Welcome to the second full day of the AACR Annual Meeting 2025! The day kicks off with the Opening Ceremony at 7:45 a.m. CT in Hall B1, McCormick Place North (Level 3), featuring remarks from AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc) and AACR President Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), FAACR, about AACR’s bold initiatives and vision for the coming year. Additional highlights include recognition of several awardees, including those receiving the:

• AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research;
• AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research;
• 2025 AACR Enduring Impact Award for Transformative Service to Cancer Science and Medicine;
• 2025 AACR Distinguished Public Service Award;
• AACR Team Science Award; and
• AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism.

The Opening Plenary, which expands on this year’s theme of “Unifying Cancer Science and Medicine: A Continuum of Innovation for Impact,” will take place at 9:30 a.m. CT, immediately after the Opening Ceremony, and features a spectacular lineup of eminent researchers on some of the most exciting topics in cancer research.

• Kevan M. Shokat, PhD, FAACR, will discuss advances in targeting KRAS.
• Paul S. Mischel, MD, FAACR, will explain how extrachromosomal DNA leads to tumor heterogeneity and plasticity.
• Johanna A. Joyce, PhD, FAACR, will examine how the tumor microenvironment affects tumor biology and how it may be disrupted for cancer treatment.
• Catherine J. Wu, MD, FAACR, will present on using cancer vaccines to overcome the continuously evolving tumor ecosystem.

The Opening Plenary will illustrate how we can target some of the most challenging areas in cancer, and all of the talks will revolve around the meeting theme of carrying scientific discoveries through to impactful medicines.

At 1 p.m. CT, leaders from the scientific, policy, and patient advocacy communities—including former National Institutes of Health Director Monica Bertagnolli, MD, and former National Cancer Institute Director W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD—will participate in the Cancer Research at a Crossroads: Sustaining Progress Against Cancer for the Benefit of Patients session. During this important discussion, panelists will examine the current political environment in Washington and its impact on cancer research, new discoveries, clinical trials, and the lives of patients who depend on continued progress. The session will take place in Room S100 A (Grand Ballroom A) of McCormick Place South (Level 1).

The highly anticipated clinical trials plenary program begins today, with the first two sessions of some potentially practice-changing clinical trial results scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. CT in the Arie Crown Theater of McCormick Lakeside Center (Level 2).

The three-part New Drugs on the Horizon series also launches with Part 1 at 1 p.m. CT and Part 2 at 3 p.m. CT, both in Room S406 (Vista Ballroom), McCormick Place South (Level 4). The series is held in association with the AACR Chemistry in Cancer Research Working Group (CICR) and will include the first disclosures of 12 small- and large-molecule agents that are currently being, or will soon be, actively investigated in clinical trials.

Don’t forget to stop by the Exhibit Hall, which opens today at noon CT. Be sure to visit AACR Central to learn about everything AACR has to offer and come explore the first poster session at 2 p.m. CT for lots of great science!

It would be impossible to list all the great scientific sessions today, but a few to highlight include:

• the Major Symposium on ecDNA Amplifications and Genomic Rearrangements: Drivers, Pathology, and Therapeutic Opportunities—a topic that was highly recommended by AACR members;
• the Advances in Population Sciences Session on Emerging Environmental and Dietary Risk Factors for Cancer: Ultra-processed Foods, Microplastics, and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances;
• the Advances in Organ Site Research Session on Aging and Environmental Cues Drive Lung Cancer Development and Spread; and
• the AACR-Bayard D. Clarkson Symposium: Cellular Plasticity and Heterogeneity in Cancer Progression and Resistance.

We also have the honor of hearing from several esteemed researchers as they deliver their award lectures this afternoon:

• Douglas Hanahan, PhD, FAACR, recipient of the Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research, will speak at 12 p.m. CT in Room S100 A (Grand Ballroom A) of McCormick Place South (Level 1).
• Rakesh K. Jain, PhD, FAACR, recipient of the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research, will speak at 3 p.m. CT in Room S102 of McCormick Place South (Level 1).
• Matthew L. Meyerson, MD, PhD, FAACR, recipient of the AACR James S. Ewing-Thelma B. Dunn Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pathology in Cancer Research, will speak at 3:15 p.m. CT in Room E450 B of McCormick Lakeside Center (Level 4).
• Daniel J. Drucker, MD, recipient of the AACR-Irving Weinstein Foundation Distinguished Lectureship, will speak at 4 p.m. CT in Room S105 of McCormick Place South (Level 1).
• Ronald A. DePinho, MD, FAACR, recipient of the AACR-Princess Takamatsu Memorial Lectureship, will speak at 4:30 p.m. CT in Room S102 of McCormick Place South (Level 1).
• Toni K. Choueiri, MD, recipient of the AACR-Wuan Ki Hong Award for Outstanding Achievement in Translational and Clinical Cancer Research, will speak at 4:30 p.m. CT in Room E350 of McCormick Lakeside Center (Level 3).

Today’s scientific programming will conclude with LoRusso’s Presidential Address at 5:30 p.m. CT in Room S406 (Vista Ballroom) of McCormick Place South (Level 4).

Don’t miss the opportunity to participate in today’s professional development events, including two Meet-and-Greet events hosted by the Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) and Women in Cancer Research (WICR) councils at 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. CT, respectively, in Hall A of McCormick Place South (Level 3). Of note, MICR is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! All Annual Meeting attendees are welcome to attend these events, and any AACR member who supports the mission of MICR and/or WICR is welcome to join these groups.

Networking Hubs will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. CT in Room E354 B (Lakeside Ballroom), McCormick Lakeside Center (Level 3), and offer a fun opportunity to socialize and network with colleagues, potential collaborators, and some of the most respected investigators in the cancer research community. The Networking Hubs will include stations about entrepreneurship and CancerCareers.org, AACR’s expansive career development resource center.

The evening also includes Town Halls hosted by the AACR Working Groups on Cancer Immunology, Pathology in Cancer Research, Pediatric Cancer, Population Sciences, and Radiation Science and Medicine. The Town Halls begin at 6:30 p.m. CT in Rooms S101-105 of McCormick Place South (Level 1).

Finally, come wrap up a great day of science and collaboration on the dance floor at the Annual Reception from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. CT! The event will feature live music by The CheckPoints, founded in 2007 by celebrated researchers Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD; Patrick Hwu, MD; James P. Allison, PhD, FAACR; and Rachel Humphrey, MD. The group has since expanded to include over a dozen musicians who are all scientists working in the immunology and cancer fields. Learn more about the band on Cancer Research Catalyst, the official blog of the AACR.

Enjoy yourselves tonight, and we’ll see you bright and early at tomorrow morning’s Plenary Session on Innovative Technologies Driving Advances in Cancer Research!

For the most up-to-date program information, visit the AACR Annual Meeting App or Online Itinerary Planner.