American Association for Cancer Research Announces 2026 Academy Fellows
V Foundation for Cancer Research Scientific Advisory Committee Member and Numerous V Grantees Honored
The American Association for Cancer Research has announced the 2026 class of Fellows of the AACR Academy, one of the highest distinctions in the global cancer research community. The AACR Academy was established to honor scientists, clinicians, and physician-scientists whose visionary work has fundamentally reshaped cancer research, driving major breakthroughs in cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
We are pleased to share that Dr. Bill Nelson, longtime V Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee member, former SAC Chair, and former V Foundation Board member, has been elected to the 2026 class of Fellows. This recognition reflects Dr. Nelson’s extraordinary leadership in cancer research and underscores the caliber of scientific expertise that guides the V Foundation.
Notably, of the 24 individuals elected to the AACR Academy this year, one is a V Foundation SAC member and six are former V Foundation grantees. This represents a remarkably high proportion of awardees and provides strong, independent validation of the V Foundation’s long-term impact in identifying, supporting, and advancing leaders who shape the field of cancer research.
V Foundation–affiliated AACR Academy Fellows in the 2026 class include:
- Cory Abate-Shen, PhD – 2010 Translational Grantee
- Christina Curtis, PhD – 2012 V Scholar; 2023 Translational; 2025 All-Star Grantee
- Anthony Letai, MD, PhD – 2005 V Scholar; 2015 Game Changer
- Ross Levine, MD – 2015 Game Changer
- Bill Nelson, MD, PhD – V Foundation SAC member; former SAC Chair; former Board member
- Alice Shaw, MD, PhD – 2009 Translational Grantee
- Kimberly Stegmaier, MD – 2012 Translational; 2023 All-Star Grantee
This level of representation among AACR Academy Fellows offers compelling evidence of the V Foundation’s sustained role in fueling scientific excellence and leadership across the cancer research ecosystem.
For reference, the full AACR announcement is available here:
https://www.aacr.org/about-the-aacr/newsroom/news-releases/aacr-announces-fellows-of-the-aacr-academy-class-of-2026/
