SITC Annual Awards and Academy of Immuno-Oncology Descriptions and Nomination Criteria

The nomination period for Annual Awards closed on May 1, 2024. Recipients will be announced in July 2024.

Academy of Immuno-Oncology

The Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology (FAIO) are individuals who have made seminal contributions to move the field of cancer immunotherapy forward to the benefit of patients. 

Selection Criteria

  • Actively serving FAIO Committee members or Board members will not be eligible for nomination. After members rotate off the Committee or Board, they may be considered for nomination. SITC Staff will notify nominators if this is the case.
  • Fellows should commit to attending the induction ceremony event held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting to be eligible to receive the award. The SITC 39th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2024) will take place on Nov. 6–10, 2024, at The George R. Brown Convention Center.
  • Work setting is not a limiting factor for the FAIO, all those who are a part of academia, industry, other, etc. are eligible.
  • SITC membership is not a requirement for nominees.
  • The FAIO Committee may opt to honor one posthumous awardee with each class.
  • Inducted Fellows of the Academy of IO will be called upon to help in the selection of subsequent classes of inductees.

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide one nomination letter (2 page limit) and the nominee’s CV. See more information including previous Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology here.

2025 Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award and Lectureship

Established in 2005, the Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award and Lectureship is presented each year to a luminary in the field that has significantly contributed to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research. It serves to honor those that have been pioneers in their work and made a notable impact worthy of high regard and recognition by their peers.

Selection Criteria

Recipient should be considered a “luminary” in the field and have significantly contributed to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research. Society membership is not a requirement to receive this award. 

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide one nomination letter (2 page limit) and the nominee’s CV. See more information including previous winners of the Smalley Award here.

SITC Lifetime Achievement Award

This nominated award recognizes an outstanding SITC member or collaborator who has made significant impact on SITC’s development and mission.

Selection Criteria

  • Nominee has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the science and application of cancer immunotherapy 
  • Nominee’s service and/or leadership has made a significant impact on SITC’s development and mission
  • Nominee’s contributions can include program development, service, leadership, mentorship and/or advocacy within SITC

Nomination Requirements

Nominator should supply one letter (2 page limit) and the nominee's CV. The nomination letter should address how the nominee impacted SITC's mission using the criteria listed. 

Tara Withington Public Service Award

Awarded to an individual or group who fosters and enhances the field through any of the following: increasing public understanding, awareness, research efforts and/or funding. This award is not intended to acknowledge an individual's or group's scientific contributions. Distinct from the SITC Lifetime Achievement Award, this award honors an individual's or group's effort in public service promoting cancer immunotherapy. 

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the Tara Withington Public Service Award should have demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in meeting any of the following selection criteria:

  • Increased the public's understanding and fostered awareness of cancer immunotherapy through innovation and communication to the public, and encouraged others to follow suit
  • Advocated for and championed progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy 
  • Promoted the engagement of the public in outreach, advocacy and promotion of cancer immunotherapy 
  • Contributed to the development of cancer immunotherapy policies and their support 
  • Influenced and encouraged the next generation of cancer immunotherapy scientists and clinicians 
  • Encouraged and facilitated collaboration between entities in the cancer immunotherapy field

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee(s), nominator must provide a brief description (2 page limit) that includes a description of the nominee's public service to the field of cancer immunotherapy. Please specifically comment on how the nominee(s) met one or more of the criteria listed. 

Pedro J. Romero Service to JITC Award

This nominated award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) — the official journal of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer.

Selection Criteria

Recipient has significantly contributed to the advancement of the journal and its aims through their distinguished record of service, leadership, and/or collaboration. Society membership is not a requirement to receive this award.

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide a brief description (2 page limit) of their service to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC).

Established in 2005, the Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award and Lectureship is presented each year to a luminary in the field that has significantly contributed to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research. It serves to honor those that have been pioneers in their work and made a notable impact worthy of high regard and recognition by their peers.

Ira Mellman, PhD, FAACR, FAIO2025
Ira Mellman, PhD, FAACR, FAIO
Medici Therapeutics

Elizabeth M. Jaffee, MD, FAIO, FAACR, FACP, FAAAS2024
Elizabeth M. Jaffee, MD, FAIO, FAACR,
FACP, FAAAS
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

2023
Robert D. Schreiber, PhD 
Washington University School of Medicine

2022
Zelig Eshhar, PhD
Weizmann Institute of Science Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

2021
Crystal L. Mackall, MD
Stanford University

2020
Gordon Freeman, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

2020
Lieping Chen, MD, PhD
Yale School of Medicine

Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD2020
Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School

Olivera J. Finn, PhD2019
Olivera J. Finn, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Phillip D. Greenberg, MD2018
Phillip D. Greenberg, MD
Fred Hutchinson Research Center

Paul Sondel, MD, PhD2017
Paul Sondel, MD, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Suzanne L. Topalian, MD2016
Suzanne L. Topalian, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Tasuku Honjo, MD, PhD2015
Tasuku Honjo, MD, PhD
Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine

Giorgio Trinchieri, MD2014
Giorgio Trinchieri, MD
National Cancer Institute

Carl H. June, MD2013
Carl H. June, MD
University of Pennsylvania

Theresa L. Whiteside, PhD2012
Theresa L. Whiteside, PhD
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Ralph M. Steinman, MD2011
Ralph M. Steinman, MD
The Rockefeller University

James P. Allison, PhD2010
James P. Allison, PhD
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Isaiah J. Fidler, DVM, PhD2009
Isaiah J. Fidler, DVM, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center

Giorgio Parmiani, MD2008
Giorgio Parmiani, MD
San Raffaele Foundation

Ernest Borden, MD2007
Ernest Borden, MD
Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Ronald Levy, MD2006
Ronald Levy, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine

Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD2005
Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

This nominated award recognizes an outstanding SITC member or collaborator who has made significant impact on SITC’s development and mission.

Bernard A. Fox, PhD2024
Bernard A. Fox, PhD
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute

Kim A. Margolin, MD2023
Kim A. Margolin, MD
Saint John's Cancer Institute

Michael B. Atkins, MD2022
Michael B. Atkins, MD
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Michael T. Lotze, MD, FACS2021
Michael T. Lotze, MD, FACS
University of Pittsburgh

Awarded to an individual or group who fosters and enhances the field through any of the following: increasing public understanding, awareness, research efforts and/or funding. This award is not intended to acknowledge an individual's or group's scientific contributions. Distinct from the SITC Lifetime Achievement Award, this award honors an individual's or group's effort in public service promoting cancer immunotherapy. 

Bernard A. Fox, PhD2024
Deborah Collyar, B.Sci
Patient Advocates in Research (PAIR)

Bernard A. Fox, PhD2023
Founders of Stand Up To Cancer
(Top L-R) Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, and Ellen Ziffren, in addition to the late Noreen Fraser and the late Laura Ziskin

Bernard A. Fox, PhD2022
Bernard A. Fox, PhD
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute

Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc)2021
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc)
​American Association for Cancer Research

Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, PhD2020
Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, PhD
Cancer Research Institute

Sean Parker2019
Sean Parker
Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

This nominated award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) — the official journal of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer.

Andrea Kunz2024
Andrea Kunz
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

Cornelis J.M. Melief, MD, PhD2023
Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health

Cornelis J.M. Melief, MD, PhD2022
Cornelis J.M. Melief, MD, PhD
Leiden University Medical Center & ISA Pharmaceuticals

James Gulley, MD, PhD2021
James Gulley, MD, PhD
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

Pedro J. Romero, MD2020
Pedro J. Romero, MD
Novigenix