Professor Benjamin Besse Named President-Elect: EORTC Announces New Leadership

Professor Benjamin Besse was elected as the next President-Elect of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and will assume the presidency in June 2026, succeeding Professor Winette van der Graaf. A distinguished medical oncologist specialising in thoracic malignancies, Professor Besse currently serves as Director of Clinical Research at Gustave Roussy, one of Europe’s foremost cancer centres.

Early Life and Education

Professor Benjamin Besse was born in France and pursued his medical studies at Université Paris-Sud, where he earned his MD with a specialization in medical oncology. He later completed a PhD in oncology, with a focus on translational cancer research. Throughout his academic training, he developed a deep interest in thoracic malignancies and precision medicine areas that would later define his scientific and clinical career.

Career and Leadership Roles

Currently serving as Director of Clinical Research at Gustave Roussy, one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, Professor Besse has held various leadership roles within the institution, including his previous position as Head of the Department of Oncology Medicine. Under his direction, Gustave Roussy has become a hub for early-phase clinical trials and translational research in thoracic oncology.

Professor Besse is also a long-standing leader within the EORTC community. He formerly chaired the EORTC Scientific Chairs Council, contributing significantly to the strategic alignment of the organisation’s research programmes. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing multidisciplinary, multi-national trials across Europe.

Research Contributions

Professor Benjamin Besse is internationally recognised for his expertise in thoracic cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, thymic malignancies, and rare subtypes such as NUT carcinomas. His research focuses on:

• Molecular profiling and personalised treatment
• Circulating biomarkers
• Early drug development and trial design
• Oligometastatic disease management

He has authored or co-authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications, and in the past five years alone, has led more than 30 Phase I–III clinical trials. He is frequently invited to speak at major international congresses, including ASCO, ESMO, and WCLC, and serves on editorial boards of prominent oncology journals.

Recognition and Awards

Professor Benjamin Besse’s work has earned him numerous national and international accolades. He is a recipient of the Prix Galien for Clinical Research in France and has been recognized for excellence in translational oncology by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). He also plays an advisory role in global consortia aimed at accelerating biomarker-driven trials and is an active member of IASLC, ESMO, and AACR.

A New Chapter at EORTC

Professor Benjamin Besse was elected as the next President-Elect of EORTC and will assume the presidency in June 2026, succeeding Professor Winette van der Graaf.

Previously, he led the Department of Oncology Medicine at Gustave Roussy and has played a central role in advancing precision oncology through translational research. His scientific focus includes molecular profiling, circulating biomarkers, and early-phase drug development for thoracic cancers, including rare subtypes such as NUT carcinomas and thymic malignancies. With more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and leadership in over 30 clinical trials (Phase I–III) in the past five years, Professor Besse brings exceptional expertise and vision to this new role.

In a statement shared on LinkedIn, Professor Besse expressed deep gratitude to colleagues, mentors, and collaborators:

“I am deeply honoured to have been appointed President-Elect of the EORTC – European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer by the General Assembly today.

My heartfelt thanks go to all those who have supported me on this journey.
To Michael Weller, my valued co-chair of the EORTC Scientific Chairs Council over the past four years;
To Anne-Marie Dingemans, Remon Jordi and the inspiring members of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group;
To Fabrice Barlesi and fabrice andre for their unwavering support;
To my incredible colleagues at Gustave Roussy — Laurence Albiges, christophe massard, LORIOT Yohann, David Planchard, among others — and, above all, to my wife, whose support means everything.

I look forward to working closely with Winette van der Graaf and the outstanding EORTC team over the next five years, as we continue to expand the organization’s exceptional academic mission.”

He acknowledged the contributions of outgoing co-chair Professor Michael Weller, his colleagues at the EORTC Lung Cancer Group, collaborators such as Fabrice Barlesi and Fabrice André, and his team at Gustave Roussy, notably Laurence Albiges, Christophe Massard, Yohann Loriot, and David Planchard.

New Co-Chairs Appointed to the Scientific Chairs Council

In a parallel leadership transition, EORTC welcomed two new Co-Chairs of the Scientific Chairs Council: Professor Anne-Marie Dingemans and Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels. They will succeed Professors Benjamin Besse and Michael Weller, who have served with distinction in shaping the organisation’s scientific direction.

Professor Anne-Marie C. Dingemans, MD, PhD, is a professor of thoracic oncology and pulmonologist at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. A former Chair of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group, she is recognised for her translational work in lung cancer, with emphasis on neuroendocrine tumours, actionable driver mutations, and oligometastatic disease. She is actively involved in global oncology societies, including IASLC, ASCO, and ESMO, and has authored over 300 scientific publications.

Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels, MD, PhD, is Head of Medical Oncology and Medical Director at Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Brussels. As a past Chair of the EORTC Head and Neck Group, his research portfolio includes translational oncology, early-phase clinical trials, and international guideline development. He is widely published and recognised for his leadership in head and neck oncology.

A Vision for the Future

EORTC President Professor Winette van der Graaf welcomed the new appointments, stating:

“I warmly congratulate Professor Benjamin Besse, Professor Anne-Marie Dingemans, and Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels. Their combined expertise and vision will be instrumental in guiding EORTC’s scientific mission forward. I am confident they will continue to advance our values of excellence, collaboration, and patient-centred research.”

The General Assembly also extended its sincere appreciation to Professor Michael Weller for his service as Co-Chair of the Scientific Chairs Council. His commitment and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the organisation’s strategic scientific agenda in recent years.

With this renewed leadership team, EORTC continues to position itself at the forefront of academic cancer research in Europe, promoting innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and impactful outcomes for patients across the globe.

Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD