United to Meet New Challenges

More than 22,100 researchers, physician-scientists, patient advocates, and others from 85 countries and territories who represented the full cancer continuum gathered in Chicago for the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

At the halfway point of the year, we pause to look back on all that has happened in 2025 and look forward to all that is left to accomplish. This year has brought significant challenges for the cancer research community. However, the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR) proudly stands behind the medical research community and our members to ensure that progress continues at a rapid pace in preventing and treating cancer. The role of our generous supporters, advocates, and partners cannot be overstated. You make progress possible.

More than 22,100 researchers, physician-scientists, patient advocates, and others from 85 countries and territories who represented the full cancer continuum gathered in Chicago for the AACR Annual Meeting 2025. We discussed the latest in cutting-edge cancer science and medicine, survivorship, and advocacy, but we also celebrated the impact of members, like esteemed researcher and educator Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, on cancer research, generations of researchers, and the lives of patients and their families. Supported by the generosity of our partners at the Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers, meeting attendees had the opportunity to learn life- and career-enhancing skills through an interactive career development workshop. Investigators at all stages of their careers received grants to help them continue advancing lifesaving cancer research. And in a clear demonstration of what we can do together, nearly 900 meeting attendees and runners from the local community participated in the AACR Runners for Research 5K Run/Walk, raising more than $275,000 in support of cancer research.

This issue of Leading Discoveries describes collaborations with some of our nonprofit partners. For instance, the patient advocacy group ALK Positive and the AACR have announced a new initiative to advance lung cancer research. Additionally, Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance, the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, and Nueva Vida launched the Black TNBC Sanctuary resource hub with scientific review provided by the AACR and generous funding from Gilead Sciences. Also featured in this issue is a Do-It-Yourself fundraiser, Kristen O’Neill, who is reaching new heights for cancer research. Through her “Crown of Cureope” challenge, she is scaling the highest peaks in Europe and raising money for cancer research with every summit reached.

At a time when cancer mortality has decreased significantly but cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide—and when the scientific community is making enormous strides in cancer research but reduced funding threatens to curtail progress—we are grateful for the support of the AACR community. Together, we can continue to make advances against cancer, no matter the challenges.