Since August 26, 2023, Women’s Equality Day in the United States has marked the beginning of a special OncoDaily tradition – the 100 Influential Women in Oncology. On this day, we launched an initiative to recognize 100 inspiring women making a difference in oncology around the world, highlighting 10 remarkable women each week.
And this year, we’re continuing the journey with our 2026 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology, showcasing the remarkable efforts made by these inspiring women across the world to improve cancer care.
There are so many incredible women in oncology whose work deserves to be seen and celebrated, and we know that one list can never include everyone. This is an ongoing initiative, and we’d love to hear your suggestions for the 100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2026 list. We’ll be sharing the nomination link soon.
We are proud to introduce the next 10 women featured in our 2026 list of 100 Influential Women in Oncology:
Princess Ghida Talal
HRH Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan is the founding Chairperson of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (KHCF/KHCC), which under her leadership has grown into a major regional cancer center and has treated more than 70,000 patients. Her commitment began with her husband’s experience of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, giving her advocacy a deeply personal foundation. She also chairs the King Hussein Cancer Research Award’s Board of Directors, connecting patient advocacy with investment in the researchers and institutions shaping cancer care across the Arab world. Her contributions have been recognized with Jordan’s Medal of Independence.
Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh
Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh, MD, PhD, is Director of the Public Health Department at Mongolia’s Ministry of Health and Founder and CEO of the National Cancer Council of Mongolia. Her work connects national health policy with practical improvements in cancer prevention and treatment access, including advocacy for HPV vaccination and essential oncology medicines. Previously, she was Director of the Medicine and Medical Devices Regulatory Agency, Adviser to the Health Minister, and an officer at the Ministry of Health and WHO. Through collaboration with the UICC-led ATOM Coalition, she has helped bring international expertise to Mongolia’s cancer-care priorities.
Deb Schrag
Deb Schrag, MD, MPH, FASCO, is Chair of the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and ASCO President-Elect for 2026–2027. A gastrointestinal oncologist and health-services researcher, she led the practice-changing PROSPECT trial, which established that selected patients with locally advanced rectal cancer could avoid routine pelvic radiation through a chemotherapy-first strategy with selective chemoradiation. Her work also advances patient-reported outcomes and more transparent, accessible cancer care. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024, she brings clinical-trial leadership and a public-health perspective to improving both treatment effectiveness and patients’ experience of care.
Elisabete Weiderpass
Elisabete Weiderpass, MD, MSc, PhD is an internationally recognized cancer epidemiologist, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organization’s specialized cancer agency. She is the first woman to hold the position of IARC Director, which she has led since 2019 and was re-elected for a second term beginning in 2024. Through IARC’s international collaborations and prevention initiatives, including the World Code Against Cancer Framework, her leadership has strengthened IARC’s role in global cancer care with particular emphasis on translating research into public-health policy and addressing the growing cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries.
Rejin Kebudi
Rejin Kebudi, MD, is Professor of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Istanbul University and Secretary-General of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology. Her clinical and research interests include childhood brain tumors, sarcomas, and supportive care. A past president of the Turkish Pediatric Oncology Group, she received ASCO’s International Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Award in 2018 and the Turkish Association for Cancer Research and Control Service Award in 2026. Her influence spans specialist care and professional leadership, strengthening the knowledge, support, and training needed to improve outcomes for children with cancer.
Nancy Lee
Nancy Y. Lee, MD, FASTRO, is an internationally recognized radiation oncologist and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Experimental Therapeutics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she also serves as Chief of Head & Neck Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy. She has pioneered radiation de-escalation for HPV-positive throat cancer, demonstrating that selected patients can receive substantially lower radiation doses while maintaining excellent cancer control and experiencing markedly fewer long-term toxicities. In 2026, this approach received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, bringing more than a decade of her research closer to changing the standard of care.
Jennifer Buell
Jennifer Buell, PhD is the President and CEO of MiNK Therapeutics and Chair of the Executive Council and a Director at Agenus, bringing more than 27 years of experience in cancer drug development and biotechnology. agenusbio.com Previously President and COO of Agenus, she helped transform the company from a single-product biotechnology business into a fully integrated organization with a broad immuno-oncology pipeline and multiple global partnerships. Today, she leads MiNK’s development of allogeneic invariant natural killer T-cell therapies, while continuing to shape Agenus’ strategy for next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
Susan Dent
Susan Dent, MD, FRCPC, directs the Cardio-Oncology Program and Judy DiMarzo Cancer Survivorship Program at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute. A breast medical oncologist, she has helped establish cardiovascular health as an essential part of cancer treatment and survivorship. She founded the Canadian Cardiac Oncology Network in 2011 and served as President of the International Cardio-Oncology Society through 2025. Her work brings oncologists and cardiologists together to prevent and manage treatment-related heart disease, helping patients receive effective cancer therapy while addressing the cardiovascular risks that can persist long after treatment ends.
Jemma Arakelyan
Jemma Arakelyan, MD, PhD is the CEO of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis and Deputy CEO of the Immune Oncology Research Institute. A medical oncologist by training, she combines translational research with advocacy for patients whose cancer care is disrupted by war, displacement, pandemics, and other emergencies. Her work in addressing cancer care in areas affected by war led to the publication of The Manifesto on Improving Cancer Care in Conflict-Impacted Populations. She earned her PhD in anticancer drug discovery from City University of Hong Kong in 2025. Her social activities connect scientific exchange with humanitarian priorities, bringing greater visibility to unspoken issues in global oncology.
Jemma Arakelyan, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist, CEO of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis and Deputy CEO of the Immune Oncology Research Institute. Her work bridges anticancer drug development with cancer care in conflict and humanitarian crises, including the development of OncoCorridor, an initiative connecting cancer patients in conflict zones with treatment centers worldwide. She also helped lead the Global Summit on War and Cancer, bringing together international experts to develop practical strategies for maintaining cancer care during conflict which led to the publication of The Manifesto on Improving Cancer Care in Conflict-Impacted Populations.
Ruiling Yuan
Ruiling X. Yuan, MD is a hematologist-oncologist and Dyad Director of Cancer Services at Self Regional Healthcare in South Carolina, where she has focused on expanding comprehensive cancer care for rural communities, including high-risk breast, cardio-oncology, exercise oncology, and supportive-care services. She is also a prominent cancer-policy advocate, serving on the ASCO Association PAC Advisory Council and working directly with lawmakers on research funding, prior authorization, telehealth, and barriers facing rural patients. In 2026, ASCO recognized Yuan as its Advocate of the Year, its highest honor for legislative engagement, for translating the realities of rural oncology into national policy advocacy.
The 8th group of 10 women featured in OncoDaily’s 100 Influential Women in Oncology 2026 brought together another group of remarkable women making a difference across the field of oncology. We will continue next week with the next 10 women on the list, sharing more stories of women whose work is making a difference in oncology around the world.
Don’t miss the previous parts of 100 Influential Women in Oncology in 2026: Key Opinion Leaders in Social Media and Beyond.
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