Article Topic: Award

Siteman Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital Shiloh Receives American Cancer Society National Partner Award

Recognition highlights efforts to reduce transportation barriers for patients

Siteman Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital Shiloh has received the American Cancer Society National Partner Award for Road To Recovery® in recognition of the staff’s commitment to helping reduce transportation barriers for people facing cancer in St. Clair County, Ill., and the surrounding area.

Cancer care needs are significant, and transportation is one of the most common barriers patients face. Missed appointments can delay treatment and add stress during an already difficult time.

The American Cancer Society Road To Recovery® program addresses these issues by partnering with Siteman Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital Shiloh and other entities nationwide. Through the program, staff members at Siteman collaborate with volunteer drivers to provide transportation to medical appointments.

“We’re grateful to the American Cancer Society and want to give extra special recognition to its wonderful volunteers,” said WashU Medicine social worker Julie Richison, MSW, LCSW, who leads the program at Siteman Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital Shiloh. “They provide much more than just a ride — they offer reassurance and support during a difficult time.”

Siteman Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital Shiloh was recognized for these efforts during a special event June 4 at the American Cancer Society’s World Wide Technology American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in St. Louis.

Due to the program’s success, additional drivers are needed throughout the St. Louis region. Learn more about volunteering at cancer.org/drive or by calling 800-227-2345.

Siteman Cancer Center Radiation Therapy Recognized for Excellence

Reaccreditation by the American Society for Radiation Oncology underscores Siteman’s enterprise-wide commitment to adult and pediatric patient-centered care

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, has again been recognized as one of the best radiation oncology centers in the nation.

The recognition comes from its reaccreditation by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), whose 10,000-plus members worldwide — physicians, nurses, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other healthcare professionals — specialize in treating patients with radiation therapy.

All seven Siteman Cancer Center locations, including Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, earned full reaccreditation from ASTRO’s APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence®, through February 2030. APEx recognizes radiation oncology centers that meet rigorous standards for safety, quality and patient-centered care.

“Achieving APEx reaccreditation across all seven of our sites is a monumental operational achievement,” said Sana Karam, MD, PhD, the Elizabeth H. and James S. McDonnell III Distinguished Professor of Medicine and chair of Radiation Oncology at WashU Medicine and at Siteman Cancer Center. “It reflects the relentless commitment of our entire radiation oncology team — our physicists, dosimetrists, therapists, nurses and physicians. Maintaining this uncompromising standard of safety and quality at such a massive scale is a testament to the true collaborative spirit of WashU and Siteman.”

The Department of Radiation Oncology at Siteman has been APEx-accredited since 2017. Additionally, Siteman’s radiation oncology teams at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Memorial Hospital Shiloh earned APEx’s new radiopharmaceutical therapy designation. Radiopharmaceuticals, also known as systemic radiation therapy, this year.

Accreditation through APEx is a voluntary and rigorous multi-step process. The enterprise-wide radiation therapy center at Siteman was evaluated using consensus-based standards. Throughout the process, the Department of Radiation Oncology “demonstrated our continued focus on safety and quality and our commitment to patient-centered care, with an emphasis on effective communication, coordinated treatments and strong patient engagement,” Karam said.

Jiang Recognized for Statistical Innovation

Siteman Cancer Center research member co-developed AI platform to predict breast cancer risk

WashU Medicine cancer biostatistician Shu (Joy) Jiang, PhD, a research member at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Annie T. Randall Innovator Award.

The award, presented by the American Statistical Association, recognizes early-career statistical innovators with a tenacious and resolute commitment to excellence. Recipients have represented a variety of disciplines.



Jiang, an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine, is the co-developer of technology that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze mammograms and improve the accuracy of predicting a woman’s personalized five-year risk of developing breast cancer. Last year, the software received Breakthrough Device designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was acquired by Lunit, a leading company in developing AI-based technologies for cancer prevention and early detection.

The award was named in honor of pathbreaking Black female statistician Annie T. Randall for her pioneering career in government amid pervasive racial discrimination.

Jiang will be recognized at the 2026 Joint Statistical Meetings, the biggest conference for statisticians and data scientists globally, Aug. 1-6 in Boston.

Siteman Cancer Center Prevention Expert Named Guggenheim Fellow

With the prestigious award, Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, will write a book examining why cancers are increasingly occurring earlier in life — and how this shift can be better understood, communicated and prevented.

Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, has been named a 2026 Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing exceptional scholarship and creativity.

Selected from nearly 5,000 applicants as part of the foundation’s 101st class of fellows, Cao is recognized for her leadership in integrating data science, cancer etiology and population health. She is a molecular epidemiologist and an associate professor of surgery and of medicine in the Public Health Sciences Division at WashU Medicine and a research member of Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

This year’s class of 223 distinguished honorees work across 55 disciplines, each awardee selected based on past career achievements and exceptional promise. Cao is one of only two fellows recognized in data science.

“Our new class of Guggenheim Fellows is representative of the world’s best thinkers, innovators and creators in art, science and scholarship,” said Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation. “As the foundation enters its second century and looks to the future, I feel confident that this new class of 223 individuals will do bold and inspiring work, undaunted by the challenges ahead. We are honored to support their visionary contributions.”  

Cao leads a research program focused on one of the most urgent questions in modern health: why cancers are rising among younger adults. Anchored in a multidimensional lens spanning exposures, tissues, life stages and populations, her group integrates epidemiologic and biological insights, empowered by data science, to uncover life course risk factors that contribute to cancer risk and tumor progression in younger generations

In recent work, Cao has highlighted the need to transform how cancer risk factors are discovered for prevention. In a perspective in Cell, she and colleagues proposed new interdisciplinary frameworks to accelerate the discovery of cancer causes in the era of rising early-onset cancers. These frameworks for integrating population research, mechanistic biology and data science to understand how exposures accumulate over time, interact across biological systems and shape disease risk long before diagnosis.

“I am deeply honored to receive this Guggenheim Fellowship,” Cao said. “It provides the rare space to think more deeply and creatively about what is needed for the community and to tell a bigger, more connected story — one that brings together science, patients and the public. Our goal is not only to understand why cancer is rising, but to change its trajectory, so fewer young people develop cancer and more are diagnosed earlier and live longer, healthier lives. We cannot achieve this alone, and progress will depend on working together across disciplines and communities.”

Building on years of work she has led to uncover the causes of early-onset colorectal cancer and advance earlier diagnosis in younger populations, Cao now leads a $25 million international initiative through Cancer Grand Challenges, a global team science initiative co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With support from the Guggenheim Fellowship, her work will bring this urgent scientific question into a broader public conversation — providing clear, evidence-based understanding to patients, families and communities, helping to strengthen public trust and highlighting prevention as an increasingly important priority for younger generations.

Siteman Catalyst Awards Support Groundbreaking Science

Four researchers receive new funding to explore brain‑sparing radiation, smarter leukemia drugs, better BRCA1 risk prediction and new strategies against aggressive pancreatic cancer

Four WashU Medicine researchers at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, have received Siteman Catalyst Awards to pursue innovative ideas that could change how cancers are detected and treated.

Each awardee is receiving $100,000 for an early-stage project that is too new for traditional funding but has strong potential to benefit patients. Together, these efforts aim to move promising science from the lab toward real advances in cancer care.

The researchers are:

  • Adam Bauer, PhD, associate professor of radiology and of biomedical engineering, who aims to better protect memory and cognitive ability in people who need whole-brain radiation.
  • Alireza Ghanbarpour, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, who is researching a new weak point in leukemia cells’ energy machinery, which could lead to new therapies.
  • Priyanka Verma, PhD, associate professor of medicine, who seeks to improve how doctors interpret BRCA1 gene changes that affect breast cancer risk, information that could sooner mitigate the chances of breast cancer development.
  • Max Wattenberg, MD, associate professor of medicine, who is studying new ways to treat pancreatic cancer that has spread to the lining of the abdomen.

Please see below for more details on each project.

Reducing Radiation Induced Cognitive Decline Through Inhibiting Neuroinflammation

Principal Investigator: Adam Bauer, PhD

Goal: To determine whether a drug called azeliragon can help protect memory and thinking after whole-brain radiation treatment


Summary: Many brain tumor survivors experience progressive and disabling cognitive decline within months of radiotherapy, leading to impairment and reduced quality of life. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and there are currently no strategies to accurately predict, monitor or prevent this decline. This project will leverage novel optical neuroimaging to establish how radiotherapy and neuroinflammation separately influence brain activity in mice to determine early biomarkers of radiation-induced cognitive decline. Researchers will also determine whether inhibiting radiation-induced neuroinflammation using a novel drug prevents cognitive decline and corresponding changes to neuroimaging biomarkers. Their long-term goals are to develop neuroimaging-based biomarkers to predict cognitive decline in brain tumor survivors after radiotherapy and to develop novel, preventative treatments for brain tumor patients.

Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Protein Degradation in Cancer

Principal Investigator: Alireza Ghanbarpour, PhD

Goal: To understand how a special protein called ClpXP supports survival in leukemia cells. By better understanding how this process works, researchers will have the knowledge to guide the development of new cancer therapies for leukemia


Summary: Cancer cells require large amounts of energy to grow and divide rapidly. To meet this demand, they rely heavily on mitochondria, the structures in cells that produce energy. Because mitochondria in cancer cells operate under high stress, they depend on systems that remove damaged proteins and maintain mitochondrial function. One such system is ClpXP, a molecular machine that keeps mitochondria healthy by identifying and destroying damaged or unnecessary proteins. Cancer cells appear to depend on ClpXP more than normal cells, meaning that blocking its activity could selectively harm cancer cells while causing fewer side effects in healthy cells. This project will identify the mitochondrial proteins controlled by ClpXP and determine how this system recognizes and destroys its targets, which may help guide the development of new cancer therapies.

Defining the Pathogenicity of BRCA1 Germline Mutations in Predisposition to Breast Cancers

Principal Investigator: Priyanka Verma, PhD

Goal: To develop a platform to predict breast cancer preposition risk in individuals with mutations in the BRCA1 gene


Summary: This project aims to develop ways by which an individual’s genetic information can be used to predict if they are more susceptible to developing breast cancers as compared to general population. Having this information in a timely manner can be used to undertake available preventive measures to mitigate the chances of breast cancer development.

Investigating Peritoneal Anti-Metastatic Programs in Pancreatic Cancer

Principal Investigator: Max Wattenberg, MD


Goal: To understand how the immune system interacts with pancreatic cancer cells in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen) and find new ways to treat cancer that spreads to these sites

Summary: Pancreatic cancer often spreads to the peritoneum, the lining of the belly, causing serious health problems such as pain, bowel obstruction and fluid buildup. These sites of cancer spread are hard to treat because they resist current drugs, and there are no effective treatments specifically for them. This project uses studies with mice and patient samples to examine how pancreatic cancer cells and the body’s immune system interact in the peritoneum. By understanding these interactions, researchers hope to develop new treatments to help the immune system better fight pancreatic cancer.

Siteman Cancer Center Experts to be Recognized, Present Key Research at AACR Annual Meeting

Two WashU Medicine physician-scientists will be honored, and 30 faculty members and others will present findings at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, taking place April 17-22 in San Diego.

At the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026, WashU Medicine scientists and physician-researchers at Siteman Cancer Center are demonstrating the scale, depth and translational impact of cancer research. With national leadership represented across scientific presentations, prestigious honors and governance of one of the field’s leading research organizations, Siteman’s presence at AACR underscores its role as a driving force in advancing cancer outcomes worldwide.

More than 20,000 scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients and advocates gather at the annual conference each year to share and discuss the latest breakthroughs. Topics range from population science and prevention to cancer biology, translational and clinical studies to survivorship and advocacy.

Thirty WashU Medicine faculty members, fellows and others associated with Siteman Cancer Center will present their findings this year. They include two researchers who will each receive one of AACR’s highest honors and a third who will be installed as one of the newest members of the AACR Board of Directors.

“Siteman Cancer Center is proud to continue our strong presence at the AACR Annual Meeting, where collaboration and discovery are accelerating progress against cancer at an unprecedented pace,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman, which is based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis. “The work our researchers are sharing reflects not only scientific excellence, but also a deep commitment to improving outcomes for patients everywhere. Being part of this global exchange of ideas helps ensure that innovations developed here can translate into real-world impact for the communities and individuals we serve — and beyond.” 

Prestigious Awards for Two Internationally Renowned Siteman Cancer Center Investigators

Two preeminent WashU Medicine physician-scientists from Siteman will be honored with prestigious awards at the ACCR Annual Meeting:

John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, the Virginia E. and Sam J. Golman Professor of Medicine and director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunology, will receive the ACCR’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research.

Internationally recognized for oncology research and clinical breakthroughs, DiPersio is a pioneer in advancing treatment options in hematologic malignancies such as leukemia as well as advances in stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy. His work has been essential to the development of the hematopoietic stem cell mobilizing agents plerixafor and motixafortide. Among his most recent accomplishments is an innovative immunotherapy for rare and aggressive types of blood cancer — called WU-CART-007 — that received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March. DiPersio will lecture at the AACR Annual Meeting on the latest advances in leukemia biology and emerging cellular therapies.

Award Presentation: AACR Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research
Lecture: Killing the bad without the good: CART for T-cell malignancies
When: April 21, 4:15-5 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30, San Diego Convention Center



Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, will be presented with the ACCR-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology. The award recognizes scientists whose outstanding research has a major impact on the understanding of cancer. Murphy, the Eugene Opie First Centennial Professor in pathology and immunology at WashU Medicine, is credited for groundbreaking research showing how different types of dendritic cells develop and take on specific roles in controlling the body’s immune responses. He uncovered the genetic “programs” that tell immature cells to become specific kinds of dendritic cells, including discovering how a gene called BATF3 helps create a specific dendritic cell that is critical for activating “killer” T cells to destroy infected or cancerous cells. His work has been noted as not only advancing but also reshaping the field of cancer biology and immunology. His latest paper, published April 15 in Nature, shows how mRNA technology further opens doors for potential new ways to prevent and treat cancer.



Award Presentation: ACCR-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology
Lecture: DC subsets: Why so much specialization?
When: April 21, 3-3:45 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30, San Diego Convention Center

Leading Scientist Joins AACR Board of Directors

Sheila A. Stewart, PhD, Associate Director for Basic Science and Co-Leader of the Mechanisms of Cancer Biology Program at Siteman Cancer Center, was recently elected to the AACR Board of Directors and will begin her official duties at the annual meeting.

A leading cancer scientist, Stewart also is the Gery Cori Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at WashU Medicine. She studies how age-related changes to noncancerous cells called stroma modulate immune responses and promote the development of cancer. As a board member, Stewart will help oversee the strategic direction and governance of the AACR, one of the world’s largest cancer research organizations.
In addition to her board installation, Stewart will chair a discussion on cancer therapy-induced comorbidities and present specifically on chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Chair: Session ED01 – The Dark Side of Cancer Therapies: Therapy-Induced Comorbidities Across the Lifespan
Presentation: Therapy-induced senescence drives chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
When: April 17, 3-4:30 p.m. PT
Where: Room 28, San Diego Convention Center

Other Notable Key Presentations

Multiple other researchers from Siteman and WashU Medicine will present lectures and key findings during the AACR Annual Meeting on topics such as:

  • Advances in immunotherapies
  • Novel therapeutics, combination drug therapies and new cellular drug targets
  • Multiomic insights for next generation cancer research
  • Cancer prediction models
  • Radiomics and artificial intelligence in medical imaging
  • Oncology clinical trial updates

Below are highlights. All presentations will be at the San Diego Convention Center.

Friday, April 17


Li Ding, PhD, the David English Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Section Director of Computational Biology, and Assistant Director of The McDonnell Genome Institute at WashU Medicine



Ding will discuss how ecological and evolutionary principles, combined with the extensive data resources of the Human Tumor Atlas Network, are informing new strategies to predict and overcome tumor progression and therapy resistance. She is lead investigator of the HTAN at WashU Medicine.

Presentation: From precancer to metastasis: Evolution and microenvironment of breast and prostate tumors
When: 3:36-3:56 p.m. PT
Where: Room 30

Sunday, April 19



Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH, the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery and Chief of Public Health Sciences at WashU Medicine and Associate Director of Prevention and Control at Siteman Cancer Center

Presentation: Translating absolute risk of breast cancer into screening frequency: A framework to guide precision screening
When: 1:05-1:25 p.m. PT
Where: Room 5

Monday, April 20

Carl DeSelm, MD, PhD, associate professor of radiation oncology at WashU Medicine

Presentation: 4008 – A novel, first in class chimeric antigen receptor dendritic cell platform driving broad and durable antitumor immunity in solid tumors
When: 3:05-3:20 p.m. PT
Where: Ballroom 20 AB

Xue-Yan He, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Physiology at WashU Medicine



Presentation: 4080 – The neural bridge: Stress-remodeled enteric nervous system (ENS) in the colitis-cancer transition
When: 3:05-3:20 p.m. PT
Where: Ballroom 6 CF

About Siteman Cancer Center

Siteman Cancer Center is one of only a few cancer centers to receive the highest rating of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) — “exceptional.” Comprising the cancer research, prevention and treatment programs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis, Siteman treats adults at six locations, including the new Gary C. Werths Building for outpatient care and an inpatient hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus, and partners with St. Louis Children’s Hospital in the treatment of pediatric patients at Siteman Kids. All locations offer patient-focused, multidisciplinary care driven by scientific breakthroughs and powered by WashU Medicine physicians.

Quick Facts

  • Established in 1999, Siteman is recognized as a leading cancer center by its peers and the NCI.
  • Every year, 75,000+ people are treated at Siteman, including 12,000+ who are newly diagnosed.
  • Siteman is powered by 600+ WashU Medicine physicians and scientists focused on the latest in cancer treatment and research.
  • With 9,000+ patients enrolled every year in 1,600+ clinical research studies, including 600+ therapeutic clinical trials, Siteman offers access to investigational therapies not generally available to the public.
  • Siteman has held NCI’s highest rating — “exceptional” — since 2015, based on a rigorous review of its research programs.
  • Siteman is also proud to receive more than $185 million annually for basic and clinical oncology research grants, including $66 million from the NCI, funding 1,400+ research projects. This includes three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grants, for endometrial, leukemia and pancreatic research.
  • In 2024, WashU faculty at Siteman filed for 198 patents.
  • WashU Medicine has the second-largest research funding portfolio from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among U.S. medical schools.

Podany Named to Inaugural NCCN Advocacy Academy

WashU Medicine physician-scientist Emily L. Podany, MD, MPHS, has been selected for a new fellowship program that aims to connect people on the front lines of cancer care to share their knowledge and experience with federal policymakers.

Launched by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the Advocacy Academy aims to provide oncology fellows and junior faculty at NCCN member institutions with advocacy skills and training to champion policies that will improve the lives of those affected by cancer.



Podany is an assistant professor of medicine at WashU Medicine and a medical oncologist who treats patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

Her selection highlights her leadership at the intersection of cancer care and public policy. As part of this inaugural fellowship, she will focus on a critical regional and national issue: improving education around cancer risks linked to Coldwater Creek in north St. Louis County and helping affected individuals navigate the newly expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).

Through the program, Podany will participate in policy education sessions, receive mentorship from national experts, and collaborate with congressional offices to advance meaningful cancer policy reform.

In addition to this recognition, Podany was also recently named a 2026 Young Investigator Award recipient, further underscoring her commitment to improving cancer care, particularly for patients facing social and structural barriers. Her research focuses on implementing navigation interventions for breast cancer patients with high-risk social determinants of health.

The NCCN is a nonprofit alliance of 33 cancer centers, including Siteman Cancer Center, that is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, research and education.

DiPersio Honored with National AACR Research Award

American Association for Cancer Research highlights physician-scientist’s pioneering advances in leukemia biology, stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy

John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, a pioneering WashU Medicine physician-scientist at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, will be recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to science at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026 in San Diego.

The AACR will present DiPersio with its Award for Outstanding Achievement in Blood Cancer Research, honoring his decades of innovation that have transformed the understanding and treatment of hematologic malignancies.



Nationally renowned for his work in the lab and clinic, DiPersio specializes in bone marrow transplantation and treats patients diagnosed with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) at Siteman Cancer Center. As a researcher, he is recognized for pioneering advances in leukemia science and stem cell biology.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by AACR,” said DiPersio, the Virginia E. and Sam J. Golman Endowed Professorship of Medicine, Pathology & Immunology and director of the Center for Gene and Cellular Immunotherapy at WashU Medicine and Siteman. “This award reflects the collaborative work of many colleagues dedicated to improving the lives of patients with blood cancers.”

The award highlights DiPersio’s essential contributions to the development of the hematopoietic stem cell-mobilizing agents plerixafor, known commercially as Mozobil, and motixafortide, also known as Aphexda. His research identifying JAK 1/2 signaling in graft-versus-host disease led to the identification and approval of JAK inhibitors, including ruxolitinib, known commercially as Jakafi.

In addition, DiPersio’s discoveries defining clonal evolution in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have transformed the understanding of cancer relapse and have advanced novel CAR T and CAR-iNKT (invariant natural killer T) therapies for AML and multiple myeloma, expanding treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for an innovative immunotherapy he led the development of for rare and aggressive types of blood cancer. The therapy — called WU-CART-007, also known as soficabtagene geleucel, or sofi-cel — targets T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) in patients who haven’t responded to earlier treatments or who have relapsed.

In the clinic, DiPersio is also known for his bedside manner and care and concern for those he treats.

“Dr. DiPersio is an amazing doctor,” one patient said on the clinician’s WashU Physicians profile page. “I cannot say enough good things about him. I consider myself blessed to have him as my doctor.”

In 2014, DiPersio received the AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research.

This year’s AACR award presentation will coincide with DiPersio’s lecture at the annual meeting, which runs from April 17–22. His talk, titled “Killing the bad without the good: CART for T-cell malignancies,” is at 4:15 p.m. PT in Room 30 in the upper level of the San Diego Convention Center.

Murphy to Receive AACR-CRI Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology

Recognition honors pioneering discoveries that have paved the way for more effective cancer immunotherapies

WashU Medicine researcher Kenneth M. Murphy, MD, PhD, has been named the recipient of the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)-Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Lloyd J. Old Award in Cancer Immunology.

Murphy, the Eugene Opie First Centennial Professor in pathology and immunology at WashU Medicine and a researcher at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, will be recognized at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, which will be held April 17-22 in San Diego.

The Lloyd J. Old Award recognizes scientists whose outstanding research has had a major impact on our understanding of cancer.

“Dr. Murphy is an extraordinary and innovative immunologist,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD, chief executive officer of the AACR. “His discoveries have laid crucial groundwork for new advances in the treatment of cancer, thereby extending and saving countless lives. The AACR and CRI are thrilled to present him with this well-deserved award for enabling significant progress in the field of cancer immunology.”

Murphy’s groundbreaking work has shown how different types of dendritic cells, a kind of immune cell, develop and take on specialized jobs in controlling the body’s immune responses. He has uncovered the genetic “programs” that tell immature cells to become specific kinds of dendritic cells, including discovering how a gene called BATF3 helps create a type of dendritic cell that is especially good at activating “killer” T cells, which destroy infected or cancerous cells. His research has deepened our basic understanding of how the immune system recognizes threats and has helped guide new approaches to boosting the immune system’s attack on cancer, improving cancer immunotherapy.

“The Lloyd J. Old Award honors scientists whose work doesn’t just advance a field — it reshapes how we understand biology at its core,” said Alicia Zhou, PhD, chief executive officer at CRI. “Dr. Murphy’s discoveries have defined the rules by which dendritic cells orchestrate immune responses, providing a foundation that continues to inform how we design the next generation of cancer immunotherapies.”

Murphy is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. His previous honors include the CRI William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic Immunology, the American Association of Immunologists-Thermo Fisher Meritorious Career Award and the WashU Medicine Distinguished Investigator Award.

Murphy will deliver his award lecture, titled “DC subsets: Why so much specialization?”, on April 21 at 3 p.m. PT during the AACR annual meeting.

Learn more about his research.

NCCN Recognizes Podany as 2026 Young Investigator Award Recipient

WashU Medicine physician-scientist Emily L. Podany, MD, MPHS, has been named a 2026 recipient of a prestigious NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Award, given by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and NCCN Foundation.

Podany is an assistant professor of medicine at WashU Medicine and a medical oncologist who treats patients diagnosed with breast cancer at Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine.

She is being recognized for her research project, titled “From Screening to Action: Implementing Navigation Interventions for Patients with Breast Cancer and High-Risk Social Determinants of Health.” Her work focuses on addressing barriers that can prevent patients from receiving timely and effective cancer care, particularly among populations facing social and economic challenges.

Through this award, Podany will receive funding and support from the NCCN Oncology Research Program over two years. The program provides mentorship and oversight to help early-career investigators advance innovative research aimed at improving cancer outcomes.

“We have a rigorous peer review process for identifying emerging leaders in cancer research through their work,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, CEO, NCCN. “NCCN Young Investigators go on to lead within their institutions and nationally. This year’s recipients identified particularly pressing needs that impact people with cancer. They are exploring solutions to unlock better outcomes for all in the future. We are honored to play a role in their career trajectory and look forward to seeing where it takes them.”

Podany is one of five early-career researchers to be recognized this year. Her project is designed to move beyond identifying patients at risk to actively connecting them with the care and resources they need. By developing targeted patient navigation interventions, she aims to further reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment and improve care coordination, ultimately ensuring that patients with breast cancer receive equitable, timely and high-quality care.

“I am deeply grateful to the NCCN Foundation for this support,” Podany said. “This award will allow us to take meaningful steps toward ensuring that patients facing social and economic challenges are not left behind in their cancer care. Our goal is to translate screening for social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and housing instability, into tangible action by connecting patients to the resources they need to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

Podany’s work reflects the broader mission of the NCCN Foundation to support innovative research that addresses disparities in cancer care and improves outcomes for all patients. Her focus on practical, patient-centered interventions highlights the importance of bridging gaps between diagnosis and treatment. She will present her work at the NCCN 2029 Annual Conference.

The NCCN is a nonprofit alliance of 33 cancer centers, including Siteman Cancer Center, that is dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, research and education.