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 Therapeutics
Cristina Maccalli, 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.