Charles G. Moertel Lectureship Award

The Charles G. Moertel Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of Charles G. Moertel, MD, founding Group Chair of the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), one of the three legacy groups that formed the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. Dr. Moertel’s pioneering contributions helped shape modern cancer clinical trials and established a lasting legacy of scientific excellence and innovation.

Honoring achievements in community cancer practice

Presented during the Alliance Spring Group Meeting, the lecture recognizes an investigator whose research through the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) has had a major impact on community cancer practice. The lecture honors sustained scientific contributions that have advanced cancer care and celebrates the lasting impact of collaborative research..

Eligibility and nominations

Any Alliance member may nominate an investigator whose research through the NCTN and NCORP has made a major impact on community cancer practice. The award recognizes sustained contributions rather than a single accomplishment.

For more information about the Moertel Lecture, please contact Niveditha Subbiah, LLM, MA, Alliance Cancer Control Senior Program Manager, at Niveditha@AllianceNCTN.org.

Past recipients

  • 2026: Electra Paskett, PhD – Marion N. Rowley Professor of Cancer Research and Director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital
  • 2025: Sumithra J. Mandrekar, PhD – Group Statistician and Director, Alliance Statistics and Data Management Program
  • 2024: Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD – former Director, National Institutes of Health
  • 2022: Larry Norton, MD – Medical Director, Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center
  • 2020: Heidi Nelson, MD, FACS – former Medical Director of Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons