Submitted by Irena Rao on Tue, 01/09/2026 - 16:49
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to cancer prevention and early detection research, areas that have become central priorities of modern oncology practice, the 2026 ESMO Award will be presented to Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald during the ESMO 2026 Opening Session.
The esteemed ESMO Award was established in 1985 to recognise an ESMO member who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of medical oncology by promoting it as a specialty within the European and/or international community.
Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention, Founding Director of the Early Cancer Institute and Head of the Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge. She also serves as Honorary Consultant in Gastroenterology and Cancer Medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
Throughout her career, Fitzgerald has focused on understanding how tissues become cancerous and on investigating how the identification of pre-cancerous conditions at scale can reduce cancer morbidity and mortality, particularly in cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Fitzgerald is recognised for leading the development and implementation of a non-endoscopic capsule sponge test and related biomarker assays for the detection of Barrett’s oesophagus and associated dysplasia. Her work has taken this technology from scientific discovery through clinical evaluation towards implementation, contributing to new approaches to the earlier detection and prevention of oesophageal cancer.
She is also recognised for her contributions to evidence reviews and policy initiatives that have helped shape cancer screening strategies in the United Kingdom and across Europe. In particular, she co-chaired the scientific work that informed the European Commission’s 2022 recommendations on cancer screening, helping to advance evidence-based approaches to screening and early detection across Europe.
Professor Fitzgerald said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2026 ESMO Award. This recognition highlights the critical shift in modern oncology towards detecting cancer at its very earliest, most treatable stages. Developing tools like the capsule sponge test has always been about moving science out of the lab and into the clinic where it can actively save lives. This award is a testament to the dedication of our entire team at the Early Cancer Institute and beyond and the patients who have supported our research every step of the way.”