ESMO honors several oncology leaders

European Society for Medical Oncology honored several oncology leaders during its annual congress.

Jean-Charles Soria, MD, PhD, received the ESMO Award, which acknowledges a society member who has made outstanding contributions to the development of medical oncology as a specialty.

Soria, recognized for his expertise in lung cancer and his contributions to the development of anticancer drugs, is senior vice president and head of the oncology innovative medicines unit at MedImmune, as well as full professor of medicine and medical oncology at University of Paris-Sud. He previously served as head of the drug development department at Institut Gustave Roussy in France, as well as adjunct professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

He served as editor-in-chief of Annals of Oncology from 2014 to 2017.

“This is truly an immense honor, a very clear recognition by the international community of the quality of my clinical and translational work,” Soria said in a press release. “I have been an ESMO member since 1996 and I have always been deeply attached to the society. To receive such a visible award from it is an enormous sign of encouragement for me.”

Tony Mok, BMSc, MD, received the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award, which acknowledges international research teams or individuals who have demonstrated commitment to cancer research and education.

Mok — Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation endowed professor and chairman of the department of clinical oncology at Chinese University of Hong Kong — is recognized for his research on biomarker and molecular targeted therapy in lung cancer. Much of his research on precision medicine for lung cancer has helped change the treatment paradigm.

“My gratefulness is beyond words. I am deeply indebted to all my local and global collaborators for their selfless support over the past 2 decades, and more so, to the ESMO leadership for their generous endorsement,” Mok said. “This award is also acknowledging researchers in Asia and their significant contribution to personalized medicine.”

Pasi A. Jänne, MD, PhD, received the ESMO Translational Research Award, presented to a scientist who is internationally recognized for outstanding achievements in translational research.

Jänne is director of Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and director of Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Jänne’s research combines laboratory-based studies with translational research and clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents for patients with lung cancer. His primary interests focus on understanding and translating the therapeutic importance of oncogenic alteration.

“This award provides both inspiration and energy to continue our quest to develop new and novel therapeutic approaches in our fight against lung cancer,” Jänne said. “Furthermore, it is a recognition that studying precision therapies in lung cancer can impact and inform analogous approaches across other cancers.”

Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), received the ESMO Women for Oncology Award, which recognizes an ESMO member who significantly contributed to supporting the career development of women in oncology.

Foti is CEO of American Association for Cancer Research. She has been president of three professional societies in cancer research and scholarly publishing.

Through her support and mentorship, she has helped advance the careers of young women, minority scientists and investigators-in-training.

“The professional success of female scientists and physicians is essential for rapid progress in cancer research, biomedical science, patient care and public health,” Foti said. “If we are to significantly reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality around the world, we must facilitate and encourage the vital contributions and the leadership of women in oncology.”