Robert Vonderheide, the director of Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, was recently named president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Vonderheide — who leads cancer research and clinical programs at Penn — will officially assume the role on April 20. He is set to become president of the organization in 2027 as part of AACR’s leadership succession process.
With more than 62,000 members across 143 countries and territories, AACR is one of the world’s largest professional organizations dedicated to cancer research.
As president-elect, Vonderheide will work with AACR’s board and members “to further AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers” through research, education, policy and advocacy, funding, and other initiatives.
“As the full power of discovery science is being unleashed to treat and cure more cancer patients than ever before, now is the time to accelerate and double down on cancer research,” Vonderheide told Penn Med last month. “The imperative is clear: science improves and saves lives.”
At Penn, Vonderheide serves as director of the Abramson Cancer Center, one of the first comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. Founded in 1973, the center focuses on advancing cancer treatment through research and clinical care.
Vonderheide also holds leadership positions across Penn Med, serving as vice dean for cancer programs at the Perelman School of Medicine and vice president of cancer programs for the University of Pennsylvania Health System.
He has previously been recognized for his work in cancer immunotherapy, a field that focuses on harnessing the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Over the course of his career, his research has contributed to the development of therapies such as cancer vaccines and antibody-based treatments.
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Vonderheide has been a member of AACR since 2005 and previously served on its board of directors and as chair of the annual meeting program committee.
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Senior reporter Saanvi Ram covers undergraduate sciences and can be reached at ram@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies health and societies. Follow her on X @Saanvi_vivi.
