The 2023 AACR meeting has seen a large number of clinical abstracts presented, demonstrating that science from the lab is moving to the clinic. Examples include an RNA vaccine from Moderna in combination with pembrolizumab in a neoadjuvant setting in patients with melanoma, and the AEGEAN trial, which looks at perioperative therapy in patients with lung cancer. The conference is also seeing a focus on more diverse speakers, including junior investigators. The field of mRNA cancer vaccines is evolving, with personalised vaccines being used to activate the immune system in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, resulting in positive results in some cancers. The conference is an opportunity to learn about new science, make new connections and collaborations, and gain a better understanding of how to push the field forward.