The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is proud to commemorate its 40th anniversary by presenting a series of special Anniversary Awards recognizing exceptional individuals and institutions that have significantly shaped the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Since its founding in 1984, SITC has been at the forefront of advancing cancer immunotherapy through education, research, and collaboration. The 40th Anniversary Awards celebrate the pioneers, visionaries, and change makers whose contributions have propelled the field forward and helped bring lifesaving treatments to patients around the world.
“These Anniversary Awards are a tribute to the relentless dedication, bold thinking and transformative impact of the individuals and organizations who have driven the progress of cancer immunotherapy over the past four decades,” said SITC Executive Director Mary Dean, JD, CAE. “As SITC marks this historic milestone, we honor not only our past, but also the bright future ahead for immunotherapy science and care.”
The 40th Anniversary Award recipients are:
Innovation Award Peter Marks, MD, PhD
Martin “Mac” Cheever Distinguished Service Awards Olivera Finn, PhD, FAIO – University of Pittsburgh John M. Kirkwood, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Team Science Award University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Mark Albertini, MD Christian M. Capitini, MD Douglas G. McNeel, MD, PhD Zachary Morris, MD, PhD Rebecca Richards, MD, PhD Quaovi Sodji, MD, PhD Paul M. Sondel, MD, PhD
Collaboration Awards Andres Salazar, MD – Oncovir, Inc.
International Neoadjuvant Melanoma Consortium (INMC) Lead: Elizabeth Burton, PhD, MBA – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Rodabe Amaria, MD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Paolo Ascierto, MD – Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale Christian U. Blank, MD – The Netherlands Cancer Institute Georgina V. Long, AO – The Melanoma Institute of Australia Alexander M. Menzies, FRACP, PhD – The Melanoma Institute of Australia Richard Scolyer, AO – The Melanoma Institute of Australia Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Michael Tetzlaff, MD, PhD – University of California San Francisco Alex van Akkooi, MD, PhD, FRACS – The Melanoma Institute of Australia Jennifer Wargo, MD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The STAR Collaborative for Pediatric Brain Tumors Lead: Stephen Gottschalk, MD – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Giedre Krenciute, PhD – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Sheila K. Singh, MD, PhD – McMaster University Sabine Heitzeneder, MD – Stanford University Crystal Mackall, MD, FAIO – Stanford University
Champion of SITC Awards Paolo Antonio Ascierto, MD – Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale Michael B. Atkins, MD, FAIO – Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Tullia C. Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD – Merck Research Labs Christian M. Capitini, MD – University of Wisconsin-Madison Alessandra Cesano, MD PhD – Summit Tx Daniel S. Chen, MD, PhD – Synthetic Design Lab, Inc. Sandra Demaria, MD – Weill Cornell Medicine Mary L. 'Nora' Disis, MD, FACP – University of Washington Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD – Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Robert L. Ferris, MD PhD – University of North Carolina Henry Diego Patty Flores, PhD – CMNYR El ALTO ABEN Bernard A. Fox, PhD – Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute Jerome Galon, PhD – INSERM Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, FAIO – University of Chicago Jennifer L. Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital James L. Gulley, MD, PhD, FACP – National Cancer Institute Kristen M. Hege, MD – Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune F. Stephen Hodi, MD – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Patrick Hwu, MD – Moffitt Cancer Center Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS – Ankyra Therapeutics/Massachusetts General Hospital Samir N. Khleif, MD – Georgiamune, LLC John M. Kirkwood, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Michael T. Lotze, MD, FACS – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Jason J. Luke, MD, FACP, FASCO – Strand TherapeuticsCristinaMaccalli, PhD – Sidra Medicine Kim A. Margolin, MD – St. John's Cancer Institute Francesco Marincola, MD – Sonata Therapeutics Marcela V. Maus, MD, PhD – Massachusetts General Hospital Douglas G. McNeel, MD, PhD – University of Wisconsin-Madison Chrystal M. Paulos, PhD – Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University William L. Redmond, PhD – Earle A. Chiles Research Institute Pedro J. Romero, MD – Novigenix Kimberly A. Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck & Co. Craig L. Slingluff Jr., MD – University of Virginia School of Medicine Paul M. Sondel, MD, PhD – University of Wisconsin-Madison Ryan J. Sullivan, MD – Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Mario Sznol, MD – Yale University Department of Medical Oncology: Yale Cancer Center Walter J. Urba, MD, PhD – Earle A. Chiles Research Institute Jon M. Wigginton, MD – Bright Peak Therapeutics Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD, FAIO – Weill Cornell Medicine
The honorees will be recognized during the Society's 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting, taking place Nov. 5-9, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. For more information about the SITC 40th Anniversary Awards, visit sitcancer.org/sitc2025.
About SITC Established in 1984, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is a nonprofit organization of medical professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development, science and application of cancer immunotherapy and tumor immunology. SITC is comprised of influential basic and translational scientists, practitioners, health care professionals, government leaders and industry professionals around the globe. Through educational initiatives that foster scientific exchange and collaboration among leaders in the field, SITC aims to one day make the word “cure” a reality for cancer patients everywhere. Learn more about SITC, our educational offerings and other resources atsitcancer.org and follow us onX,LinkedIn,Facebook, InstagramandYouTube.
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