New EORTC Leadership: President-Elect and Scientific Chairs Council

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) held its annual General Assembly on 27 June 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the organisation. With a continued commitment to advancing cancer research across Europe and beyond, the General Assembly with their members across the EORTC Network elected new leadership.

Among the key decisions made were the election of a President-Elect and the endorsement of two new Co-Chairs of the Scientific Chairs Council, reinforcing EORTC’s dedication to scientific excellence, collaboration, and innovation in clinical and translational cancer research.

EORTC announces Professor Benjamin Besse as President-Elect

He will succeed the current President, Professor Winette van der Graaf, at the end of her term in June 2026.

As part of the governance renewal at the EORTC General Assembly 2025, two new Co-Chairs of the Scientific Chairs Council (SCC) have been selected, succeeding Professor Benjamin Besse and Professor Michael Weller, who have served with distinction in guiding the scientific strategy of the organisation.

We welcome Professor Anne-Marie Dingemans and Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels as leaders who will bring fresh perspectives and deep expertise to this strategic body. As they take on this role, they will work closely with the Board of Directors and the broader EORTC community to ensure that the organisation continues to lead in scientific excellence and impact on patient care. For more information on the SCC, click here.

Professor Anne-Marie C. Dingemans, MD, PhD, is a pulmonologist and professor of thoracic oncology at Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. She is the former Chair person of the EORTC Lung Cancer Group, and is known for her translational research in lung cancer, particularly neuroendocrine tumours, driver mutations, and oligometastatic disease. She has authored over 300 publications and is actively involved in international oncology societies including IASLC, ASCO, and ESMO.

Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels, MD, PhD, is Head of the Department of Medical Oncology and Medical Director at Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain in Brussels. He is the past Chair person of the EORTC Head and Neck Group, and is a leading expert in head and neck cancers, translational research, and early-phase clinical trials. He has published extensively and contributes to several international clinical guidelines.

“I warmly congratulate Professor Benjamin Besse, Professor Anne-Marie Dingemans and Professor Jean-Pascal Machiels. Their combined expertise and vision will be instrumental in guiding EORTC’s scientific mission forward. I am confident they will continue to advance our values of excellence, collaboration, and patient-centred research.”
Professor Winette van der Graaf, EORTC President

We also wish to thank Professor Michael Weller, the outgoing co-chair of the SCC. We are grateful for his dedication to the Organisation’s scientific agenda and for his loyalty to EORTC over the past years.

For further information on governance, please visit our dedicate website page: http://eortc.org/governance/