Patrick Hwu is President and Chief Executive Officer of Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Hwu is a pioneer of cancer immunotherapy whose work helped lay the foundation for modern CAR T-cell therapy. In the early 1990s at the National Cancer Institute, working with Dr. Steven Rosenberg and in collaboration with Dr. Zelig Eshhar, Dr. Hwu helped demonstrate that human T cells could be genetically engineered to recognize and destroy cancer – seminal discoveries that launched the CAR T-cell field. His research in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, cytokine biology, and immune resistance has led to transformative clinical advances.
Before joining Moffitt in 2020, Dr. Hwu spent 17 years at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he served as Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Head of the Division of Cancer Medicine. At Moffitt, he has expanded one of the nation’s most active cell therapy programs advancing next-generation CAR T approaches. Dr. Hwu has received numerous honors, including election as a Fellow of the AAAS, National Academy of Inventors Fellow, and the SITC Champion Award.
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.
