Dr. Anthony Letai

Official account of Anthony Letai, M.D., Ph.D. Director of @theNCI from 9/29/25. Engagement ≠ endorsement. Privacy:

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

🧵On September 29, I joined @theNCI as its 18th director. Cancer research is advancing rapidly, from immunotherapy to early detection and data-driven tools. I’m honored to serve the American public by building on this progress with teams at NCI and across the cancer community.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

To postdocs advancing cancer research: thank you. My postdoc years studying cell death at Dana-Farber with Stan Korsmeyer shaped how I think about science to this day. My strongest suggestion: know very clearly exactly what question you are asking. https://t.co/bOipgrUG0z #NPAW

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

Today, I will be at @theNCI's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) Symposium, highlighting our progress on new ways to improve outcomes for kids, teens, and AYAs by connecting data across institutions and putting #AI to work: https://t.co/Q60NUpgiES #CCAM

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

@RepMcCaul @MikeKellyPA @USRepKCastor @RepBera It was also great to hear my NCI colleague Dr. Jack Shern, pediatric oncologist, speak at the Childhood Cancer Caucus about our work with the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative & AI. Every shared data point through CCDI helps turn discovery into progress. @jack_shern

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

Today's Childhood Cancer Caucus was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Grateful to @RepMcCaul, @MikeKellyPA , @USRepKCastor, and @RepBera for their leadership, and to the advocates who shared their stories. NCI's commitment to childhood cancer research is unwavering.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

@RepMcCaul @MikeKellyPA @USRepKCastor @RepBera A special honor to @RepMcCaul in your final year leading the Childhood Cancer Caucus after 17 years—a legacy this community will carry forward. Thank you for your tireless advocacy, sustained partnership, and investment alongside co-chairs @MikeKellyPA, @USRepKCastor, @RepBera

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

Thank you @SenToddYoung for the great discussion, and for your longstanding support for sustained investment in cancer research.

[Senator Todd Young @SenToddYoung]

Appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Anthony Letai, Director of the @theNCI, to discuss the importance of continued research and investment to develop first-in-class cancer treatments.

[Senator Todd Young @SenToddYoung]

Appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Anthony Letai, Director of the @theNCI, to discuss the importance of continued research and investment to develop first-in-class cancer treatments.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

At our last National Cancer Advisory Board meeting, I shared an update: @theNCI is on track to award all of its FY26 grants by the end of this fiscal year. This is possible because of the dedicated efforts of our Office of Grants Administration; I am grateful for their work.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

Before becoming NCI Director, my work focused on blood cancers and cell death. My lab helped lay the groundwork for progress from chemotherapy to targeted therapy. This #BloodCancerAwarenessMonth, I support @theNCI funding more basic research to deliver the next advancement.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

This week, I will be joining @theNCI's Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) Symposium to discuss our progress and what's next. By connecting data and the community, CCDI is building a learning health system that can speed discovery and improve outcomes. https://t.co/Q60NUpgiES

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

This time next Friday, I’ll be opening the CCDI Symposium. It’s an honor to put our 2027 Annual Plan goal—fully utilizing pediatric cancer data—into action. Join us virtually: https://t.co/tqciRvLtCq #CCAM

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

I've spent my career believing patients know their disease best. That's why @theNCI built Pediatric PRO-CTCAE, so kids with cancer can report symptoms directly to care teams. #CCAM https://t.co/S4Jw4MIdjt

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

For #OvarianCancerAwarenessMonth, I’m reflecting on my lab’s BH3 profiling work with patient’s ovarian cancer cells. We predicted drug resistance before treatment. My goal at @theNCI is to scale these functional tools to spare patients futile toxicity.

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

In my Director's Message in @theNCI's FY28 Annual Plan, I lay out a patient-centered vision for the future of cancer research—a vision built on harnessing AI, speeding up trials, and supporting innovative research. Where do you see the biggest opportunity? https://t.co/73KZzKVz5H

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

I believe therapeutic cancer vaccines are an exciting frontier in oncology. Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9, at 2 p.m. ET, join our @theNCI webinar on updates & encouraging results on personalized cancer vaccines to see how we're preventing recurrence: https://t.co/rSePGp2MZj

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

In my Director's Message in @theNCI's FY28 Annual Plan, I lay out a patient-centered vision for the future of cancer research—a vision built on harnessing AI, speeding up trials, and supporting innovative research. https://t.co/73KZzKVz5H

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

Since daraxonrasib's FDA approval, I have enjoyed reading my mentor, Dr. Robert Mayer's words to @CancerHistProj about pancreatic cancer: decades of "swings, misses, foul balls, and finally a direct hit." That's what sustained NCI investment looks like: https://t.co/DvhtyI0XET

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

One of my top priorities is advancing cancer therapeutic vaccines. New Phase 3 mRNA vaccine results suggest we can train our immune systems to prevent recurrence—a key priority in @theNCI's new FY28 Annual Plan. Read about this research: https://t.co/1SLi0bDekN

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

@theNCI’s FY28 Annual Plan & Professional Judgment Budget is now live. It's our roadmap for @POTUS and Congress, outlining our most pressing scientific opportunities and the funding required to accelerate progress against cancer. https://t.co/y45nOhqvxS

[Dr. Anthony Letai @NCIDirector]

As we mark the start of #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth, I am incredibly hopeful about how harmonized data and AI can accelerate progress for kids. Join us at the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative Symposium on Sept 17–18 to shape what comes next: https://t.co/HhEomL5gDV