About Us

Dana-Farber President and Chief Executive Officer, Scientist, Scholar

Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, was named President and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research.

Dr. Glimcher is a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Member of the American Philosophical Society, a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, and the former President of the American Association of Immunologists. She is a member of the Cancer Research Institute, Prix Galien, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Repare Therapeutics, Abpro Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board, the Lasker Award Jury, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Association of American Cancer Institutes, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and served on the Vice President's Blue Ribbon panel. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Corporation, the Waters Corporation, and GSK plc. She currently serves as a consultant for the JPM Healthcare Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Directors of Analog Devices, Inc. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Broad Institute.

A trailblazer in cancer research, Dr. Glimcher's research identified key transcriptional regulators of protective immunity and the origin of pathophysiologic immune responses underlying autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Dr. Glimcher speaks nationally and internationally on cancer, immunology, skeletal biology, and translational medicine, and has contributed more than 350 scholarly articles and papers to the medical literature.

Aside from her research efforts, Dr. Glimcher has been a staunch proponent of improved access to care, health policy, and medical education, while simultaneously serving as a pioneering mentor and role model for cancer research trainees and for all women in science. Notably, she was the first female to be appointed Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, and is the first female President and Chief Executive Officer of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Dr. Glimcher is the recipient of many awards and honors. In 2022, she was named to Modern Healthcare's 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives. In 2018, she received the American Association of Immunologists Lifetime Achievement Award; the Indiana University School of Medicine's Steven C. Beering Award for outstanding research contributions to advancement of biomedical or clinical science; and the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science. She has also received the 2017 George M. Kober Medal and the 2017 Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Dr. Glimcher is a magna cum laude graduate of Radcliffe College, and holds an MD degree cum laude from Harvard Medical School.

"It's an amazing time. The excitement is palpable, and I've been an immunologist for 35 years. This is the most exciting time for cancer immunotherapy, ever.”
— Laurie Glimcher, MD

The ASCO Post profiles Dr. Glimcher

“A Lifelong Love of Science Leads to a Leadership Role in Oncology for Laurie Glimcher, MD” [The ASCO Post, December 25, 2022]

Dr. Glimcher comments on President Biden's Boston visit to announce new goal for Cancer Moonshot

Learn what Dr. Glimcher considers the significance of President Biden's visit and announcement. [WCVB-TV, Sept. 12, 2022]

Dana-Farber CEO Answers Boston Business Journal's Questions on Cancer Treatment, Research

Dr. Glimcher discusses NCI research funding, equitable access to cancer care, advances in care, and protecting vulnerable patients during COVID. [Boston Business Journal, June 24, 2022]

Dr. Glimcher Honored by Modern Healthcare as One of 2022's 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives

View the profiles of this year's honorees in the June issue of Modern Healthcare, as well as online with a digital subscription. [Modern Healthcare, June 20, 2022]

On The BioCentury Show, Dr. Glimcher calls for funding basic research, and describes the struggles of academic medical centers

Watch as Dr. Glimcher also discusses increasing access to new and experimental cancer therapies to underserved minorities. [BioCentury, May 5, 2022]

Dr. Glimcher speaks with Bloomberg Radio about health care and cancer issues

Listen to Dr. Glimcher’s wide-ranging talk with Bloomberg Radio on issues like clinical trials, drug prices, and the current state of cancer research. [Bloomberg Radio, April 8, 2022; interview starts at 26:16]

Dr. Glimcher Honored by Forbes as a 2021 Forbes Healthcare Summit Top 10 Leader of the Decade

Congratulations to Laurie Glimcher, MD, Dana-Farber President and CEO. Watch her interview with Forbes. [Forbes Media, December 10, 2021]

The Importance of Vaccinating Cancer Patients Against COVID-19

Dr. Glimcher discusses the importance of ensuring vaccinations for this particularly vulnerable group of patients. [WGBH/GBH News, January 26, 2021]

Managing through a crisis

Dr. Glimcher offers her lesson from a turbulent year. [Boston Globe, November 6, 2020]

Becker's Healthcare Podcast: Equity in cancer care, and more

Dr. Glimcher discusses the efforts being made for equity in cancer care, the rapid improvements being made in oncology in the past few years, and more. [Becker's Healthcare Podcast, November 2, 2020].

Message from Dr. Glimcher to staff about the kind of community we want Dana-Farber to be

Letter to all Dana-Farber staff in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a landmark civil rights law protects the employment of LGBTQ+ workers. [June 16, 2020]

President's Statement on World Cancer Day 2020

Read Dr. Glimcher's powerful statement, "World Cancer Day 2020: Beginning of the End of Cancer."

Boston Globe: "2019 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts"

View Dr. Glimcher's place in the top 10. [Boston Globe, November 8, 2019]

Interview with S&P Global Intelligence: "Collaboration Is Essential for Next Cancer Breakthrough"

Dr. Glimcher offers descriptions of, and insights about, the Institute's ongoing work; the challenges of running successful cancer programs; and the future of cancer treatment. [S&P Global Intelligence, September 26, 2019]

Op-Ed in the Boston Globe: "Ending the Long Reach of Tobacco"

As a physician-scientist and president of an academic medical center dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer, Dr. Glimcher sees the tragic results of tobacco use every day. She offers an urgent call to reduce tobacco use, especially among the young, to help safeguard future generations from addiction, disease, and loss of life. [June 13, 2019]

Interview with Forbes Magazine: "Where's the Push for More Innovation?"

With Dana-Farber's leadership in basic cancer research as background, Dr. Glimcher offers insights on reforming and transforming American health care. [Forbes, May 19, 2019]

Participation in Bloomberg Baystate Business/Boston College Chief Executives Club Luncheon

Hear Dr. Glimcher's insights on Dana-Farber research and care; she is the first interviewee on this special edition of Bloomberg Baystate Business, recorded live at the Boston College Chief Executives Club Luncheon. [April 12, 2019]

Rare Cancers: Charting a Faster Route to Treatment

Dr. Glimcher and other panelists discuss how advances in cancer immunology, innovative trial designs, and international data-sharing can create new hope for patients with rare cancers. [Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health/The Economist Group, February 1, 2019]

Participation in U.S. News's "Healthcare of Tomorrow" conference on improving health and cutting costs

Beginning at 1:28:30, view Dr. Glimcher's insightful remarks about the ways that immunology and other breakthroughs are transforming cancer care [November 14, 2018]

Participation in panel discussion, "Leading on Value — Solutions for an Evolving Health Care System"

View Dr. Glimcher's participation in this timely and important topic. [The Economist and Roll Call, October 2018]

Q & A with Dr. Glimcher as she discusses issues facing academic medical centers and the joys of being a physician-scientist

Read Dr. Glimcher's thoughts and ideas on the state of cancer medical research and clinical care, as well as some of her personal reflections. [Becker's Hospital Review, June 7, 2018]

Participation in Davos World Economic Forum panel, "The New Health Paradigm"

View Dr. Glimcher's participation in a health care forum at Davos discussing a new archetype called the “value” or “outcomes-based” paradigm. [January 23, 2018]

"The NIH is in danger of losing its edge in creating biomedical innovations"

Read Dr. Glimcher's co-authored STAT article, calling for a renewed commitment to federal funding for biomedical research; offering ideas to reform and bolster the NIH; and recommending new steps to integrate public and private research. [STAT, January 1, 2018]

On Receiving the AAMC Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences

View Dr. Glimcher's insights on receiving the Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). [November 6, 2017]

State-of-the-Institute Address to Visiting Committee

View Dr. Glimcher's update on the excellent progress in research and care initiatives at Dana-Farber. [November 7, 2017]

Appearance at The Atlantic's "Through the Microscope" Forum

Watch Dr. Glimcher explore "The DNA of Modern Medicine" with The Atlantic's Joie Chen. [February 21, 2017]

Dr. Glimcher in the News

Dr. Glimcher named to Modern Healthcare's 2018 list of 100 most influential people in healthcare [August 2018]

Dr. Glimcher named to Modern Healthcare's 2018 list of 50 most influential physician executives and leaders [June 18, 2018]

Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, receives 2018 American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Lifetime Achievement Award [May 14, 2018]

Former Dana-Farber researcher Laurie Glimcher returns to run storied institution [Boston Business Journal, May 25, 2017]

Dana-Farber's New President Talks Health Care Costs, Disease Treatments, and Research Competition [WGBH Morning Edition, Part 1, May 24, 2017]

Dana-Farber's New President Addresses Innovation, Obamacare, and Women in Science [WGBH Morning Edition, Part 2, May 25, 2017]

New Head of Dana-Farber on AHCA, Boston Roots and Women in Science [WBUR Radio Boston, March 15, 2017]

Op Ed on FDA Regulations [Boston Globe, May 4, 2017]

Five things you should know about Laurie Glimcher [Boston Globe, April 28, 2017]

Dr. Glimcher honored with 2017 Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians [AAP]

Dr. Glimcher’s remarks to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce – April 7, 2017 [Boston Chamber of Commerce]

With Trump's proposed NIH cuts, Mass. has more to lose than any other state [Boston Business Journal, March 24, 2017]

Cancer Moonshot [WGBH-TV, December 14, 2016]

Here's what the CEO of Dana-Farber had to say after the signing of 21st Century Cures Act [Boston Business Journal, December 13, 2016]

Incoming Dana-Farber President on the State of Cancer Research [WBUR-FM, September 12, 2016]

New Dana-Farber CEO on why this is the most exciting time for cancer treatment [Boston Business Journal, February 24, 2016]

Scientists hope Trump won't decrease the flow of federal research dollars [Boston Globe, November 20, 2016]

Boston's potential, the future of medicine and Donald Trump [Boston Business Journal, October 27, 2016]

Leading Physician-Scientist Laurie H. Glimcher to Receive 2016 Marion Spencer Fay Award at Drexel [Drexel Now. September 1, 2016]

Dana-Farber recruits Cornell medical dean as CEO [Boston Globe, February 23, 2016]

Dr. Laurie Glimcher on Putting Everything on the Line [New York Times, October 25, 2015]

New Head of Dana-Farber on AHCA, Boston Roots and Women in Science [WBUR-FM, March 15, 2017]

Scientific Publications

View Dr. Glimcher's scientific publications.