FThe Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research is named in memory of Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi, NFCR’s co-founder and 1937 Nobel Laureate for his study of vitamin C and cell respiration. The prize is a symbol of NFCR’s enduring commitment to uphold Dr. Szent-Györgyi’s vision of curing cancer through innovation and collaboration.

The annual Prize honors scientists whose seminal discovery or pioneering body of work has contributed to cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment and has had a lasting impact on understanding cancer, holding the promise of improving or saving lives of cancer patients.

The Szent-Györgyi Prize serves to stimulate continued investment in the pioneering research that will produce scientific breakthroughs and promote public awareness of the importance of basic cancer research and the need to accelerate the translation of these research discoveries into new cancer treatments. In addition to winning the coveted award itself, prize recipients are given a $30,000 honorarium and attend a gala in their honor.

Isaac P. Witz, Ph.D.

2023 Winner
University of Tel Aviv

Rakesh K. Jain, Ph.D.

2022 Winner
Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts General Hospital

Mark M. Davis, Ph.D.

2021 Co-Winner
Stanford University School of Medicine

Tak W. Mak, Ph.D.

2021 Co-Winner
University of Toronto; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Susan Band Horwitz, Ph.D.

2020 Winner
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York

Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D.

2019 Winner
National Cancer Institute

Douglas R. Lowy, M.D.

2018 Co-Winner
National Cancer Institute

John T. Schiller, Ph.D.

2018 Co-Winner
National Institute Health

Michael N. Hall, Ph.D.

2017 Winner
Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland

Mary-Claire King, Ph.D.

2016 Winner
University of Washington

Frederick W. Alt, Ph.D.

2015 Winner
Harvard Medical School & Boston Children’s Hospital

James P. Allison, Ph.D.

2014 Winner
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston

Peter K. Vogt, Ph.D.

2010 Winner
Scripps Research La Jolla

Ronald A. DePinho, M.D.

2009 Winner
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston

Carlo M. Croce, M.D.

2008 Winner
The Ohio State University

Webster K. Cavenee, Ph.D.

2007 Winner
University of California, San Diego

Harold F. Dvorak, M.D.

2006 Winner
Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston