In early March, the American Cancer Society named Tyler Jacks, PhD, the recipient of its 2026 medal of honor, its most prestigious award.
Dr. Jacks is president of Break Through Cancer, a nonprofit initiative that unites U.S. cancer institutes to collaborate on research focused on some of the deadliest cancers. He is a biology professor at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge.
The medal recognizes Dr. Jacks’ work in difficult-to-treat cancers, including research on how some genes resist treatment and promote tumor growth, according to an ACS news release.
“Dr. Jacks has also conducted extensive research into how the immune system sees and also fails to see developing cancers,” the release said.
He serves as co-director of the Cambridge-based Ludwig Center at MIT, which conducts research on the biological mechanisms underlying malignant progression of primary tumors.
