The 2025 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research will be presented to William Hait, Fellow of the AACR Academy, during the AACR Annual Meeting 2025. 

Hait served as the Global Head of Janssen Research and Development and was the executive vice president, chief of external innovation, and medical safety and global public health officer at Johnson & Johnson prior to his retirement in 2024.  

He is being recognised with this award for his extensive contributions to cancer pharmacology, drug discovery, and precision medicine, including early recognition of adverse signal transduction events capable of driving malignant cell growth and advancements in the development of targeted therapies.  

His research on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, EF-2 kinase, and multidrug resistance mechanisms laid the foundation for transformative cancer treatments. 

Hait developed New Jersey’s first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute, and spearheaded the development of oncology drugs that have improved outcomes for millions of cancer patients. 

The AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research was established in 2007 in honour of Margaret Foti, Chief Executive Officer of the AACR, for her exemplary leadership of the AACR. It is presented annually to an individual whose leadership and extraordinary achievements in cancer research have made a major impact in the field. 

“Dr Hait is an internationally renowned physician-scientist whose distinguished and impactful research has revolutionised cancer science and medicine for the benefit of countless patients,” said Foti. “The AACR is deeply grateful for his many years of wise counsel and steady leadership during his time as AACR President and Treasurer, which have been invaluable in guiding the organisation to where it is today. I am thrilled that the selection committee has chosen Dr Hait for this award, as he is richly deserving of this accolade.” 

Hait’s award lecture will be held on 28 April at 4:15pm CT.

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW