Cancer association honors Dr. Antoni Ribas for achievements and leadership in cancer research

Dr. Antoni Ribas, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy Program, has been selected as this year’s recipient of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research.

Established in 2007 in honor of Dr. Margaret Foti, chief executive officer of the AACR, the award recognizes Ribas for his leadership and accomplishments that have made a lasting impact on cancer research and demonstrate a sustained commitment to advancing progress in the field. This includes contributions that accelerate scientific discovery, raise national and international awareness, and drive meaningful advances in patient care.

Ribas is internationally renowned for his pioneering contributions to cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the development of checkpoint inhibitors and new approaches to address treatment resistance. His research has helped transform outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma, significantly extending survival while opening the door to similar strategies in a wide range of cancers.

His work has also led to the development and approval of several therapies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including the anti-CTLA-4 antibody tremelimumab; targeted combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors such as vemurafenib and cobimetinib and dabrafenib and trametinib; and the immunotherapy pembrolizumab, which is now used to treat more than 25 cancer types.

In addition to his scientific contributions, Ribas has actively mentored the next generation of physician-scientists and researchers for more than two decades, guiding undergraduate and medical students, residents, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and graduate students in translating laboratory discoveries into life-saving therapies. 

Through his work, he has supported young investigators and fostered collaborative initiatives that bridge academic research and clinical application. Many of his trainees have gone on to prominent academic and clinical positions worldwide, reflecting his commitment to shaping the field beyond his own laboratory and clinical practice. 

“This award is a tremendous honor, and I am grateful for this recognition,” said Ribas, who is also the director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Center at UCLA and member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. “It reflects the dedication of the teams I work with and the patients who motivate us to keep pushing the boundaries of cancer research.” 

Ribas has served as president of the AACR from 2020 to 2021 and as a member of the AACR Board of Directors from 2016 to 2019. He is also an elected Fellow of multiple prestigious societies, including the AACR Academy, the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia and the National Academy of Medicine, reflecting his dedication to advancing scientific standards and supporting peers in the field.

As this year’s award recipient, Ribas will deliver a featured award lecture at the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting, scheduled for April 20, at 4:15 pm PT at the San Diego Convention Center.