Five Kilometers, 3.11 Miles, and $230,000 for Cancer Science: Running for Research at the AACR Annual Meeting
You’re at a conference for work—a big one. You just arrived last night, and after a whirlwind evening of finding your hotel, rushed nods to semi-remembered LinkedIn connections, and a valiant but doomed effort to zero out your inbox, you managed to grab some time-zone-change-addled sleep. All too suddenly, the alarm clock is going off, and, half-awake, you intuit your way through the byzantine mechanics of the in-room coffee maker. Just one more thing stands between you and the start of your busy day at the conference: running a 5K.
Such is the dedication of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Runners for Research, who, in their commitment to raising money for cancer research, are willing to go the extra mile (or, more precisely, the extra 3.11 miles) at the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, the world’s premier cancer research conference. A proud tradition of the Annual Meeting, the AACR Runners for Research 5K Run/Walk 2026 (AACR 5K) aims to raise $230,000 for innovative cancer research projects, and at the time of this writing, more than $220,000 has been raised.
This year, participants will have the privilege of running alongside the scenic waterfront of San Diego Bay, with the race kicking off rain or shine on the morning of Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 a.m. PT sharp. Participants can begin checking in at 6:30 a.m. PT at 333 W Harbor Dr., San Diego, and registration will remain open until 7 a.m. on the morning of the race. As always, registration for cancer survivors is free.
With 680 registered participants and counting, the event will bring together scientists and laypeople, sprinters and strollers, athletes and amateurs—all of them united in raising money for cancer research. Even the AACR Board of Directors, busy with the work of the Annual Meeting, is getting in on the action with their own team, The Cure Catalysts. We spoke with some of the runners who will be at this year’s AACR 5K to hear their stories, and we’ll be checking in with them again live, bright and early on the morning of the race, as part of Cancer Research Catalyst’s live coverage of the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 (stay tuned for live updates starting Friday, April 17, at www.AACR.org/AACR26BlogUpdates). Here’s what these runners had to say as they prepare to pound some pavement and raise some money.
Runner: Annie W.Y. Chai, PhD
Team: Cancer Research Malaysia
Affiliations: AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award Program, Cancer Research Malaysia
This year marks the first time for Annie W. Y. Chai, PhD, at the AACR 5K, though she hopes it won’t be her last. Despite not identifying as a “serious runner” (she joked that she’d be happy with any time under an hour), Chai is a fan of charity runs as a way to keep her mind clear for her research work while supporting good causes. She is also captain of the Cancer Research Malaysia fundraising team, several of whom are not only attending the Annual Meeting but also running the 5K—including their Chief Scientific Officer, Cheong Sok Ching, PhD.
“This year is a remarkable year for us, as it is a record-breaking highest number of delegates that we can send from Cancer Research Malaysia to attend the Annual Meeting,” she said. “This is possible because of the opportunity that we had in collaborating with the AACR Global Affairs team last year in bringing AACR on Campus outreach programs to Malaysia. … One of the speakers for the event, Dr. Suffian Azizan, also won a 2026 AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award to attend.”
Chai also had a message on behalf of her team: “Some populations are less represented [in cancer research] than they should be, and collaboration across countries and communities is essential to accelerate progress. We are scientists from Cancer Research Malaysia, a nonprofit organization striving to ensure that Asians are not left out in the fight against cancer. Please consider donating to our team and show your support!”
Runner: Subhasree Basu, PhD
Team: Johnson & Johnson
Affiliations: Johnson & Johnson
Subhasree Basu, PhD, hails from the industry side of cancer research as a representative of Johnson & Johnson—the fundraising-est team for the 2026 AACR 5K at the time of this writing. 2026 marks her third time around the AACR Runners for Research track, this time as a team captain.
Basu does not, on the whole, prefer running (more of a lifting and Pilates person, she says), but she’s motivated for the AACR 5K on the basis of its mission in supporting cancer research.
“I decided to sign up for the AACR 5K again this year to support the vital work AACR does for cancer patients and clinical trials in cancer research,” she said. “After losing a close friend to breast cancer last year, and with another dear friend recently diagnosed with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, it has become deeply important for me to truly champion my ‘why.’ I am inspired by their courage, as well as by the resilience of countless cancer patients and their families navigating this disease every day.”
Basu’s own experiences have informed her throughout her career, in which she pursues oncology drug development through clinical trial pipelines.
“Cancer has touched my family as well—I lost my grandmother to leukemia in her early 40s, a close grandparent to small cell lung cancer, and another family member to ovarian cancer. Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the toll of chemotherapy and the daily struggles that come with it,” she said. “These experiences have profoundly shaped my journey as a cancer discovery scientist at Johnson & Johnson, strengthening my commitment to work relentlessly to bring better, more effective oncology therapies to patients and improve quality of life.”
Runner: Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, FAACR
Team: The Cure Catalysts
Affiliations: AACR, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Former AACR President Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, FAACR—a renowned immunotherapy researcher; a professor of medicine, surgery, and molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA; and an editor-in-chief of the AACR journal Cancer Immunology Research—is on his 10th year of AACR 5Ks, pandemic excepted.
“I try to do [the AACR 5K] every year,” he said. “It is a great celebration of cancer research, with many AACR Annual Meeting participants getting up early in their jogging gear and having a great time in a setting that is very different from the scientific conference.”
Despite his status as a newly minted sexagenarian, Ribas feels a need for speed, aiming to finish the race in under 25 minutes. And as a habitual runner, Ribas sees some overlap between his hobby and his work: “preparing, putting in hard work, keeping a focus, and not giving up—all great qualities in cancer research and in running the AACR 5K!”
Runner: Jorge Cruz
Team: Miles for Michael
Jorge Cruz of Oxnard, California, is traveling over 180 miles to be in San Diego for the 2026 AACR 5K, where he’ll be running for a cause he holds close to his heart.
“‘Miles for Michael’ was created in honor of my partner, Mike, who courageously battled cancer. Watching him go through his journey was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but it also showed me what true strength, resilience, and love look like,” said Cruz.
Since Mike’s passing, Cruz’s running habit has become a source of healing and connection, he said. “After losing him, I knew I wanted to do something that would keep his memory alive in a meaningful way. Creating this team felt like the perfect way to turn pain into purpose—to take every step, every mile, and dedicate it to him,” said Cruz. “Through this team, his name continues to move forward, inspiring others and contributing to a cause that could change lives.”
This is Cruz’s first time running the AACR 5K, and he said he looks forward to joining with his fellow runners united in a common purpose.
“I signed up for the AACR Runners for Research 5K because cancer has impacted my life in a very personal way. This run is more than just a race for me—it’s an opportunity to honor someone I love, raise awareness, and support the ongoing fight for better treatments and, one day, a cure,” he said. “Being part of something that brings people together for such an important cause means a lot to me.”
Runner: Yufei Xu, PhD
Team: Astellas Pharma
Affiliation: Astellas Pharma
First-timer Yufei Xu, PhD, is the captain of the Astellas Pharma team at this year’s AACR 5K, and when Cancer Research Catalyst spoke with him, he was the first-place individual fundraiser for the race (although he is now in the still quite admirable position of raising the fourth-largest individual sum—those wishing to restore him to first-place status can donate to his page linked above).
Xu said he started running during the pandemic as a way to stay active amid an era of shuttered gyms. He was new to the sport at the time and struggled to finish 5Ks uninterrupted at first, but he kept at it—until he went from completing his first 5K race, to his first 10K, and on to a half marathon.
“After completing my first half marathon, I asked myself: Could I run a full marathon? With the help of my friend and coach, I ran my first marathon on my 42nd birthday—42 kilometers at 42 years old. That felt incredibly meaningful. Since then, running has become one of my favorite hobbies,” he said.
Xu has even notched a 21-minute 5K personal best, but he says that he’ll be focused on running alongside colleagues and focusing on the mission at this year’s AACR 5K.
“I decided to sign up for the AACR Runners for Research 5K because I wanted to help raise awareness of cancer research and support AACR through fundraising. As someone who is deeply committed to advancing cancer research in my professional life, participating in this event feels like a meaningful way to contribute beyond the lab and engage with the broader cancer research community,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of a community coming together to raise awareness, support cancer research, and help make a difference for patients and families affected by cancer.”
The AACR Runners for Research allows associated runners to raise money for cancer research for any race, regardless of whether it’s formally affiliated with AACR. For more information on how to support and/or join the AACR Runners for Research, visit their page.
