American Association for Cancer Research
A global professional scientific association advancing cancer research through publishing, conferences, education, advocacy, and research funding.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The American Association for Cancer Research, commonly known as the AACR, is a Philadelphia-based professional scientific association dedicated to advancing the prevention and cure of cancer. It describes its work as spanning the full cancer research continuum, from basic investigation into cancer biology and etiology to clinical studies, translational science, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, science policy, and public communication. Unlike a commercial healthcare brand, the AACR is a nonprofit membership organization whose principal value lies in its scientific community, publications, meetings, educational programs, awards, advocacy, and funding activities. The organization was established on May 7, 1907, in Washington, D.C., under the name Association for Cancer Research. Its founding group consisted of eleven physicians and scientists: four surgeons, five pathologists, and two biochemists. The early association operated as a selective scientific society and held annual meetings alongside larger gatherings of pathologists and bacteriologists. At its first meeting in New York in November 1907, members presented nine papers. During its first several decades, the association remained relatively small, but the rapid expansion of cancer science in the 1930s increased interest and membership. It was formally incorporated in 1940. The AACR is known internationally for its large Annual Meeting, which brings together researchers, clinicians, patients, advocates, industry participants, and other stakeholders. The meeting provides a major forum for presenting new findings in basic, clinical, and translational cancer science, with research abstracts, invited lectures, award presentations, educational sessions, grant-writing instruction, and networking. The association also organizes roughly thirty additional conferences and workshops in a typical year. These include focused special conferences, recurring international meetings, and workshops intended to develop skills in areas such as clinical-trial design, molecular biology, translational research, and integrative molecular epidemiology. Collaborative programs have included the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Conference, and meetings on malignant lymphoma. Publishing is another central part of the AACR's identity. Its portfolio includes peer-reviewed journals such as Cancer Research, Cancer Discovery, Clinical Cancer Research, Cancer Immunology Research, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Molecular Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Research, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Molecular Cancer Research, Blood Cancer Discovery, and Cancer Research Communications. These publications cover cancer biology, genetics, immunology, epidemiology, prevention, drug development, clinical trials, precision medicine, and emerging therapeutic approaches. Cancer Today extends the organization's communication work to patients, survivors, families, and friends by presenting cancer-related information for a broader audience. The AACR also supports cancer research financially through its grant programs and the AACR Foundation for the Prevention and Cure of Cancer. Grant mechanisms have supported investigators at multiple career stages, including early-career fellowships, career-development awards, and larger awards for independent researchers. The foundation funds research, education, and communication priorities selected by the association. The AACR is additionally the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, a collaborative initiative focused on accelerating research and moving promising discoveries toward patients. Recognition and professional development form another major pillar. The association presents scientific achievement awards and lectureships to researchers and clinicians whose work has contributed to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In 2013, it established the AACR Academy to recognize scientists whose discoveries have produced substantial advances against cancer. The organization also supports interdisciplinary initiatives, including work on cancer evolution and a related seminar series examining how tumors change over time and respond to treatment. The AACR's positioning is therefore that of a global convening and knowledge institution for oncology rather than a provider of consumer products. Its influence comes from connecting laboratory science, clinical investigation, education, policy, advocacy, patients, and philanthropic funding. The organization reports membership exceeding 58,000 across 142 countries and territories, although membership totals and program volumes may change over time.
History
The American Association for Cancer Research was founded on May 7, 1907, in Washington, D.C., as the Association for Cancer Research. Its eleven founders represented several medical and scientific disciplines: four surgeons, five pathologists, and two biochemists. The founding group included Silas P. Beebe, George H. A. Clowes, William Coley, James Ewing, Harvey R. Gaylord, Robert B. Greenough, J. Collins Warren, George W. Crile, Leo Loeb, Frank Burr Mallory, and Ernest E. Tyzzer. Their objective was to create a dedicated forum for exchanging knowledge about cancer at a time when cancer research was still developing as a distinct scientific field. The association's early meetings were arranged to coincide with larger meetings of the American Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists. At the first meeting in New York in November 1907, nine papers were presented. For roughly its first thirty years, the organization functioned as a relatively selective group of scientists. The growth of cancer biology, pathology, experimental therapeutics, and related disciplines during the 1930s expanded the potential membership and increased the need for a broader professional organization. The society was formally incorporated in 1940. Over subsequent decades, the AACR developed from a small scientific society into an international organization supporting many parts of the cancer research ecosystem. Its activities expanded beyond an annual gathering to include a substantial program of specialist conferences, international collaborations, educational workshops, scientific awards, research grants, public communication, policy engagement, and peer-reviewed publishing. The Annual Meeting became a major venue for reporting discoveries in basic, clinical, and translational research, while smaller meetings allowed specialists to examine fast-moving subjects in greater depth. Publishing became one of the association's most visible long-term activities. Its journal portfolio grew to cover cancer biology, clinical investigation, molecular therapeutics, immunology, prevention, epidemiology, biomarkers, blood cancers, and cancer communications. The 2011 launch of Cancer Discovery reflected the increasing importance of research that connects laboratory findings with clinical applications. The AACR also publishes Cancer Today, which addresses patients, survivors, families, and other non-specialist audiences. The association expanded its role as a research funder in 1993, establishing grant programs that support investigators at different career stages. These programs include fellowships, career-development awards, and grants for independent researchers. The AACR Foundation for the Prevention and Cure of Cancer provides a philanthropic structure for supporting research, education, and communication. The association has also worked with external initiatives, including Stand Up To Cancer, where it serves as a scientific partner in efforts to accelerate collaborative research and move discoveries into clinical use. Recognition has been institutionalized through scientific achievement awards, lectureships, and the AACR Academy, founded in 2013. The academy honors researchers whose work has generated important advances in understanding, preventing, diagnosing, or treating cancer. The organization has also supported interdisciplinary directions such as cancer evolution, examining how tumors adapt and how evolutionary processes influence treatment resistance. After a 2020 symposium, a Cancer Evolution Working Group was integrated into the AACR's activities and began presenting a regular seminar series. Today, the AACR presents itself as a worldwide professional association for cancer research, with members in more than one hundred countries and territories. Based in Philadelphia, it connects scientists, clinicians, patients, advocates, educators, policymakers, and funding partners. Its modern role combines scientific convening, publication, education, research funding, recognition, communication, and advocacy in pursuit of cancer prevention and cures.
- 2020
Cancer Evolution Working Group integrated
[1]The AACR integrated an interdisciplinary cancer-evolution group and developed a monthly seminar series.
- 2013
AACR Academy established
[1]The association founded the AACR Academy to honor scientists whose work has significantly advanced cancer research.
- 2011
Cancer Discovery launched
[1]The AACR launched a selective journal focused on basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.
- 1993
Grant program established
[1]The AACR began its formal grant program to support cancer investigators at multiple career stages.
- 1940
Organization incorporated
[1]The society was formally incorporated after its early decades as a selective scientific group.
- 1907
Association for Cancer Research founded
[1]Eleven physicians and scientists established the organization in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 1907.
- 1907
First scientific meeting
[1]The first meeting took place in New York in November and included nine scientific papers.
Products and positioning
A global nonprofit scientific association and knowledge platform connecting cancer researchers, clinicians, patients, advocates, policymakers, and funders across basic, clinical, translational, and prevention research.
Scientific conference
AACR Annual Meeting
The AACR Annual Meeting is the association's principal scientific gathering. It brings together cancer researchers, clinicians, patients, advocates, and other stakeholders to present and discuss basic, clinical, and translational findings. Its program includes thousands of research abstracts, invited lectures, scientific award sessions, educational programming, grant-writing workshops, and networking activities.
Scientific journal
Cancer Research
Cancer Research is a peer-reviewed journal covering a broad range of cancer science. Its subject areas include tumor biology, genetics, immunology, carcinogenesis, epidemiology, prevention, radiobiology, experimental therapeutics, clinical research, and emerging biomedical technologies.
Scientific journal · 2011
Cancer Discovery
Launched in 2011, Cancer Discovery publishes selected basic, translational, and clinical studies. Its coverage includes actionable genomic changes, therapy resistance, targeted treatments, immunotherapy, clinical trials, and other research intended to connect biological discovery with patient care.
Scientific publishing
AACR journal portfolio
The AACR publishes a portfolio of peer-reviewed journals addressing cancer biology, clinical investigation, molecular therapeutics, immunology, prevention, epidemiology, biomarkers, blood cancers, and cancer communications. Listed titles include Clinical Cancer Research, Cancer Immunology Research, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Molecular Cancer Research, Cancer Prevention Research, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Blood Cancer Discovery, and Cancer Research Communications.
Patient communication
Cancer Today
Cancer Today is the AACR's magazine for patients, survivors, families, and friends. It translates cancer-related information and research developments for a broader audience and supports the association's communication and engagement mission.
Research funding · 1993
AACR grants and fellowships
AACR funding programs support cancer investigators at different stages, from early-career fellowships and career-development awards to grants for independent researchers. The programs are intended to advance understanding of cancer and the development of improved prevention, diagnostic, and treatment approaches.
Scientific recognition · 2013
AACR Academy
The AACR Academy recognizes distinguished scientists whose major contributions have generated important innovation and progress in cancer research. New fellows are inducted through the association's annual scientific program.
Marketing campaigns
- Stand Up To Cancer scientific partnership
United States · International
The AACR serves as the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, an initiative designed to encourage collaborative research, accelerate innovative discoveries, and move promising therapies toward patients more quickly.
- Cancer research advocacy and policy engagement
United States
The AACR communicates with policymakers and advocates for sustained support of cancer research as part of its broader mission to connect science, public policy, education, and patient interests.
Brand decisions
2020
Integration of the Cancer Evolution Working GroupStrategyBackground
A 2020 symposium highlighted the value of interdisciplinary approaches to cancer evolution and tumor adaptation.
Action taken
The AACR integrated the Cancer Evolution Working Group into its activities and supported a recurring seminar series.
Aftermath
The initiative created an ongoing forum for discussing tumor evolution, treatment resistance, and related cross-disciplinary research.
2013
Establishment of the AACR AcademyStrategyBackground
The association sought to create a formal mechanism for recognizing scientists whose discoveries had produced major advances against cancer.
Action taken
It established the AACR Academy and began inducting distinguished scientists through its annual meeting program.
Aftermath
The academy became a continuing recognition program within the AACR's scientific and professional ecosystem.
2011
Launch of Cancer DiscoveryProduct launchBackground
The AACR identified a need for a selective publication focused on research connecting fundamental cancer biology with translational and clinical progress.
Action taken
It launched Cancer Discovery as an addition to its peer-reviewed journal portfolio.
Aftermath
The journal became one of the association's prominent publications and continued covering genomics, targeted therapy, treatment resistance, immunotherapy, and clinical research.
Recent events
- 2020
AACR integrates the Cancer Evolution Working Group[1]
Other
Following a cancer-evolution symposium, the association incorporated an interdisciplinary working group and developed a recurring Cancer Evolution Seminar Series.
- 2013
AACR establishes the AACR Academy[1]
Other
The association created the AACR Academy to recognize scientists whose discoveries have made substantial contributions to cancer research and progress against the disease.
- 2011
AACR launches Cancer Discovery[1]
Product launch
The AACR introduced Cancer Discovery as a selective journal focused on influential basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.
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