At an AACR Annual Meeting 2017 session titled “Are There New Hallmarks of Cancer?,” Robert A. Weinberg, PhD, FAACR, and Douglas Hanahan, PhD, FAACR—authors of the seminal 2000 paper that outlined the six common traits that govern the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells—explored the possibility of new enabling characteristics that could expand the definition of hallmarks. The first strategic priority outlined in the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan is to identify, promote, and fund the innovative science that leads to these types of shifts in the scientific paradigm.
AACR Vision 2020: Changing the Face of Cancer
2017-2018 AACR President Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, and the AACR Board of Directors led efforts to develop and execute the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan.
While 2017 was a year to honor the AACR’s past with its 110th anniversary celebration, it was also a year for the AACR leadership to focus on strategic initiatives for the organization’s future—and with it, the future of cancer research. At the end of 2016, the AACR Board of Directors approved the Vision 2020 Strategic Plan that it had developed with the AACR staff to set a course for the organization’s growth and impact on cancer research. The plan revised and restated the vision and mission of the AACR and established seven strategic priorities to guide the organization through 2020.
Vision and Mission
To be the most effective catalyst for the cures and prevention of all cancers through:
Vision 2020 Strategic Priorities
To identify and foster innovative science that is of the highest priority and potential for impact in reducing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality
To become the primary educational resource for cancer scientists, the broader cancer community, and the public
To publish and disseminate high-quality cancer science worldwide
To meet the professional needs of members and increase international outreach and participation
To increase awareness of the AACR among the public
To serve as the authoritative voice for cancer research and thereby inform and influence science and public policy
To develop and implement a comprehensive financial plan that supports the strategic plan and achieves dynamic growth and increased impact
These strategic priorities will inform the AACR’s actions for the next several years. As reflected in the programs and initiatives outlined in this Annual Report, the AACR worked throughout 2017 to realize the plan’s objectives. Under the leadership of the Board of Directors, those efforts will continue over the next several years as the AACR works to fundamentally change the face of cancer.
© 2018 American Association for Cancer Research
