Cecily Strong to Host Cancer Research Institute’s 2024 Annual Awards Gala

On Tuesday, October 15, 2024, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) will pay tribute to 71 years of critical immunotherapy research at its 2024 Annual Awards Gala, which will take place at Cipriani 25 Broadway at 6:30 p.m. in Manhattan’s Financial District. The evening’s host will be actress and comedian Cecily Strong, formerly with NBC’s Saturday Night Live and Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon! 

During the evening, Ms. Strong will be joined by CRI’s co-chairmen, Andrew Tsai and Paul Shiverick, to honor some of the most esteemed scientists in the field of cancer immunology. This year’s Awards Gala also marks a pivotal moment for CRI as it welcomes its new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alicia Zhou, PhD.

“I feel proud and excited to be attending my first CRI annual awards gala. This institute has funded many fundamental immunotherapy breakthroughs over the past 71 years,” Dr. Zhou said. “The work of the five scientists we are honoring has been instrumental in propelling immunotherapy progress forward. We look forward to learning what future breakthroughs are on their horizons.”

CRI will recognize the following scientists at this year’s Annual Awards Gala with three of the institute’s highest accolades: 

• Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, will receive the 2024 Oliver R. Grace Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer Research for her 35+ years of leadership and service as CRI’s CEO. This award is given to recognize leadership that has advanced cancer research through fundraising, advocacy, or awareness efforts. 

• Andrea Schietinger, PhD, Principal Investigator and Member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is a CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR. She will receive the 2024 Frederick W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology. Her work is revolutionizing our understanding of tumor-immune interactions within the tissue microenvironment. This award is designated for former CRI postdoctoral fellows to recognize tremendous success in academia or industry for research that has had a significant effect on the field of immunology.

• Three scientists: Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, the director of the Diabetes Center at the University of California, San Francisco; Christophe O. Benoist, MD, PhD, the Morton Grove-Rasmussen Professor of Immunohematology at Harvard Medical School; and Diane J. Mathis, PhD, the Morton Grove-Rasmussen Chair of Immunohematology, professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School, will receive the 2024 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology. This award is bestowed on some of the world’s brightest scientists in recognition of groundbreaking discoveries in basic immunology and cancer immunology. These three scientists are being recognized for their foundational work in elucidating immune tolerance mechanisms, self-antigen presentation, and the role of Aire in preventing autoimmunity. 

In addition to cocktail hour, a dinner reception, and the honoring of award recipients, the gala will feature musical guest The Checkpoints–a 13-member band comprised entirely of oncologists and cancer researchers. Four of the musicians serve on CRI’s Scientific Advisory Council. 

Learn more about what’s in store for this year’s annual awards gala by visiting this page and by reading the blog for last year’s dinner. CRI is deeply appreciative to Drs. O’Donnell-Tormey, Schietinger, Anderson, Benoist, and Mathis for their outstanding work that has helped accelerate life-improving and life-saving immunotherapy research. They exemplify immunotherapy’s progress and potential that can create a world immune to cancer. 

If you have any questions about CRI’s 2024 Annual Awards Gala, please email [email protected].