Dr. Antoni Ribas honored for contributions in advancing cancer therapies

Physician-scientist Dr. Antoni Ribas, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the tumor immunology program at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, was awarded the 2024 Healing Award by the Tower Cancer Research Foundation for his unwavering dedication to eradicating cancer.

The recognition, which was given to Ribas during the foundation’s 22nd Annual Tower of Hope Gala, acknowledges his pioneering efforts in cancer immunology and commitment to developing and refining new therapies for patients diagnosed with cancer.

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, played a pivotal role in advancing the clinical development of several cancer therapies approved by the FDA, including the anti-CTLA-4 tremelimumab, two combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors vemurafenib and cobimetinib, dabrafenib, trametinib and the first-of-its-kind immunotherapy pembrolizumab, which is now approved for use in over 25 cancer indications.

“It is a great honor to receive this award,” Ribas said. “The Tower Cancer Research Foundation has not only supported my laboratory, but has funded many young investigators who will continue to propel innovative cancer research to help find better treatments for individuals diagnosed with cancer."