Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Researchers Honored at AACR Annual Meeting

Experts from the cancer center present new findings and receive prestigious awards at the leading cancer research conference.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:03am

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Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center will showcase their latest cancer research and receive top honors at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego. The center's director, William Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., was elected as a fellow of the AACR Academy, while other faculty members were recognized for their pioneering work in cancer prevention, epigenetics, and liquid biopsy technologies.

Why it matters

The AACR Annual Meeting is one of the world's largest and most influential gatherings of cancer researchers, making the recognition of Johns Hopkins experts a significant achievement that highlights the center's leadership in advancing cancer science and care. The honored researchers have made groundbreaking contributions in areas like prostate cancer screening, ovarian cancer prevention, and targeted therapies for hard-to-treat pancreatic cancer.

The details

At the AACR meeting, Kimmel Cancer Center researchers will present new findings and receive several prestigious honors and awards. Director William Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., was elected as a fellow of the AACR Academy, recognizing his pioneering work that led to the first noninvasive, epigenetic-based test for prostate cancer. Ashani Weeraratna, Ph.D., was elected to the AACR board of directors, a leadership role guiding the organization's global efforts. Elizabeth Platz, Sc.D., M.P.H., will receive the AACR-American Cancer Society Award for her foundational contributions to understanding prostate cancer risk and progression. Andrew Feinberg, M.D., M.P.H., will be honored with the AACR's oldest award, the G.H.A. Clowes Award, for his landmark discoveries establishing the central role of epigenetics in cancer. Additionally, Daniel Rabzideh will receive the AACR-Margaret Foti Foundation Scholar-in-Training Award for his work on a machine learning method to identify clonal hematopoiesis variants in liquid biopsies.

  • The AACR Annual Meeting will take place from April 17-22, 2026 in San Diego, California.

The players

William Nelson

M.D., Ph.D., Marion I. Knott Professor and Director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, was elected a fellow of the AACR Academy for his pioneering work that led to the first noninvasive, epigenetic-based test for prostate cancer.

Ashani Weeraratna

Ph.D., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Cancer Biology and Co-Leader of the Kimmel Cancer Center Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program, was elected to the AACR board of directors.

Elizabeth Platz

Sc.D., M.P.H., professor and Martin D. Abeloff Scholar in Cancer Prevention and Co-Leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, will receive the AACR-American Cancer Society Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention.

Andrew Feinberg

M.D., M.P.H., Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and King Fahd Professor, will receive the AACR–G.H.A. Clowes Award for Outstanding Basic Cancer Research, the AACR's oldest award.

Daniel Rabzideh

Will receive the AACR–Margaret Foti Foundation Scholar-in-Training Award for his work on PlasmaCHORD, a machine-learning method designed to identify clonal hematopoiesis variants in liquid biopsies.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The recognition of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers at the prestigious AACR Annual Meeting underscores the center's leadership in advancing cancer science and care through pioneering work in areas like prostate cancer screening, ovarian cancer prevention, and targeted therapies for hard-to-treat cancers. These honors reflect the center's commitment to driving progress and improving outcomes for cancer patients.