The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021 is underway virtually, and already notable research has been presented and important activities have occurred. Over the coming days, we’ll feature stories on the microbiome and cancer, radiation-induced cancer, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, symptom science and the AACR Scientist↔Survivor Program. The AACR publishes Cancer Today.

You can also keep up with the AACR Annual Meeting by checking out Cancer Research Catalyst, the official blog of the AACR. Among the stories already posted there are:

  • Discovery Science Driving Clinical Breakthroughs is the theme of the AACR Annual Meeting, which will be held in two segments: Week 1, April 10-15, and Week 2, May 17-21. Among the highlights of the April 11 Opening Ceremony were announcements of the new class of Fellows of the AACR Academy and recipients of this year’s scientific awards and lectureships. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, received the 2021 AACR Distinguished Public Service Award.
  • NCI Director Ned Sharpless Outlines Blu​eprint for Progress. The National Cancer Institute director spoke April 11 and shared his excitement over the possible creation of an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health (ARPA-H) to deliver research breakthroughs in cancer and other diseases. ARPA-H is included in the proposed budget submitted by President Joe Biden on April 9.
  • Data from Practice-Changing Phase III Clinical Trials Signal New Treatment Options for Many Cancer Types. Data from three phase III clinical trials were presented April 10 that could potentially lead to new treatment options for certain patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma, metastatic uveal melanoma and resectable non-small cell lung cancer.
  • Welcoming a New Class of Global Scholars-in-Training. The AACR’s Global Scholar-in-Training Award program welcomes early-career researchers from around the world to the AACR Annual Meeting. This year’s 15 recipients represent nine countries.

Also, please mark your calendar for an AACR Annual Meeting Wrap-Up Twitter chat that will take place on April 15, 6-7 p.m. ET. Cancer Today editor-in-chief William G. Nelson, MD, PhD, director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore, will moderate the chat, which is co-hosted by Cancer Today and the AACR. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #A​ACR21Chat​.

Please check in at Cancer Today and at Cancer Research Catalyst throughout the week to keep up with developments at this year’s AACR Annual Meeting.