PHILADELPHIA – The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism in the following categories:
Magazine
- “Targeting Cancer, Sparing Patients”
By Jyoti S. Madhusoodanan (Photo), Scientific American
Newspaper
- “Fighting stigma, fighting cancer: The rising threat of male breast cancer in Kenya”
By Pauline Ongaji Ogada (Photo), Nation
Online/Multimedia
- “Farewell, my stomach”
By Teresa Firmino (Photo) and Joana Martins Gonçalves (Photo), Publico
- “Women who are blind play a critical role in identifying breast cancers”
By Kamala Thiagarajan (Photo), National Public Radio
- “Undetected and untreated amid war: Gaza's women are suffering in silence this Breast Cancer Awareness Month”
By Rasha Salman Mohammed Abu Jalal (Photo), The New Arab
Television/Radio/Podcast
- “O Câncer nas Mulheres da Amazônia - Cancer in Amazonian Women”
By Giulia Gazetta Scarano (Photo), Marcela Varasquim (Photo), and Larissa Werren (Photo), Repórter Record Investigação
The prize recipients will be recognized on Sunday, April 27, during the Opening Ceremony at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. The AACR Annual Meeting brings together thousands of researchers, clinicians, survivors, patients, and advocates to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine.
The AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism was established in 2015 to raise awareness of the critical role that the media play in educating the public about cancer and cancer research. The prize showcases outstanding examples of cancer journalism and recognizes individual professional journalists who have produced accurate, informative, and compelling stories that enhance the public’s understanding of cancer, cancer research, cancer advocacy, or cancer policy. The prize is named in honor of June L. Biedler, PhD, and is supported by a generous bequest she made to the AACR.
“The AACR is honored to recognize these remarkable journalists with the 2025 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism,” said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. “This year’s recipients hail from six different countries and, through their stories, bring to light important progress and challenges in cancer science and medicine. Together, the winning submissions convey the global impact of this terrible disease and remind us that combating cancer will require dedicated international collaboration. We are thankful for Dr. Biedler’s generous gift that allows us to celebrate the critical role of the media in educating people around the world about cancer and cancer research.”
“I’ve had the honor of judging the Biedler Prize for the past decade, and I am thrilled to say that the reporting and storytelling by our entrants continues to amaze me,” said Clifton Leaf, adjunct professor at Columbia Journalism School, former editor-in-chief of Fortune, visiting member of the Ellison Medical Institute, and chair of the Biedler Prize since 2017. “This year’s winners take us on a stunning journey across five continents, showing in powerful detail the challenges that those with cancer too often face—and the wellspring of innovative science and care that’s being brought to meet them.”
ABOUT THE WINNING SUBMISSIONS
Magazine
- “Targeting Cancer, Sparing Patients” by Jyoti S. Madhusoodanan, Scientific American
In this feature story, Jyoti S. Madhusoodanan takes a deep dive into the history and science of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a new class of drugs that target a wide range of cancers. Scientists have pursued the dream of targeted cancer treatments for nearly a century, and ADCs mark a significant milestone in that quest. Madhusoodanan expertly tells an insightful story that balances science and clinical impact, taking readers on a tour of the science behind these drugs, researchers’ motivations and persistence in developing such therapies, and the deep joy doctors have felt to see their patients benefit from ADCs during clinical trials and beyond.
Newspaper
- “Fighting stigma, fighting cancer: The rising threat of male breast cancer in Kenya” by Pauline Ongaji Ogada, Nation
In this article, Pauline Ongaji Ogada skillfully integrates facts, science, and personal stories to explore the stigma surrounding male breast cancer and the challenges faced in diagnosis and treatment. Societal perceptions often lead to misdiagnosis and delayed care, as men are typically viewed as less likely to develop the disease. Ongaji shares the breast cancer journeys of two men, who both faced significant financial burdens and emotional distress following their diagnoses. Their narratives highlight the urgency of addressing these misconceptions while also reflecting the resilience of individuals battling a condition shrouded in stigma.
Online/Multimedia
- “Farewell, my stomach” by Teresa Firmino and Joana Martins Gonçalves, Publico
Through illustration and animation, Teresa Firmino and Joana Martins Gonçalves masterfully translate complex scientific findings on hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC)—a rare type of cancer that grows in the stomach—by telling the story of a young man’s diagnosis and the aftermath of his passing. His family went on to get tested for the genetic mutation that increases the risk of developing HDGC, and many underwent a total gastrectomy as a preventative measure. The story weaves together the patients’ viewpoints and the perspective of the scientists who research the genetic basis of HDGC, highlighting the power of cancer research, and specifically genetic testing.
- “Women who are blind play a critical role in identifying breast cancers” by Kamala Thiagarajan, National Public Radi
In this piece, Kamala Thiagarajan spotlights a new initiative to address a common problem in breast cancer screening around the world. For many reasons, women may find a mammogram invasive, or in conservative cultures, they may feel ashamed to undergo one, leading to a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. “Discovering Hands” is a global project that trains people who are blind to perform comprehensive breast exams. The idea was to leverage the blind examiner's sense of touch, which studies have shown is more acute than that of sighted people. The medical tactile examiners were 30% better at detecting even the smallest lumps and bumps in breast tissue than doctors due to their heightened sense of touch. Thiagarajan’s story focuses on the program’s impact in India, highlighting the effect it has had not only on patients but also on the women employed by hospitals and supported by the Discovering Hands program, who might otherwise be unable to find a job because of their condition.
- “Undetected and untreated amid war: Gaza's women are suffering in silence this Breast Cancer Awareness Month” by Rasha Salman Mohammed Abu Jalal, The New Arab
In this report, Rasha Salman Mohammed Abu Jalal brings to light the experiences of breast cancer patients in Gaza who face not only the burden of illness but also the compounded challenges of war, displacement, and limited access to healthcare. The piece exposes the realities of life in the midst of conflict, where basic medical care is out of reach and crossing borders for treatment is impossible. This story is rich in personal testimonies, making it powerful and effective in conveying the barriers for cancer patients in war zones.
Television/Radio/Podcast
- “O Câncer nas Mulheres da Amazônia - Cancer in Amazonian Women” by Giulia Gazetta Scarano, Marcela Varasquim, and Larissa Werren, Repórter Record Investigação
In this impactful video report, Giulia Gazetta Scarano, Marcela Varasquim, and Larissa Werren shed light on the difficulties women in the Amazon face when diagnosed with cancer, where medical care is not available. Patients need to travel long distances, some by boat, to receive specialized care at the only public hospital dedicated to cancer treatment in the state. Through this story, Gazetta Scarano, Varasquim, and Werren draw attention to an underreported issue and emphasize the need for more resources for this vulnerable patient population.