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PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announced today that Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, FACP, FASCO, FAACR, will receive the inaugural AACR Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research. Von Hoff is being recognized for his groundbreaking accomplishments as a dedicated and inspirational educator, for his sustained scientific innovation that has accelerated advances in cancer science and medicine, and for his extraordinary contributions to the education and training of thousands of clinical cancer investigators.  Von Hoff’s personal tutelage and professional guidance of young clinical fellows and junior clinical faculty for more than two decades have contributed not only to their educational background and training, but also to their ability to apply the principles learned to improve the care of countless cancer patients around the world. Future awards will be presented to deserving individuals who have made significant contributions to the education and training of cancer scientists and physicians at any career level and in any area of cancer research.

Von Hoff is distinguished professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona; Distinguished Professor, Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, at City of Hope in Duarte, California; Virginia G. Piper Distinguished Chair for Innovative Cancer Research at HonorHealth Clinical Research Institute; Margaret Givan Larkin Endowed Chair in Developmental Cancer Therapeutics at Hoag Family Cancer Institute; chief scientific officer for US Oncology Research; and professor of medicine at the University of Arizona and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. An internationally renowned cancer researcher, Von Hoff has contributed to the discovery and development of many approved anticancer therapeutics that are used routinely in the treatment of numerous types of cancer. These therapeutics include, but are not limited to, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, fludarabine, gemcitabine, irinotecan, mitoxantrone, nab-paclitaxel, paclitaxel, topotecan, vismodegib, pexidartinib, and nanoliposomal irinotecan. Notably, his work involving gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel combination therapy in pancreatic cancer patients was one of the first to demonstrate improved response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

In addition to his scientific leadership, Von Hoff has long been a champion and mentor of early-career and early-stage investigators and is dedicated to supporting the professional development of the cancer research workforce. Importantly, Von Hoff is revered for conceptualizing the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop and for establishing and guiding the development of the course. As such, the course has become the premier workshop dedicated to educating clinical fellows and junior faculty clinical researchers in oncology specialties in the principles of effective clinical trial designs and therapeutic interventions for the treatment of cancer. Since its inception in 1996, the workshop has trained more than 2,400 investigators to execute optimally designed clinical research studies.. The concept of this workshop has also been globally adapted to similar workshops in Europe as well as Australia, which has drawn attendance from individuals from India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and many other countries within Southeast Asia. Collectively, more than 4,400 young clinical investigators have been trained through these workshops.

“The AACR is thrilled to establish an award to honor Dr. Von Hoff’s exceptional contributions to the training of cancer investigators,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “Because of Dr. Von Hoff’s foresight and efforts, thousands of early-career cancer investigators around the world have received training in the fundamentals of clinical cancer research and clinical trial design. These individuals have since saved countless lives. The AACR is deeply grateful to Dr. Von Hoff for his unwavering commitment to ensuring the success of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop for the benefit of cancer patients worldwide, and we are delighted that he will be celebrated as the inaugural recipient of this prestigious new award created in his name.”

“I am humbled and deeply grateful for this very special honor,” said Von Hoff. “I share this honor with my incredible colleagues and teachers, who have devoted many thousands of hours to  training and mentoring the next generation of clinical investigators. Our goal together has always been to make sure patients would only be asked to participate in well-designed clinical trials, which would answer important questions impacting patient care.”

The award is accompanied by an honorarium and a featured award lecture to be held in conjunction with the AACR Annual Meeting 2021.

Von Hoff has been a member of the AACR since 1977 and was inducted into the inaugural class of Fellows of the AACR Academy in 2013. He served with distinction as AACR President from 1999-2000. In addition, Von Hoff served as a member of the AACR’s Executive Committee from 1998-2001 and as a member of the AACR Board of Directors from 1993-1996. Von Hoff served as a member of the AACR Council of Scientific Advisors in 2006 and was a trustee of the AACR Foundation from 2006-2014. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the AACR journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics from 2001-2011 and a member of the editorial boards of additional AACR journals, Clinical Cancer Research (2000-2005) and Cancer Research (1995-2000). Von Hoff served as chair for the AACR Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research Committee (2007-2008; 2015-2016) and as a member of the committee from 2008-2009. He also served as chair for the PanCAN-AACR Innovative Grants Committee (2009-2010) and as co-chair of the AACR Annual Meeting Program Committee (2003-2004). Additionally, he was a member of a multitude of other committees, including the AACR Clinical Trials Committee (2011-2012); AACR Clinical and Translational Cancer Research Committee (2009-2013); AACR Nominating Committee (2003-2004); AACR Annual Meeting Education Committee (2002-2003); AACR Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award Committee (2001-2002); AACR Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award Committee (2000-2001); and the AACR Finance and Audit Committee (1998-2000).

Von Hoff has been recognized by the AACR for his many cancer research accomplishments, earning an AACR Distinguished Public Service Award (2019) and the AACR Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Memorial Award (1997). His other distinguished awards include the Bernard Fisher Lectureship from the University of Pittsburgh (2018); Merrill J. Egorin Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award (2018); Gold Medal for Excellence in Clinical Medicine from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (2017); Giants of Cancer Care from OncLive (2016); Researcher of the Year from AZ Business Magazine (2015); Lori Groetken Memorial Lecture and Award from Washington University (2012); Scripps Genomic Medicine Award – Pioneering Implementation of Discoveries (2011); David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2010); SU2C Pancreatic Dream Team: Cutting off the Fuel Supply: A New Approach to the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (2009-2017); SU2C-Cancer Research UK-Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Dream Team: Reprogramming of Transcriptional Circuitry to Control Pancreatic Cancer (2016-2020); William F. McWhorter Community Service Leader of the Year Award (2008); and Weinberg Award from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2003). Von Hoff served on the National Cancer Advisory Board from 2004-2011. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1992) and Fellow of the American College of Physicians (1980). He was also the director of the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona (1999-2003); and professor and director of the Institute for Drug Development at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (1989-1999).

Von Hoff has published 741 papers, 143 book chapters, and over 1,186 abstracts during his prestigious career.

Von Hoff earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He earned his undergraduate degree from Carroll College.