The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) Annual Award recipients

Award Descriptions and Nomination Criteria
Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award
SITC Lifetime Achievement Award
Tara Withington Public Service Award
Pedro J. Romero Service to JITC Award

SITC Annual Awards and Academy of Immuno-Oncology Descriptions and Nomination Criteria

The following are brief descriptions and nomination requirements for the SITC Annual Awards and Academy of Immuno-Oncology. Nominations must be submitted by May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.* Annual Award reviewers, Executive Council Nominating Subcommittee members and Board of Directors members are ineligible to receive SITC’s Annual Awards.

As part of the SITC DEI Strategic Plan, SITC aims to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within all SITC initiatives.

Submit a 2024 Award Nomination via Email

Academy of Immuno-Oncology

The Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology (FAIO) are individuals who have made seminal contributions to move the field of cancer immunotherapy forward to the benefit of patients.

Selection Criteria

Actively serving FAIO Committee members or Board members will not be eligible for nomination. After members rotate off the Committee or Board, they may be considered for nomination. SITC Staff will notify nominators if this is the case.
Fellows should commit to attending the induction ceremony event held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting to be eligible to receive the award. The SITC 39^th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2024) will take place on Nov. 6–10, 2024, at The George R. Brown Convention Center.
Work setting is not a limiting factor for the FAIO, all those who are a part of academia, industry, other, etc. are eligible.
SITC membership is not a requirement for nominees.
The FAIO Committee may opt to honor one posthumous awardee with each class.
Inducted Fellows of the Academy of IO will be called upon to help in the selection of subsequent classes of inductees.

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide one nomination letter (2 page limit) and the nominee’s CV. See more information including previous Fellows of the Academy of Immuno-Oncology here.

2025 Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award and Lectureship

Established in 2005, the Richard V. Smalley Memorial Award and Lectureship is presented each year to a luminary in the field that has significantly contributed to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research. It serves to honor those that have been pioneers in their work and made a notable impact worthy of high regard and recognition by their peers.

Selection Criteria

Recipient should be considered a “luminary” in the field and have significantly contributed to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research. Society membership is not a requirement to receive this award.

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide one nomination letter (2 page limit) and the nominee’s CV. See more information including previous winners of the Smalley Award here.

SITC Lifetime Achievement Award

This nominated award recognizes an outstanding SITC member or collaborator who has made significant impact on SITC’s development and mission.

Selection Criteria

Nominee has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the science and application of cancer immunotherapy
Nominee’s service and/or leadership has made a significant impact on SITC’s development and mission
Nominee’s contributions can include program development, service, leadership, mentorship and/or advocacy within SITC

Nomination Requirements

Nominator should supply one letter (2 page limit) and the nominee's CV. The nomination letter should address how the nominee impacted SITC's mission using the criteria listed.

Tara Withington Public Service Award

Awarded to an individual or group who fosters and enhances the field through any of the following: increasing public understanding, awareness, research efforts and/or funding. This award is not intended to acknowledge an individual's or group's scientific contributions. Distinct from the SITC Lifetime Achievement Award, this award honors an individual's or group's effort in public service promoting cancer immunotherapy.

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the Tara Withington Public Service Award should have demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in meeting any of the following selection criteria:

Increased the public's understanding and fostered awareness of cancer immunotherapy through innovation and communication to the public, and encouraged others to follow suit
Advocated for and championed progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy
Promoted the engagement of the public in outreach, advocacy and promotion of cancer immunotherapy
Contributed to the development of cancer immunotherapy policies and their support
Influenced and encouraged the next generation of cancer immunotherapy scientists and clinicians
Encouraged and facilitated collaboration between entities in the cancer immunotherapy field

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee(s), nominator must provide a brief description (2 page limit) that includes a description of the nominee's public service to the field of cancer immunotherapy. Please specifically comment on how the nominee(s) met one or more of the criteria listed.

Pedro J. Romero Service to JITC Award

This nominated award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions and demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) — the official journal of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer.

Selection Criteria

Recipient has significantly contributed to the advancement of the journal and its aims through their distinguished record of service, leadership, and/or collaboration. Society membership is not a requirement to receive this award.

Nomination Requirements

Along with name of nominee, nominator must provide a brief description (2 page limit) of their service to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC).

2023
Robert D. Schreiber, PhD
Washington University School of Medicine

2020
Lieping Chen, MD, PhD
Yale School of Medicine

2022
Zelig Eshhar, PhD
Weizmann Institute of Science Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

2021
Crystal L. Mackall, MD
Stanford University

2020
Gordon Freeman, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

2020
Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School

2019
Olivera J. Finn, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

2018
Phillip D. Greenberg, MD
Fred Hutchinson Research Center

2017
Paul Sondel, MD, PhD
University of Wisconsin-Madison

2016
Suzanne L. Topalian, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

2015
Tasuku Honjo, MD, PhD
Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine

2014
Giorgio Trinchieri, MD
National Cancer Institute

2013
Carl H. June, MD
University of Pennsylvania

2012
Theresa L. Whiteside, PhD
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

2011
Ralph M. Steinman, MD
The Rockefeller University

2010
James P. Allison, PhD
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

2009
Isaiah J. Fidler, DVM, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center

2008
Giorgio Parmiani, MD
San Raffaele Foundation

2007
Ernest Borden, MD
Cleveland Clinic Foundation

2006
Ronald Levy, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine

2005
Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

This nominated award recognizes an outstanding SITC member or collaborator who has made significant impact on SITC’s development and mission.

Michael B. Atkins, MD 2023
Kim A. Margolin, MD
Saint John's Cancer Institute

2022
Michael B. Atkins, MD
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

2021
Michael T. Lotze, MD, FACS
University of Pittsburgh

Bernard A. Fox, PhD 2023
Founders of Stand Up To Cancer
(Top L-R) Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, and Ellen Ziffren, in addition to the late Noreen Fraser and the late Laura Ziskin