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The PÕ¾ÊÓƵ (PÕ¾ÊÓƵ) awarded its 2026 Medal of Honor¡ªits highest scientific recognition¡ªto Tyler Jacks, PhD, David H. Koch Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and president of Break Through Cancer. Dr. Jacks was celebrated during the awards ceremony on March 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C., joining a distinguished lineage of scientists recognized for transformative contributions to cancer research.

Dr. Tyler Jacks was honored for his pioneering creation of genetically engineered mouse models that revolutionized the study of tumor initiation, evolution, and therapeutic resistance, providing indispensable tools used across cancer research today. His work has yielded seminal insights into the functions of tumor suppressors, oncogenes, DNA?repair pathways, and the complex interplay between tumors and the immune system. Beyond his laboratory achievements, Dr. Jacks has reshaped the research landscape through visionary leadership, most notably as president of Break Through Cancer, where he champions ¡°radical collaboration¡± to accelerate progress against some of the most lethal malignancies. Together, his scientific discoveries and his leadership in collaborative cancer research have profoundly advanced the field and continue to influence its direction.

"Beyond scientific impact, his visionary thinking, collaborative approach, dedication to mentoring, and strong leadership distinguished him among an exceptionally competitive pool of candidates."

The Medal of Honor is the highest scientific recognition awarded by PÕ¾ÊÓƵ. Originally established in 1949 as the PÕ¾ÊÓƵ Award, the Medal of Honor is presented to individuals whose research has fundamentally advanced cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The most recent PÕ¾ÊÓƵ Medal of Honor was awarded to renowned kidney cancer expert?, a former director of the National Cancer Institute. Previous recipients of the Medal of Honor include Dr. George N. Papanicolaou, inventor of the Pap test; Dr. Robert C. Gallo, recognized for his pioneering work in human retrovirology; and Dr. Judah Folkman, a leading researcher in antiangiogenesis.?

¡°I am very grateful to the PÕ¾ÊÓƵ for this very special recognition," Dr. Jacks.

A Career Sparked by Early Inspiration

Dr. Jacks traces the origins of his scientific career to formative experiences as an undergraduate at Harvard College. ¡°I was fortunate enough to work in a cancer research laboratory in college, and that early experience was pivotal in my decision to pursue this career,¡± he said. ¡°I had also heard Bob Weinberg describe his then-unpublished work on the cloning of the first human cancer gene when I was a college junior. And that sealed the deal!¡±

After graduating magna cum laude with highest honors in biology from Harvard College in 1983, Dr. Jacks went on to complete his PhD at the University of California, San Francisco under Nobel laureate Dr. Harold Varmus. His early work included seminal studies on ribosomal frameshifting in oncogenic viruses. He later joined Dr. Robert Weinberg¡¯s group as a postdoctoral fellow at the Whitehead Institute, where he began developing some of the first genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) that would become foundational to modern cancer biology research.

Pioneering Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Dr. Jacks is internationally recognized for creating and applying sophisticated GEMMs that replicate the initiation, progression, and molecular complexity of human cancers. Widely adopted across the field, these models have been instrumental in studying tumor-suppressor gene function, oncogenic signaling, immune surveillance, therapeutic response, and mechanisms of drug resistance.

His laboratory at MIT has developed GEMMs involving p53, Rb, Nf1, K?ras, and numerous DNA repair and epigenetic regulators, enabling critical advances in understanding tumorigenesis and uncovering opportunities for therapeutic intervention. In one hallmark example, Dr. Jacks¡¯ team engineered a ¡°genetic Trojan horse¡± K?ras model that more authentically reproduces sporadic tumor emergence, providing new insights into the molecular events that drive early tumor evolution.

Dr. Jacks has also made major contributions to tumor immunology. His work with spontaneous GEMMs has illuminated how T?cell responses vary across cancer types and microenvironments, shaping our understanding of immune surveillance, immunoediting, and immune?mediated therapeutic response.

Leadership and ¡°Radical Collaboration¡±

Beyond his laboratory contributions, Dr. Jacks is a widely respected scientific leader. He has chaired the National Cancer Advisory Board and the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors, served as president of the American Association for Cancer Research, and authored more than 300 scientific papers.

Today, Dr. Jacks leads Break Through Cancer, a nonprofit initiative uniting five major cancer centers to accelerate progress through ¡°radical collaboration¡±¡ªa model designed to eliminate traditional barriers between institutions and enable real?time data sharing and collective problem-solving. The consortium focuses on some of the most lethal malignancies, including pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia.

¡°Some of the deadliest cancers still lack durable treatments or early detection strategies,¡± Dr. Jacks said. ¡°But if we continue to support bold ideas and continue to invest deeply in research, I am convinced that even these most challenging problems will be overcome.¡±

Looking toward the future, he expressed optimism: "I am genuinely optimistic about the pace of discovery in cancer research, and its potential for impacting lives." Dr. Jacks said. "Over the past several decades, a series of technological and scientific advances have propelled our ability to understand the molecular drivers of many cancers in ways that were unimaginable when I began my career. We have now seen the fruits of that research translated into powerful methods to treat cancer more effectively and detect it earlier, leading to better outcomes."