Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Scientific Policy and Government Affairs Committee; the appointment became effective at the AACR Annual Meeting earlier this week in New Orleans. Dr. Herbst is Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs, Ensign Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Professor of Pharmacology, and Chief of Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, and Assistant Dean for Translational Research at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Herbst succeeded George Demetri, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, as Chair.
As Chair of the Scientific Policy and Government Affairs Committee (SPGAC), Dr. Herbst will oversee the SPGAC’s three subcommittees to analyze public issues of concern to cancer researchers and focus on mechanisms for expediting cancer research. He is the former chair of the Tobacco Products and Cancer Subcommittee and led lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to foster scientific and policy initiatives to reduce the incidence of disease and mortality due to tobacco use.
For more than 25 years, the Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee has been the AACR’s principal means for devising and implementing strategies to influence important biomedical research-related public policy issues. In 2020, Dr. Herbst received the AACR’s Distinguished Public Service Award in recognition of his sustained, outstanding leadership in cancer science policy for the AACR.
“I am honored to take on the role as Chair of the Scientific Policy and Government Affairs Committee for AACR and look forward to continuing the important work with my colleagues to highlight the importance of clear support for cancer research funding and policy at the national level,” said Dr. Herbst.