Elisabete Weiderpass is a cancer epidemiologist and global authority in cancer prevention. Since January 2019, she has served as Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer research agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), based in Lyon, France. Under her leadership, IARC coordinates international cancer research across its 26 participating Member States and a multidisciplinary staff of more than 350 experts.
Originally from Brazil and a naturalized Swedish and Finnish citizen, she has held senior academic and research leadership roles across Europe and globally. She previously led the Department of Research at the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the Folkhälsan Research Center in Finland.
She has been Professor of Medical Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Arctic University of Norway and has held Originally from Brazil and a naturalized Swedish and Finnish citizen, she has held senior academic and research leadership roles across Europe and globally. She previously led the Department of Research at the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the Folkhälsan Research Center in Finland.
She has been Professor of Medical Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Arctic University of Norway, and has held adjunct or visiting professorships in Brazil, China, Iran, and Kuwait. As IARC Director, she is a strong advocate for independent, high-quality evidence to inform public health policy, with a particular emphasis on cancer prevention, equity, and impact in low- and middle-income countries.
The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025 recognizes the changemakers in cancer care who have helped shape current practice in oncology and continue to drive innovation and research towards better outcomes, advocacy, philanthropy, leadership, and education. For the many deserving individuals not mentioned in this list, we will continue to acknowledge, honor, and elevate your voices in our daily publications from across the world.
See the full list of The 100 Influential People in Oncology in 2025 and stay tuned for the results of special category nominations to be announced.
