(Press-News.org) National Foundation for Cancer Research Congratulates Dr. Rakesh Jain on AACR Lifetime Achievement Award
Rockville, MD — The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) proudly congratulates Dr. Rakesh K. Jain—pioneering cancer researcher, educator, and longtime NFCR-supported scientist—on receiving the 2025 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research. The honor, presented by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), recognizes Dr. Jain’s profound impact on the understanding and treatment of cancer, particularly his revolutionary work on the tumor microenvironment.
“For more than 25 years, NFCR has had the honor of supporting Dr. Jain’s visionary work,” said Dr. Sujuan Ba, President and CEO of NFCR. “His innovative spirit, scientific brilliance, and dedication to addressing the most complex challenges in oncology have made a lasting impact on the field. This award is a richly deserved recognition of a lifetime spent advancing knowledge and saving lives.”
Dr. Jain serves as the Director of the Edwin L. Steele Laboratories for Tumor Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and is the Andrew Werk Cook Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School. His career has been defined by bold hypotheses and interdisciplinary research—most notably, his groundbreaking theory of vascular normalization, which challenged conventional wisdom and redefined how antiangiogenic therapies are used in combination with other treatments. His work has directly contributed to the FDA approval of several such drug combinations, greatly enhancing outcomes for patients with cancers including lung, liver, kidney, and endometrial.
In 2022, NFCR honored Dr. Jain with the prestigious Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential minds in modern cancer science. More recently, his research into reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to improve immunotherapy outcomes in glioblastoma has offered new hope in one of the deadliest cancer types.
Dr. Jain has also been a champion of education and mentorship throughout his career. His highly acclaimed Harvard Medical School course, “Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology,” now in its 40th year, continues to inspire and connect cancer researchers across disciplines.
“Dr. Jain’s success exemplifies the importance of long-term, high-impact investment in bold science,” said Dr. Ba. “His achievements are a testament to what’s possible when visionary research is given the time and support it needs to flourish. We are proud to have played a part in his journey and look forward to his continued leadership in transforming cancer treatment.”
The AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research will be presented to Dr. Jain at the AACR Annual Meeting in Chicago on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
For more on NFCR’s support of Dr. Jain and other groundbreaking researchers, visit www.nfcr.org.
About the National Foundation for Cancer Research
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded in 1973 by Nobel Laureate Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi and Attorney/Business Entrepreneur Franklin Salisbury, Sr. NFCR provides scientists in the lab with the critical seed funding they need to make game-changing discoveries in cancer detection, treatments, prevention, and ultimately, a cure for all cancers. NFCR has distinguished itself in the cancer research sector by emphasizing “high-risk, high-impact” long-term and transformative pioneering research fields often overlooked by other major funding sources. With the support of more than 5.3 million individual donors over the last 50+ years, NFCR has provided more than $415 million in funding to cancer research, prevention, and public education. NFCR-supported research has led to some of the most significant life-saving discoveries that benefit patients today. To learn more, visit NFCR.org.
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National Foundation for Cancer Research congratulates Dr. Rakesh Jain on AACR Lifetime Achievement Award
2025-04-24
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