The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is delighted to announce that Professor Paul Workman has been elected as a Fellow of The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy.
The AACR, which is the world’s first and largest cancer research organisation, today announced its newly elected Fellows of the AACR Academy for 2025.
Professor Workman is one of only 33 new Fellows elected into the AACR Academy this year, bringing the total number of Fellows to 375.
Professor Workman was previously President and Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Director of what is now the ICR’s Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery (CCDD). He is currently Group Leader in Signal Transduction and Molecular Pharmacology in the CCDD, Harrap Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the ICR, and Co-director of the Cancer Research UK Children's Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence at the ICR and Cambridge University.
The Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery at the ICR is the world’s most successful academic drug discovery unit – since 2005, researchers at the CCDD have discovered 21 clinical candidates and 13 have entered clinical trials. Most recently, capivasertib, which was discovered by AstraZeneca subsequent to a collaboration with Astex Pharmaceuticals (and its collaboration with the ICR and Cancer Research Technology Limited), was approved by regulators in the UK, Europe and the US.
A global trust of leading experts in cancer
The mission of the Fellows of the AACR Academy is to recognise and honour extraordinary scientists whose groundbreaking contributions have driven significant innovation and progress in the fight against cancer. Fellows of the AACR Academy constitute a global brain trust of leading experts in cancer science and medicine, working to advance the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, collaboration, communication, advocacy, and funding for cancer research.
Fellows are nominated for the accolade and elected through a meticulous, peer-reviewed process that rigorously evaluates each candidate’s scientific achievements and their contributions to the global cancer research community.
A profound and lasting impact
Only those whose work has made a profound and lasting impact on cancer research and related fields are considered for election.
Professor Workman’s election citation reads:
“For his instrumental advancements to cancer drug development, including the discovery of the HSP90 inhibitor NVP-AUY922 (luminespib), the PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 (pictilisib), the AKT inhibitor AZD5363 (capivasertib), and the EGFR inhibitor ZD1839 (gefitinib); and for conceptualising the “Pharmacological Audit Trail,” a biomarker-driven framework that has revolutionised rational decision-making in the establishment of oncology therapeutics.”
Other ICR scientists who have been made AACR Academy Fellows are Professor Sir Mel Greaves and Professor Terry Rabbitts.
'Drug discovery and development is a team sport - and I'm hugely grateful to my team'
Professor Paul Workman, Group Leader in the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery and Harrap Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:
“I’m very excited to be elected to the AACR Academy and humbled to join this illustrious group of cancer researchers. Drug discovery and development is a team sport and I’m hugely grateful to all my very many trainees, technical staff, colleagues and collaborators – and also the funders, donors and institutions that have supported me throughout my career – especially, over the last 28 years, the ICR. I thank my family for their fantastic support as well. It’s been a privilege to do exciting science, with wonderful people, that has led to benefits for many cancer patients, and I’d especially like to pay tribute to the patients and their families who have contributed so much to the progress we’ve made in the lab and in the clinic.”
Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:
“Being elected a Fellow of the AACR Academy is a fantastic achievement and recognises researchers who have made an outstanding contribution to cancer research. We are extremely proud to see Paul’s achievements in drug discovery and development being celebrated in this way.
“This tribute also acknowledges the high quality of cancer research taking place at the ICR. However, it’s also important to recognise that the advances we’ve made in cancer research would not have been possible without our funders, donors and collaborators, who so generously and graciously donate money and time to support our research.”