James P. Allison received the 2014 Szent-Gyrgi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research

The Szent-Gyrgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research is a prestigious scientific award established by the National Foundation for Cancer Research(NFCR)—a leading cancer research charitable organization in the United States that is committed to supporting innovative cancer research on the global scale that aims to cure cancer. Each year, the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize honors an outstanding researcher whose original discoveries have expanded our understanding of cancer and resulted in notable advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. The prize also promotes public awareness of the importance of basic cancer research and encourages the sustained investment needed to accelerate the translation of these research discoveries into new cancer treatments. This report highlights the history and mission of the Szent-Gyrgyi Prize, its role in promoting discovery-oriented cancer research, and the pioneering work led by the 2014 prize winner, Dr. James Allison. Dr. Allison's work in the area of cancer immunotherapy led to the successful development of immune checkpoint therapy, and the first drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Frederick W.Alt received the 2015 Szent-Gyrgi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research

The Szent-Gyorgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research is a prestigious scientific award established by the National Foundation for Cancer Research(NFCR)—a leading cancer research charitable organization in the United States that is committed to supporting scientific research and public education relating to the prevention,early diagnosis,better treatments,and ultimately,a cure for cancer.Each year,the Szent-Gyorgyi Prize honors an outstanding researcher,nominated by colleagues or peers,who has contributed outstanding,significant research to the fight against cancer,and whose accomplishments have helped improve treatment options for cancer patients.The Prize also promotes public awareness of the importance of basic cancer research and encourages the sustained investment needed to accelerate the translation of these research discoveries into new cancer treatments.This report highlights the pioneering work led by the 2015 Prize winner,Dr.Frederick Alt.Dr.Alt's work in the area of cancer genetics over four decades has helped to shape the very roots of modern cancer research.His work continues to profoundly impact the approaches that doctors around the globe use to diagnose and treat cancer.In particular,his seminal discoveries of gene amplification and his pioneering work on molecular mechanisms of DNA damage repair have helped to usher in the era of genetically targeted therapy and personalized medicine.

International Szent-Gyorgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research:basic and translational research recognition Mary-Claire King received the 2016 Prize for her pioneering research that demonstrated the first evidence of genetic predisposition to breast cancer

The Szent-Gy?rgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research is a prestigious scientific award sponsored by the National Foundation for Cancer Research(NFCR)-a leading cancer research charitable organization in the United States that supports innovative cancer research globally with the ultimate goal to cure cancer. The coveted Szent-Gy?rgyi Prize annually honors a scientist whose seminal discovery or body of work has resulted in, or led toward, notable contributions to cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment; and the discovery has had a high direct impact of saving people's lives. In addition, the prize promotes public awareness of the importance of basic cancer research and encourages the sustained investment needed to accelerate the translation of these research discoveries into new cancer treatments. In 2016, NFCR's Szent-Gy?rgyi Prize Selection Committee was unanimous in its decision to recognize an icon in human disease genetics, Dr. Mary-Claire King, for her pioneering research that demonstrated the first evidence of genetic predisposition to breast cancer. Her proof of existence of BRCA1 gene and its location has made genetic screening for breast and ovarian cancers possible, saving lives of many people who are at high risk with inherited BRCA1 mutations.