AACR Annual Meeting 2023: A Recap of AACR Blog Posts

The numbers are in, and AACR Annual Meeting 2023 was a resounding success.

From April 14-19, more than 20,000 registrants gathered in Orlando to discuss the latest advances in cancer research. Including virtual attendees, total registration was 21,700. With the theme “Advancing the Frontiers of Science and Medicine,” the meeting encompassed the entire continuum of cancer research—from cancer prevention and early detection to survivorship; from population science to disparities; and from cutting-edge basic science to practice-changing clinical studies.

Plenary crowd at Annual Meeting 2023
Photo by © AACR/Todd Buchanan 2023

This year, a record-setting 243 clinical trials were presented at the meeting, including 16 Phase III trials that are paving the way to new, potentially lifesaving treatments for patients with cancer.

The meeting featured 630 invited speakers from 25 countries. The speakers reflected the increasingly diverse ranks of our membership, with strong representation from women (49 percent), minorities (35 percent), and early-career scientists (9 percent).

Nearly 300 presentations were live-streamed and remain available for registered attendees to view through July 19.

During the meeting, 19 awards, lectureships, and prizes were presented to honor laboratory researchers, physician-scientists, and population scientists who have made significant contributions to our understanding of the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. 

About 605 people donned running shoes to participate in the AACR Runners for Research 5K Run/Walk, including Rodney and Erika McLeod, who also loaned their voices and energy to the AACR Special Program for High School Students. The 5K raised $163,419 for cancer research, through sponsorships and peer-to-peer fundraising.

More than 220 members of the media covered the Annual Meeting, which generated more than 4,700 media clips, including coverage of an mRNA personalized cancer vaccine by NBC News, CBS Evening News, CNN, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, among dozens of others.

This story and many more appeared here in Cancer Research Catalyst, which published informative stories before, during, and after the Annual Meeting. We’ll continue to draw upon the knowledge shared at the meeting for future stories. But for now, in case you missed any of our previous posts, here’s another look.


AACR Annual Meeting 2023: Five Things You Need to Know

Welcoming Global Scholars in Training

Opening Ceremony Heralds Extraordinary Science

Beating KRAS

Understanding Immune Suppression in Brain Metastases

NCI Director Shares National Cancer Plan

Opening Plenary Covers Breadth of Cancer Research

The Past, Present, and Future of Targeted Therapies for Pediatric Cancer

Navigating the Challenges of Cancer Treatment During Pregnancy

Phase III Clinical Trials Offer Hope for Patients with Lung, Liver, and Biliary Tract Cancers

The Many Aspects of Early Detection and Interception of Cancer

Demystifying Immune Ecosystems

Designing, Targeting, and Delivering Novel Cancer Drugs

Therapy Advances for Patients with Rare Melanoma Types

Closing Plenary Highlights Research Breakthroughs and Next Steps

NFL Star Rodney McLeod and Erika McLeod Partner with AACR in Support of Cancer Research

Boosting Diversity in Clinical Trials: Part 1, Trial Design

Boosting Diversity in Clinical Trials: Part 2, Community Engagement

Clinical Trials of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines Show Promise