Andrew Matthius

Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR, has been researching potential new treatments for head and neck cancer and treating patients with this disease for over 30 years. Recently, she has turned her attention to intercepting cancer earlier. This new direction also elicited a desire to learn more about innovative approaches researchers are taking to stop cancer even earlier—by preventing it before it begins.

At the AACR Annual Meeting 2026, held April 17-22, National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Anthony Letai, MD, PhD, FAACR, posed this question to attendees: “Where can you focus your efforts to make the cancer research system stronger, faster, and more effective for people with cancer?” Over the course of his address and fireside chat with AACR Immediate Past President Lillian L. Siu, MD, FAACR, and AACR President Keith T.

Starting on April 17, more than 22,000 scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, cancer survivors, and patient advocates are expected to head to San Diego for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026.