The New York Genome Center (NYGC) is pleased to congratulate Dan Landau, MD, PhD, Tisch Chair of the Department of Systems and Computational Biomedicine and Core Faculty Member at NYGC, on being named a recipient of the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Award for Translational Research.
The prestigious award recognizes Dr. Landau’s pioneering contributions to the understanding of cancer evolution and his development of innovative genomic and computational approaches that have helped advance cancer research toward clinical applications. He will receive the award and deliver the accompanying lecture during the ESMO Congress 2026 Opening Session.
Dr. Landau’s research focuses on somatic evolution—the accumulation and selection of genetic and epigenetic changes within cells—as a fundamental driver of cancer, chronic disease, and aging. His interdisciplinary work integrates clinical oncology, genomics, and computational biology to understand how these changes shape disease and influence its progression.
Throughout his career, Dr. Landau has pioneered the study of genetic and epigenetic diversity within tumors using primary patient samples. His research has contributed to the development of innovative technologies and approaches, including single-cell multi-omics, methods for reconstructing cancer evolution at single-cell resolution, and whole-genome sequencing of circulating tumor DNA to detect minimal residual disease.
Importantly, Dr. Landau has helped translate these advances in cancer genomics into clinical applications, with the goal of improving how cancer is detected, monitored, and treated.
Dr. Landau is one of four recipients to receive a 2026 ESMO Society Award, which recognizes outstanding oncology professionals whose contributions have advanced cancer research, enhanced clinical care, and strengthened the global oncology community. The awards celebrate excellence across multiple areas of oncology and honor individuals whose work has helped shape progress in the field and drive innovation in cancer care.
About the NYGC
The NYGC is an independent, nonprofit academic research institution at the forefront of transforming biomedical research and clinical care. Founded as a collaborative venture by the region’s premier academic, medical, and industry leaders, the NYGC aims to accelerate the translation of genomic research into new diagnostics, therapeutics, and treatments for human disease. NYGC member organizations and partners are united in an unprecedented collaboration of technology, science, and medicine that is designed to harness the power of innovation and discoveries to advance medical genomics and precision medicine and to benefit patients around the world.
Our institutional founding members include Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Columbia University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York University, Northwell Health, The Rockefeller University, and Weill Cornell Medicine. Our associate members include the American Museum of Natural History and the Hospital for Special Surgery. Learn more at nygenome.org.
