AACR Annual Meeting 2025: Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine

Thousands of researchers, physician-scientists, patient advocates, and others in the cancer community will gather to discuss the latest breakthroughs, share ideas, and forge new collaborations to accelerate progress in cancer science and medicine.

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) will bring together tens of thousands of people in Chicago from April 25 to 30 for the AACR Annual Meeting 2025, the preeminent gathering for the cancer research community spanning the entire continuum of the field from fundamental research to translational and clinical research as well as patient advocacy. 

The theme of this year’s scientific program, “Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine: A Continuum of Innovation for Impact,” emphasizes the important relationship between research findings and clinical outcomes, and underscores the need to continue to bridge the gap between basic discoveries and clinical applications. Ultimately, this alignment is key to accelerating progress to advance the AACR’s mission of preventing and curing all cancers.

The comprehensive program was planned by the AACR Annual Meeting Committees led by Program Chairs Matthew G. Vander Heiden, MD, PhD, and AACR President-Elect Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR, in close collaboration with this year’s AACR President, Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), FAACR. 

“I’m extremely excited about this year’s agenda,” said Dr. Siu of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. “We have six plenary sessions ranging from fundamental science to translational research, to clinical research as well as predictive oncology.” 

Dr. Vander Heiden of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute said: “We really focused on how we can highlight observations that are happening in the clinic to inform new understanding of mechanisms driving cancer and then, using that information to inform new clinical trials, new ways to solve the biggest cancer problems that patients face.”

With more than 7,000 proffered abstracts, dozens of major symposia, and numerous topic tracks ranging from cell biology, bioinformatics, drug development, pediatric cancer, clinical trials, survivorship, and more, the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 will be the focal point of the cancer research world. The program includes:

  • six Plenary Sessions highlighting cutting-edge advances in cancer research, emphasizing transformative scientific discoveries and innovative technologies;
  • four Clinical Trial Plenary Sessions featuring novel research as well as the science behind the trials that offer significant clinical benefit to patients;
  • numerous Forums and Special Sessions on topics such as bringing science to the clinic, fostering effective science communication, and cell-based immunotherapies; and
  • the New Drugs on the Horizon series, offering first looks at novel small- and large-molecule agents entering or soon to enter clinical trials.

In addition, the meeting will feature sessions focused on cancer survivorship and regulatory science and policy. 

At this year’s meeting, 40 patient advocates will participate in the celebrated AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program® (SSP), now in its 27th year. SSP is designed to build enduring partnerships among the leaders of the scientific, cancer survivor, and patient advocacy communities worldwide. The program provides opportunities for the exchange of information on key aspects of cancer research, survivorship, advocacy, and public policy.

The meeting will accelerate impactful innovations in cancer research and treatment with diverse sessions and presentations of groundbreaking discoveries that will help to advance the AACR’s mission of preventing and curing all cancers.

One important message reflected throughout the meeting for scientists as well as the general public is the vital importance of investing in research, said Dr. Siu. “None of the medicines and breakthroughs that we have would have happened without that support. Research takes funding to happen.”