Jennifer Wargo, MD, Elected Fellow of the AACR Academy

Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the 2026 class of Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of her pioneering work to define interactions between the microbiome, cancer biology and treatment response.

The AACR Academy was established to honor scientists and clinicians whose work has propelled major breakthroughs in cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Election as a Fellow of the AACR Academy is achieved through rigorous peer review, and this honor is regarded as one of the most prestigious distinctions from AACR. Wargo joins 16 other UT MD Anderson scientists and clinicians who have been elected to the AACR Academy over the program’s history. 

An internationally recognized physician-scientist, Wargo has been elected for her vital contributions to defining the interplay between the microbiome, oncogenic signaling and tumor immunity, including the elucidation of microbiome-mediated determinants of immunotherapy response, mechanisms of targeted therapy resistance in melanoma, and the identification of immune biomarkers capable of predicting clinical outcomes.

“We are proud to see Dr. Wargo recognized with this significant achievement for her groundbreaking research. She embodies the commitment to scientific breakthroughs and exceptional patient care that define our work at UT MD Anderson,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of UT MD Anderson. “This recognition by the AACR reflects the meaningful impact of her work on the entire cancer research community as well as patients and their families.”

Wargo is the R. Lee Clark Endowed Professor of Surgical Oncology and deputy director of UT MD Anderson’s National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is a core member of the James P. Allison Institute™ at UT MD Anderson and leads the Platform for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR).

Wargo, who joined UT MD Anderson in 2013, has devoted her career to uncovering mechanisms responsible for regulating response or resistance to cancer treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Her early research demonstrated that treatment with molecularly targeted therapy could sensitize tumor cells to treatment with immunotherapy, providing the rationale for combination treatment.

Later, Wargo led groundbreaking research, published in Science, to discover that the diversity of a patient’s gut microbiome could influence responses to immunotherapy in those with metastatic melanoma. Subsequent work revealed how changes in the microbiome can improve outcomes with immunotherapy, leading to an ongoing trial evaluating the impact of a high-fiber diet on the microbiome and immunotherapy responses.

At UT MD Anderson, Wargo is devoted to fostering collaboration across the institution and around the world to develop more effective strategies to treat, intercept and ultimately prevent cancer. She also provided content expertise and narration for an exhibit highlighting the gut microbiome and healthy lifestyle choices as part of a traveling national science exhibition, “The Journey to End Cancer: From Cause to Cure,” presented by UT MD Anderson.

She began her academic training at Gwynedd-Mercy College, where she earned an A.S. in Nursing followed by a B.S. in Biology. She went on to receive her M.D. from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Afterward, she entered surgical residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she became interested in the biology and treatment of cancer. During her training, she completed two fellowships in surgical oncology with a focus on cancer immunotherapy. She later earned an M.M.Sc. from Harvard University. In 2008, she established her translational research lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Wargo is a member of both the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Physicians. She has received numerous honors highlighting her leadership in melanoma and immunotherapy research, including the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology.

“We congratulate Dr. Wargo on being elected as a Fellow of the AACR Academy,” said Albert Koong, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief scientific officer at UT MD Anderson. "Her important contributions have advanced cancer research worldwide, and this recognition by the AACR celebrates her profound and lasting impact on the field.”

More information on all UT MD Anderson AACR Annual Meeting content can be found at MDAnderson.org/AACR.