Agnes Viale, Director, Core Facilities Operations at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“On Friday, I had the privilege of participating in a panel at a symposium celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP) at MSK, and I’m still processing it. Sitting in a room with people I’ve long considered giants in cancer biology was humbling in the best possible way. Many helped shape the foundations of the field I’ve spent most of my career in, and being part of that conversation felt both surreal and deeply meaningful.
What struck me most was the perspective that only a 20-year lens can give.
Two decades ago, much of what we now consider routine in precision oncology and molecular diagnostics was aspirational. Today, genomic profiling, biomarker-driven trials, and molecularly guided treatment decisions are reshaping standard care. Our progress in defining the genetic basis of cancer, understanding biological mechanisms, and unraveling resistance to therapy at the molecular level has transformed both research and the clinic.
Friday was also a reminder that this progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It was a celebration of the core facilities and technology platforms, where methods were built, technologies implemented, expertise refined, and the data that drives discovery generated. These shared resources, and the people behind them, are essential to turning ideas into impact. I am deeply grateful for the tremendous support from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center leadership and Cycle for Survival, whose unwavering support for 25 years has helped built incredibly strong Core Facilities.
Throughout the day, we were also reminded that progress is deeply human. Behind every dataset, assay, and targeted therapy, are patients who trusted our institution, teams who collaborated across disciplines, and trainees who carried ideas forward in ways none of us could have predicted.
I’m especially grateful to Charles Sawyers, David Solit, and Ross Levine for creating space to pause and reflect. Thank you to the administrative teams who made the event possible, and to Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis, whose visionary support helped build the environment where this progress could happen.
Feeling grateful to be part of this community, proud of how far we’ve come, and energized for the next 20 years of discovery, translation, and impact.”
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