George Demetri, MD Director of the Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy. Fellows of the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust of top contributors to cancer science and medicine who help advance the mission of the AACR to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy and advocacy, and funding for cancer research. Only individuals whose work has had a significant and enduring impact on cancer research are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.
In naming Demetri as a Fellow today, the Academy recognized his central contributions to the development of novel treatments and personalized cancer care regimens for sarcoma patients which have led to FDA and worldwide regulatory approval of various targeted therapies, including imatinib, pazopanib, and sunitinib. These medications have significantly altered the standard of care for sarcoma patients and those affected by gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
In addition to leading Dana-Farber's Sarcoma program, Demetri also serves as Senior Vice President for Experimental Therapeutics at Dana-Farber, the Quick Family Chair in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber and is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is one of 25 new fellows elected to the AACR Academy.
"This year, we are thrilled to announce the election of 25 new Fellows of the AACR Academy. These individuals from across the globe have all made remarkable and crucial contributions to cancer research," said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. "The 2021 class consists of luminaries representing numerous scientific disciplines, whose work has significantly accelerated the pace of progress against various malignancies. We are honored to have them join our 231 existing Fellows and look forward to celebrating their unique scientific achievements."