The American Association for Cancer Research has appointed Matthew Vander Heiden, MD, PhD, FAACR, as editor-in-chief of Cancer Discovery, one of the 10 scientific journals published by the AACR.
Vander Heiden will lead the journal alongside Luis A. Diaz, Jr., MD, FAACR, who has served as editor-in-chief since 2019. The appointment was announced on June 29, 2026.
New Leadership for a Leading Cancer Research Journal
Cancer Discovery publishes original research describing major advances across basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.
Its content also includes reviews, perspectives, commentaries, news coverage, and summaries of notable research published in other journals. The journal addresses a broad range of topics spanning laboratory science, clinical medicine, epidemiology, and population-based cancer research.
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR, welcomed Vander Heiden to the journal’s editorial leadership, highlighting his experience as an investigator and cancer center director.
“AACR is delighted to welcome Dr. Vander Heiden as editor-in-chief of Cancer Discovery,” Foti said. “An innovative researcher and cancer center director, he will bring valuable experience, expertise, and perspective to the journal.”
Foti added that the combined leadership of Vander Heiden and Diaz would support the journal’s role in disseminating influential research during a period of rapid scientific progress.
Building on 15 Years of Editorial Leadership
Vander Heiden succeeds Lewis C. Cantley, PhD, FAACR, who served as a founding editor-in-chief of Cancer Discovery from 2011 to 2026.
Cantley initially led the journal alongside fellow founding editor-in-chief José Baselga, MD, PhD, FAACR, and later worked with Diaz.
Foti recognized Cantley’s 15 years of service and his role in establishing the journal as a major publication within cancer research.
“His vision and countless contributions to the journal as founding editor-in-chief quickly established Cancer Discovery as one of the most important cancer research journals in the world,” she said.
At the Intersection of Cancer Biology and Metabolism
Vander Heiden is director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a professor of biology and the Lester Wolfe Professor of Molecular Biology at MIT, as well as a member of the Broad Institute.
In addition, he is an oncologist and instructor in medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School.
His research has focused on the metabolic pathways that influence cancer development and progression. His work has contributed to a deeper understanding of how cancer cells acquire and use nutrients to support their growth.
Among his scientific contributions is the identification of an alternative glycolytic pathway in cancer cells and other rapidly dividing cells. He has also demonstrated how macropinocytosis driven by oncogenic RAS can provide nutrients that support cancer growth.
Vander Heiden additionally contributed to research defining the oncogenic role of 2-hydroxyglutarate. These findings have informed the development of approaches involving early cancer detection, targeted therapy, and precision oncology.
A Vision for the Journal’s Next Chapter
Matthew Vander Heiden described his appointment as an opportunity to support the publication of influential cancer research at a time when discoveries across multiple disciplines are reshaping the understanding of the disease.
“I am honored to join Cancer Discovery as editor-in-chief at such a pivotal time in cancer research,” he said.
Matthew Vander Heiden emphasized the journal’s ability to bring together findings from across the cancer research community while communicating discoveries with clarity.
“As advances across disciplines transform our understanding of the disease, the journal has a unique opportunity to accelerate progress by publishing the most innovative and impactful science,” Vander Heiden said.
Matthew Vander Heiden added that he looks forward to working with Diaz and the journal’s editorial team to promote collaboration and publish research capable of improving outcomes for patients worldwide.
A Longstanding Relationship With the AACR
Matthew Vander Heiden has been an AACR member since 2010 and has contributed to several of the organization’s scientific programs.
Matthew Vander Heiden served as chair of the AACR Annual Meeting Program Committee in 2025 after previously participating as a committee member for several years.
In 2020, he cochaired the AACR Special Virtual Conference on Epigenetics and Metabolism. Matthew Vander Heiden also served on the Program Committee for the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in 2013 and 2014.
His appointment as editor-in-chief follows his election as a Fellow of the AACR Academy in 2026.
Recognition Across the Scientific Community
Matthew Vander Heiden has received numerous honors for his contributions to cancer biology and medicine.
These include the National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award, the Stand Up To Cancer Phillip A. Sharp Innovation in Collaboration Award, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Faculty Scholar Award, and the AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award.
He is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and a fellow of the Association of American Physicians, the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, and the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
Matthew Vander Heiden completed his undergraduate, medical, and doctoral degrees at the University of Chicago. He has authored or coauthored more than 240 scientific articles and four book chapters.
Guiding Cancer Discovery Through a Rapidly Changing Field
The appointment brings a physician-scientist with extensive experience in cancer metabolism, translational research, clinical oncology, and institutional leadership to the editorial direction of Cancer Discovery.
Working alongside Diaz and the journal’s editorial team, Matthew Vander Heiden will help guide the publication as it continues to cover major developments across cancer science and medicine.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
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