The prestigious ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2006 to recognise international research by individuals, teams and organisations that demonstrated commitment to clinical cancer research and/or education. It is awarded as a recognition for outstanding lifetime achievements in oncology.
2023 – Anthony T.C. Chan, Hong Kong, China
The 2023 ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award was presented at the ESMO 2023 Opening ceremony to Anthony T.C. Chan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor/Vice-President and Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Professor of Clinical Oncology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Chan is being recognised for his lifelong dedication to and outstanding research work in nasopharynx cancer. He conducted pivotal studies setting new treatment standards in multimodality approaches in locoregionally advanced disease, developed the clinical applications of the biomarker EBV DNA and pioneered immunotherapeutic and targeted therapeutics in this disease. Chan has served actively in ESMO as member as well as Chair of the Head and Neck Cancer track on the scientific committees for ESMO congresses, ESMO Asia and ESMO Immuno-oncology congress.
Previous recipients of the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award
- Bernard Escudier, France (2022)
- Alex A. Adjei, USA (2021)
- Nadia Harbeck, Germany (2020)
- Angelo Di Leo, Italy (2019)
- Tony Mok, Hong Kong (2018)
- José Baselga, USA (2017)
- Richard Peto, United Kingdom (2016)
- Nagahiro Saijo, Japan (2015)
- Peter Boyle, France (2014)
- Franco Cavalli, Switzerland (2013)
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), Belgium (2012)
- Hans Jörg Senn, Switzerland (2011)
- Alan H. Calvert, United Kingdom (2010)
- Alan Ashworth, United Kingdom (2009)
- Emili Montserrat, Spain (2008)
- Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) (2007)
- Breast International Group (BIG) (2006)
Nomination and selection process
Nominations may be made by any ESMO member (except undergraduate medical or science student members). Candidates may not nominate themselves.
Candidate eligibility criteria
- Be an internationally recognised individual, team or organisation in any relevant discipline in the field of oncology
- Demonstrate an affiliation to a major academic or cancer research / treatment institution(s)
- Possess an international reputation and demonstrated lifetime commitment to clinical cancer research and/or education
- Be renowned for their outstanding achievements carried out in clinical cancer research and/or education
- Have published results on cancer research topics in highly cited peer-reviewed journals
- Have not previously received the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award
- Have not received any other Award from ESMO within the last five (5) years
- Not be a current or recent (last two years) member of either the ESMO Executive Board, ESMO Council or the ESMO Nomination Committee
Final selection is made by the Selection Committee: ESMO President, ESMO President-Elect, ESMO Past-President, Chair of the ESMO Nomination Committee.