AACR Past President Frank McCormick, PhD, FAACR, to Receive the Inaugural Stephenson Global Prize 

The $1 million prize will be presented at the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research later this month

PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) today congratulated Frank McCormick, PhD, on his selection as the recipient of the inaugural Stephenson Global Prize. McCormick served as AACR President in 2012-2013 and was elected a Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2013.

Awarded by the Stephenson Global Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute (SGPCRI), the Stephenson Global Prize is a $1 million prize that recognizes a lifetime of achievements that have significantly advanced pancreatic cancer research. By honoring innovative contributions in prevention, early detection, treatment, and scientific discovery, the prize celebrates transformative progress and fosters continued collaboration among researchers to improve patient outcomes and drive future breakthroughs against pancreatic cancer.

McCormick, who is the David A. Wood Chair of Tumor Biology and Cancer Research and a professor in the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco, is being recognized for uncovering how mutations in the KRAS gene—present in more than 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas—disrupt the body’s natural ability to regulate cell growth. His research has been foundational to efforts that have enabled the development of therapies targeting KRAS, a goal once thought unattainable.

McCormick will be honored during the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research, to be held September 28-October 1 in Boston. The Stephenson Global Prize presentation and McCormick’s award lecture will take place on Tuesday, September 30, at 10:45 a.m. ET.

Now in its eleventh iteration, the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research is the premier forum for the presentation of cutting-edge research in the biology, detection, treatment, and prevention of pancreatic cancer. With a five-year survival rate of just 13%, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most urgent challenges in oncology. This year’s conference provides an essential platform for the translation of scientific discovery into improved outcomes for patients.

To register as press for the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pancreatic Cancer Research, visit the AACR website.

To learn more about McCormick’s research and the Stephenson Global Prize, read the SGPCRI press release.