and education within the city and surrounding areas.  

Diagnosed with a nonaggressive prostate tumor in 2016, he has been cancer-free since a prostatectomy surgery in 2020. His experience inspired him to share his story and shed light on disparities related to prostate cancer and Black men.

This year’s Scientific Achievement Award was presented to Andrew E. Chapman, DO, director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia and co-director of the Jefferson Senior Adult Oncology Center. Dr. Chapman’s work aligns not only with the AACR but with how funds raised from this year’s gala will be used to support aging and cancer survivorship. 

“The patient population over the age of 65 globally is rapidly increasing, and because cancer is associated with aging, the number of patients over the age of 65 afflicted by cancer is also rapidly increasing,” Dr. Chapman said, while noting that the number of survivors in this patient group is growing due to better treatments. 

Honoring the AACR mission-centric value of collaboration, Dr. Chapman chose Kuang-Yi Wen, PhD, an associate professor in the Division of Population Science at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, as the event’s Early-Career Investigator honoree. Dr. Wen’s work focuses on improving outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities, including older adults with cancer. This award will facilitate her work in optimizing treatment delivery while integrating approaches to reduce medication side effects common in older patients. 

The AACR is grateful to the sponsors and guests who made the Party with a Purpose gala a success. Together, half a million dollars was raised for the AACR to make research-driven progress against cancer and enhance survivorship for all patients.