Lloyd Old

Lloyd Old is considered one of the founding fathers of modern tumor immunology, having discovered tumor necrosis factor (TNF), identified cancer-testis antigens including NY-ESO-1 as immunotherapy targets, and provided critical experimental evidence for cancer immunosurveillance throughout a career spanning five decades. His identification of tumor-specific antigens proved that the immune system can recognize cancer as foreign and laid the groundwork for cancer vaccine development. He established the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research as a global center for tumor immunology. His vision and leadership shaped the field of cancer immunology and enabled the immunotherapy revolution.