2024 Annual Awardees

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Ira Mellman, PhD

2025 Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award

Ira Mellman, PhD
Genentech

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Elizabeth M. Jaffee

2024 Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award

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

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Bernard A. Fox, PhD

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

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

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Deborah Collyar, B.Sci

2024 Tara Withington Public Service Award

Deborah Collyar, B.Sci
Patient Advocates in Research (PAIR)

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Andrea Kunz

2024 Pedro J. Romero Service to JITC Award

Andrea Kunz 
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer

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FAIO

The Academy of Immuno-Oncology was established by SITC to honor individuals who have launched the field of cancer immunotherapy into the breakthrough cancer treatment it is today and bring together the brightest minds in the field to continue to advance SITC, the field, and the next generation of immuno-oncologists.

Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology

Young Investigator Awards


The Forward Fund is proud to financially support the Abstract Travel Awards and the Presidential Award.


Awards

Abstract Travel Awards

Created in 2007, the SITC Abstract Travel Award highlights promising young investigators who submitted high-scoring abstracts to the SITC Annual Meeting, based on the quality of their research and potential to advance the field.

Past Abstract Travel Award Recipients

Presidential Award

Presidential Award

Established in 1991, the SITC Presidential Award is the most prestigious Young Investigator Award recognizing the young investigator deemed to have the most outstanding oral abstract presentation among those delivered in the Presidential Session of the SITC Annual Meeting.

Past Presidential Award Recipients

Connect-a-Colleague Top Referrer

Launched in November 2015, the Connect-a-Colleague campaign is designed to encourage members to personally reach out and invite potential members to join the society. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Connect-a-Colleague tool allows SITC members to refer colleagues to become a member.

The SITC member who refers the most new members each year is recognized during the SITC Annual Meeting Award Ceremony with the Connect-a-Colleague Award.

New members are also encouraged to indicate SITC members who referred them for membership.

Past Top Referrers

  • 2023 Recipient: Chrystal M. Paulos, PhD  Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University
  • 2022 Recipient: Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • 2021 Recipient: Folakemi Odedina, PhD – Mayo Clinic
  • 2020 Recipients:
    • Inas Abuali, MD – University of Cincinnati Medical Center
    • Francesco M. Marincola, MD  Refuge Biotechnologies
  • 2019 Recipient: Priscila H. Gonacalves, MD – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • 2018 Recipient: Francesco M. Marincola, MD  Refuge Biotechnologies
  • 2017 Recipient: Francesco M. Marincola, MD – Refuge Biotechnologies
  • 2016 Recipient: Laura S. Wood, RN, MSN, OCN  Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute

World Immunotherapy Council

The World Immunotherapy Council—a collaborative group of more than 20 organizations from the U.S. and abroad with a shared interest in promoting research and translation of cancer immunotherapy—have selected the young investigators below to present during previous World Immunotherapy Council Young Investigators Symposium, part of SITC’s Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs.

2023 International Scholars


Hiroyasu Aoki, MD, PhD

Hiroyasu Aoki, MD, PhD  
Japanese Association of Cancer Immunology (JACI)

Vincent  Chuang, MD

Vincent  Chuang, MD
The Taiwanese Oncology Society (TOS)

Anirban Das, MDAnirban Das, MD
Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CCIC)

Gloria  Delfanti , PhDGloria Delfanti, PhD
Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT)

KapteinPaulien Kaptein, PhD Candidate  
KWF working society-Dutch Tumor Immunology Meeting (KWF-DTIM)

KoustasEvangelos Koustas, MD, PhD
University of Athens (National Greek Organization)

MarkowitzGeoffrey Markowitz, PhD
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

OttavianoMargaret Ottaviano, PhD, MD
Società Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica (SCITO)

Mykyta Pepenin, MDMykyta Pepenin, MD
Ukraine (Peace & Development Foundation)

PérezLorena Pérez-Amill, PhD
Spanish Group of Immuno-Biological Therapeutics in Cancer (GETICA)

PeriasamyParthiban Periasamy, PhD   
Singapore Society of Oncology - Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (SSO-CIC)

Federica Riccardo, PhDFederica Riccardo, PhD
Progress in Vaccination Against Cancer (PIVAC)

RizviZaigham Rizvi, PhD
Immuno-Oncology Society of India (I-OSI)

TorralbaLamberto Torralba-Raga, PhD
Scandinavian Network for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SNIC)

Lesley Wu, MD

Lesley Wu, MD 
Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network (CAHON)

Chinese Society for Clinical Oncology (CSCO)Jiachen Xu, MD
Chinese Society for Clinical Oncology (CSCO)

2021 International Scholars


Ziena Abdulrahman, MDZiena Abdulrahman, MD
Dutch Tumor Immunology Meeting (KWF-DTIM)

George Abraham, MDGeorge Abraham, MD
Immuno-Oncology Society of India (I-OSI)

Defne Bayik, PhDDefne Bayik, PhD
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

Christopher Aled Chamberlain, MS, PhD )Christopher Aled Chamberlain, MS, PhD
Scandinavian Network for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SNIC)

Olesya Chornoguz, PhDOlesya Chornoguz, PhD
Progress in Vaccination Against Cancer (PIVAC)

Roberto Ferrara, MDRoberto Ferrara, MD
Italian Network for Tumor Biotherapy (NIBIT)

Chiun Hsu, MD, PhD Chiun Hsu, MD, PhD
The Taiwanese Oncology Society (TOS)

Liliana Loureiro, PhD, MS Liliana Loureiro, PhD, MS
Tumor Immunology Meets Oncology (TIMO)

Julia Moreno-Vicente, PhD Spanish Group of  Immuno-Biological Therapeutics in Cancer (GETICA)Julia Moreno-Vicente, PhD
Spanish Group of  Immuno-Biological Therapeutics in Cancer (GETICA)

Adam Nelson, PhD Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CCIC)Adam Nelson, PhD
Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CCIC)

Margaret Ottaviano, MD, PhD Società Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica (SCITO)Margaret Ottaviano, MD, PhD
Società Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica (SCITO)

Katarzyna Piadel  Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy (ICVI)Katarzyna Piadel 
Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy (ICVI)

Quah Hong Sheng Singapore Society of Oncology - Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (SSO-CIC)Quah Hong Sheng
Singapore Society of Oncology - Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (SSO-CIC)

Karthikeyan Subbarayan, MS German Society for Immunology (DGfl)Karthikeyan Subbarayan, MS
German Society for Immunology (DGfl)

Ryo Uchikawa Japanese Association of Cancer Immunology (JACI)

Ryo Uchikawa
Japanese Association of Cancer Immunology (JACI)

Feng Wang Chinese Society for Clinical Oncology (CSCO)Feng Wang
Chinese Society for Clinical Oncology (CSCO)

Zheng Zhu Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network (CAHON)Zheng Zhu
Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network (CAHON)

2019 International Scholars


George Abraham, MDGeorge Abraham, MD
Immuno-Oncology Society of India (I-OSI)

Kristin Anderson, PhDKristin Anderson, PhD
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

Claudia Arndt, PhDClaudia Arndt, PhD
Tumor Immunology Meets Oncology (TIMO)

Diana Canals HernaezDiana Canals Hernaez
Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CCIC)

Nadine HallNadine Hall
Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy (ICVI)

Kai He, MD, PhDKai He, MD, PhD
Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network (CAHON)

Yuki Kagoya, MD, PhDYuki Kagoya, MD, PhD
Japanese Association of Cancer Immunology (JACI)

Hye Ryun Kim, MD, PhDHye Ryun Kim, MD, PhD
Korean Cancer Association (KCA)

Sebastian Kobold, MDSebastian Kobold, MD
Cancer Drug Development Forum (CDDF)

Domenico Mallardo, PhDDomenico Mallardo, PhD
Societa Compana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica (SCITO)

Chiara Massa, PhDChiara Massa, PhD
German Cancer Immunology group in the German Immunology Society

Gitta Panczel, MDGitta Panczel, MD
National Institute of Oncology, Budapest

Eliana Ruggiero, PhDEliana Ruggiero, PhD
Adoptive Engineered T cell Targeting to Activate Cancer Killing (ATTACK)

Panagiotis Sarantis, MScPanagiotis Sarantis, MSc
University of Athens

Dhifaf Sarhan, PhD

Dhifaf Sarhan, PhD
Scandinavian Network for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SNIC)

Timothy Shuen, PhDTimothy Shuen, PhD
Singapore Society of Oncology - Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (SSO-CIC)

Haoyu Sun, PhDHaoyu Sun, PhD
Committee for Tumor Immunology and Bio-Therapy (TIBIT)

Davis Torrejon, MDDavis Torrejon, MD
Spanish Group of Immuno-Biological Therapeutics in Cancer (GETICA)

Vivek Verma, PhDVivek Verma, PhD
Tumor Vaccine and Cell Therapy Working Group (TVACT)

Tassilo Wachsmann, MScTassilo Wachsmann, MSc
Dutch Tumor Immunology Meeting (DTIM)

Kilian Wistuba-Hamprecht, Dr. rer. nat.Kilian Wistuba-Hamprecht, Dr. rer. nat.
Progress in Vaccination Against Cancer (PIVAC)

2017 International Scholars


Alessia Covre, PhDAlessia Covre, PhD
NIBIT Foundation (Network Italiano per la Bioterapia dei Tumori)
Italy

Sarah Crome, PhDSarah Crome, PhD
Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium
Canada

Katalin Czirbesz, MDKatalin Czirbesz, MD
National Institute of Oncology, Budapest
Hungary

Liang Deng, MD, PhDLiang Deng, MD, PhD
Chinese American Hematology Oncology Network (CAHON)
China

Fang Fang, PhDFang Fang, PhD
Chinese Society of Immunology (CSI)
China

Erika Fletcher, PhDErika Fletcher, PhD
Scandinavian Network for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SNIC)
Sweden

Daniel William Fowler, PhDDaniel William Fowler, PhD
Institute for Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy (ICVI)
United Kingdom

Célia Jacoberger-Foissac, MScCélia Jacoberger-Foissac, MSc
Cancer Drug Development Forum (Biotherapy Development Association)
Belgium

Alice O. Kamphorst, PhDAlice O. Kamphorst, PhD
Cancer Research Institute (CRI)
United States

Takahiro Karasaki, MDTakahiro Karasaki, MD
Japanese Association of Cancer Immunology (JACI)
Japan

Jan Willem Kleinovink, PhDJan Willem Kleinovink, PhD
Dutch Tumor Immunology Working Party (DTIWP)
Netherlands

Claudia Lennicke, PhDClaudia Lennicke, PhD
Tumor Immunology Meets Oncology (TIMO)
Germany

Gitte Holmen OlofssonGitte Holmen Olofsson
Progress in Vaccination Against Cancer (PIVAC)
Denmark

Gemma Owens, MBBChGemma Owens, MBBCh
Adaptive Engineered T Cell Targeting to Active Cancer Killing (ATTACK)
United Kingdom

Roberta Zappasodi, PhD

Roberta Zappasodi, PhD
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)
United States

2015 International Scholars


Amir A. Al-Khami, PhDAmir A. Al-Khami, PhD
Tumor Vaccine and Cell Therapy Working Group (TVACT)

Vanessa Clay, MBChBVanessa Clay, MBChB
Adoptive Engineered T Cell Trials to Achieve Cancer Killing (ATTACK)

Hsiang-Fong Kao, MDHsiang-Fong Kao, MD
The Chinese Oncology Society (COS)

Chiara Camisaschi, PhDChiara Camisaschi, PhD
Cancer Drug Development Forum (CDDF)

Gabriele Madonna, MDGabriele Madonna, MD
Societa Campana di ImmunoTerapia Oncologica (SCITO)

Yuka Maeda, PhDYuka Maeda, PhD
Japanese Association of Cancer Immunotherapy (JACI)

Gyorgy Naszados, MDGyorgy Naszados, MD
National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary

Julie Nielsen, PhDJulie Nielsen, PhD
Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CCIC)

Chiara Martinoli, PhDChiara Martinoli, PhD
Network Italiano per la Bioterapia dei Tumori (NIBIT)

Yago Pico de Coana, PhDYago Pico de Coana, PhD
Scandinavian Network for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SNIC)

Dagmar Quandt, PhDDagmar Quandt, PhD
Tumor Immunology Meets Oncology

Margot J. Pont, MScMargot J. Pont, MSc
Dutch Tumor Immunology Working Party

Marco Ruella, MDMarco Ruella, MD
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC)

Cheng Sun, MD, PhDCheng Sun, MD, PhD
Committee for Tumor Immunology and Bio-Therapy, Chinese Society for Immunology (TIBT, CSI)

Christopher Shipp, PhD

Christopher Shipp, PhD
Progress in Vaccination against Cancer (PIVAC)

Hong Zheng, MD, PhD

Hong Zheng, MD, PhD
Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON)

Special Awards

SITC's Anniversary Awards celebrate the achievements of current and future leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field. The work of these dedicated individuals that include young investigators, luminaries, leading organizations, regulatory agencies and industry seeks to propel the field forward and build a solid foundation for future advances and soon, a cure.

SITC Medal of Honor


SITC Medal of Honor

In 2021, SITC was humbled to present the inaugural SITC Medal of Honor to Uğur Şahin, MD and Özlem Türeci, MD for their efforts championing the development and distribution of the vaccine against COVID-19 using mRNA technology. SITC recognizes their incredible contributions to humanity and the countless lives saved.

2021 Medal of Honor Recipients

Uğur Şahin, MDUğur Şahin, MD
BioNTech

Özlem Türeci, MDÖzlem Türeci, MD
BioNTech

Team Science Award


Team Science Award

In 2021, Dr. Sandra Demaria, Dr. Silvia Formenti and their team at Weill Cornell Medicine received this award for their work in the intersection of radiation oncology and immunotherapy. Drs. Demaria and Formenti are strong forces that embody the team science approach to scientific discovery, igniting collaborations and pushing the fields forward with every study. The award recognizes teams of scientists that have made a long-standing contribution in energy, activity and success to the field of cancer immunotherapy.

2021 Team Science Awardees

Sandra Demaria, MD, Silvia Formenti, MD and Team

Abraham Chachoua
Andrew Brandmaier
Sandra Demaria
Ariel E. Marciscano

Claire Lhuillier
Claire Vanpouille-Box
Encouse Golden
Erik Wennerberg
Gabor Jozsef

J Keith Dewyngaert
J
osephine Kang
Julie Diamond
Karsten Anderson Pilones
Laura Santambrogio
Lorenzo Galluzzi
Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff
Nasser K Altorki
Nils-Petter Rudqvist
Robert Schneider
Satoko Matsumura
Sylvia Adams
Sylvia Formenti

Vivek Mitta
Wen Shen
William H McBride
Zahid Dewan

Distinguished Service Award


Distinguished Service Award

In 2019, SITC recognized Dr. Martin “Mac” Cheever with the Distinguished Service Award for his work establishing and directing the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network (CITN). The CITN designs and conducts early-stage, multicenter clinical trials of promising immunotherapy agents. Without the CITN trials and Dr. Cheever’s leadership and vision, patients would not have access to these promising experimental drugs.

Technology Awards

Established in 2020, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Technology Awards serve as recognition to early career investigators who are poised to transform the immuno-oncology landscape through their research. The recipient(s) of this research award receive access to technologies and tools provided by sponsoring companies. 

2022 Technology Award Winners


Mariya Rozenblit, MDSITC-Natera ctDNA in Immunotherapy Response Monitoring Fellowship and Technology Award

Recipient: Mariya Rozenblit, MD

Institution: Yale University

Project Title:The tumor microenvironment of triple negative breast cancers with detectable circulating tumor DNA after pembrolizumab treatment

Award: $40,000 and access to Natera's Signatera® testing technology

Elshad Hasanov, MD, PhDSITC-NanoString Technologies Single Cell Biology Award Recipient: Elshad Hasanov, MD, PhD

Institution: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Project Title: “CosMxing renal cell carcinoma brain metastases to decipher immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance mechanism at single-cell and spatial context”

Award: Access to NanoString Technologies’ CosMX® DSpatial Molecular Imager (SMI)

2021 Technology Award Winners


Laura Donovan, PhDSITC-Akoya Spatial Phenotyping Award
Recipient: Laura Donovan, PhD
Institution: University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
Project Title:The genomic and spatial hierarchy of primary and recurrent tumour ecosystems
Award: Access to Akoya’s Opal MOTiF™ immuno-oncology panels and the Vectra® Polaris whole-slide multiplex immunofluorescence platform

Pauline Hamon, PhDSITC-NanoString Technologies Spatial Profiling Award
Recipient: Pauline Hamon, PhD
Institution: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Project Title: “Characterization of the molecular and spatial diversity of macrophages in HCC to resolve tumor resistance to immunotherapy”
Award: Access to NanoString Technologies’ GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP)

2020 Technology Award Winners


Todd Triplett, PhDSITC-NanoString Technologies Spatial Profiling Award
Awardee: Todd Triplett, PhD
Institution: University of Texas Dell Medical School
Project Title: “Determining the interplay between T-ALL and the immune system in distinct organs by digital spatial profiling”
Award: Access to NanoString Technologies’ spatial profiling technology