The Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research is named in memory of Dr. Albert Szent-Györgyi, NFCR’s co-founder and 1937 Nobel Laureate for his study of vitamin C and cell respiration. The prize is a symbol of NFCR’s enduring commitment to uphold Dr. Szent-Györgyi’s vision of curing cancer through innovation and collaboration.
The annual Prize honors scientists whose seminal discovery or pioneering body of work has contributed to cancer prevention, diagnosis, or treatment and has had a lasting impact on understanding cancer, holding the promise of improving or saving lives of cancer patients.
The Szent-Györgyi Prize serves to stimulate continued investment in the pioneering research that will produce scientific breakthroughs and promote public awareness of the importance of basic cancer research and the need to accelerate the translation of these research discoveries into new cancer treatments. In addition to winning the coveted award itself, prize recipients are given a $30,000 honorarium and attend a gala in their honor.
The Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee
The Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee advises and consults with the National Foundation for Cancer Research on each year’s pool of Prize nominees. The Committee considers the research history and contributions of each nominee, with special emphasis on the importance of the research and publications featured in the nomination materials; the significance, originality, and impact of that research as well as the nominee’s entire body of scientific contributions; each nominee’s professional activities; and other relevant aspects of each nominee’s career in research.
It will be the charge of the selection committee members to evaluate each candidate’s accomplishments and provide a dispassionate narrative, not to serve as champions of the candidates.
The Prize Winner each year will serve as the selection chair of the Szent-Györgyi Prize Selection Committee for the following year. In case the Prize Winner is unable to serve as the incoming chair, the previous chair will serve as de facto chair of the new Committee.
The Prize Selection Committee reviews all submissions. If you have questions or need more information, please email ASGPrize@NFCR.org.
You can download all nomination information here: 2026 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS.