AACR 2025 in Focus: Top Highlights from the Annual Meeting

Every year, the AACR Annual Meeting brings together the global cancer research community—and every year, it leaves us inspired, energized, and hopeful. The 2025 edition was no different. From powerful keynote speeches and game-changing scientific discoveries to moments of connection and celebration, the meeting was a true reflection of the passion driving progress in oncology.

At OncoDaily, we followed the event closely, especially through AACR’s vibrant presence on social media. Their posts offered a real-time glimpse into the heart of the meeting—highlighting big announcements, honoring remarkable individuals, and sharing those small, human moments that make gatherings like this so special.

In this blog, we’re sharing some of our favorite posts from AACR’s official social media accounts—posts that captured the energy, the breakthroughs, and the people behind them. Whether you were there in person or following from afar, we hope this roundup brings a little of that AACR magic your way.

Standing Together: A Powerful Call to Action at AACR 2025 Opening Ceremony
“At yesterday’s opening ceremony, we asked the cancer community to stand together to make their voices heard in support of innovative cancer science and medicine.”

Induction of the 2025 AACR Fellows into the AACR Academy
“This evening, the 33 members of the 2025 class of AACR Fellows were inducted into the AACR Academy. The distinguished scientists who comprise the AACR Academy serve as a global brain trust, providing scientific leadership to advance the AACR’s mission.”

 Celebrating 10 Years of AACR Project GENIE at AACR 2025
“As AACR Project GENIE celebrates 10 years, learn how researchers are using the platform to advance scientific discovery. Read a preview of AACR GENIE programming at AACR25 in AACR Annual Meeting News.”

Runners4Research 5K Unites Over 850 Participants at AACR 2025
“AACR President-Elect Lillian Siu kicked off the AACR Foundation Runners4Research 5K at AACR25. More than 850 AACR members and local runners joined together to raise funds to support innovative cancer research.”

Meet the AACR 2025 NextGen Stars Driving Tomorrow’s Cancer Breakthroughs
“Eleven early-career researchers were selected as NextGen Stars to share their discoveries at AACR25 in Major Symposia and Advances sessions. Learn more about their various areas of research and where they hope to see their work in five years.”

Over 45 AACR 2025 Presentations to Be Simultaneously Published in AACR Journals
“More than 45 oral and poster presentations at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 will be simultaneously published in AACR journals. Learn more in AACR Annual Meeting News.”

Women and Power at AACR 2025
“Women and Power: Building Personal Resilience and Over Your Career—Shiva Malek chaired this AACR25 career development session, which was sponsored by The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers, in partnership with Pelotonia and AACRWICR.”

Ruth Fortson Recognized for 48 Years of Service to AACR and the Cancer Research Community
“During the AACR25 Opening Ceremony, Margaret Foti recognizes the remarkable career and contributions of Ruth Fortson, former AACR Director of Executive Office Administration, upon her retirement after 48 years of service to the AACR and the cancer research community.”

MSK-IMPACT Team Receives AACR Team Science Award at AACR 2025
“Michael Berger accepts the AACR Team Science Award on behalf of the MSK-IMPACT team—who were recognized for developing a custom next-generation DNA sequencing panel that detects all clinically actionable genomic alterations in 505 cancer genes—at the AACR25 Opening Ceremony.”

Rakesh K. Jain Honored with AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research at AACR 2025
“Rakesh K. Jain is presented with the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research during the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 Opening Ceremony.”

Recognizing Excellence in Storytelling
“Nine outstanding journalists were honored with the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism during the Opening Ceremony at AACR25. Learn more about their prize-winning stories.”

Fueling the Future
“Margaret Foti announces the launch of the AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants—which will provide nine $1 million grants to early-stage investigators and six $1 million grants to mid-career investigators—at the AACR25 Opening Ceremony.”

A Call to Action
“It is critically important that we raise our voices in support of innovative cancer science and medicine.”
Patricia M. LoRusso, calls on the AACR25 delegates to stand together and call on Congress to make cancer research a national priority.”

PD-1 Immunotherapy May Replace Surgery in Early-Stage dMMR Cancers, Says Dr. Andrea Cercek at AACR 2025
“PD-1 immunotherapy can eliminate the need for surgery in patients with early-stage, DNA mismatch repair-deficient solid cancers, according to results presented by Andrea Cercek.”

Leading Voices Unite at AACR 2025 to Chart the Future of Progress for Patients
“Cancer Research at a Crossroads: Sustaining Progress Against Cancer for the Benefit of Patients. A major panel discussion from the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago.
Patricia M. LoRusso is joined by Monica Bertagnolli, W. Kimryn Rathmell, E. John Wherry, Kristen Dahlgren, Larry Saltzman, and Cody Wolf for this important discussion moderated by Clifton Leaf.”

Douglas Hanahan Receives Pezcoller Foundation-AACR Award at AACR 2025
“Douglas Hanahan received the Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research and delivered his award lecture at AACR25. We congratulate Dr. Hanahan and thank The Pezcoller Foundation for their longstanding support of this award.”

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders
“Change Our Future—founded by Super Bowl champion Rodney McLeod and his wife, Erika—is a proud supporter of the AACR25 Special Program for High School Students. We thank them for inspiring the next generation of cancer researchers.”

Lillian L. Siu Succeeds Patricia M. LoRusso as AACR President at AACR 2025
“During the AACR25 Business Meeting of Members, Patricia M. LoRusso, transfers the AACR presidency to Lillian L. Siu. We thank Dr. LoRusso for her inspired leadership over the past year and congratulate Dr. Siu on her election.”

Uniting Forces in Precision Medicine
“Challenges and Opportunities in Theranostics: AACR Immediate Past President Patricia M. LoRusso and Robin Zon co-moderated this AACR-ASCO Joint Session this evening at AACR25”

AACR 2025 Sees Record Engagement with 12,000 Posts and 421 Million Impressions
“With more than 22,000 registered attendees, the sharing of great cancer science continued in person and online at AACR25. On X, engagement continued to grow, with nearly 12,000 posts from more than 3,000 users that garnered 421 million impressions.”

At OncoDaily, we’re proud to be part of this incredible journey—amplifying the voices of those leading the way and celebrating the amazing progress we’re seeing in cancer research. The groundbreaking work shared at AACR25 is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when science, community, and determination come together.

We invite you to stay with us as we continue to bring you the latest updates and stories from the world of cancer research. Together, we can keep pushing forward—one breakthrough at a time—toward a future where cancer is a thing of the past.

Also read: 

1. Posts Not to Miss from AACR 2025: Part 1
2. Posts Not to Miss from AACR 2025: Part 2
3. Posts Not to Miss from AACR 2025: Part 3

By: Md Foorquan Hashmi, MD, Sr. Editor, OncoDaily: India Bureau