Blogs

Immune Monitor - December 2022

By SITC Communications posted 12-22-2022 00:00

  

A Message from the President

Dear Colleagues, 

As 2022 comes to a close – along with my tenure as the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) President – I’d like to reflect on what an amazing year it was for SITC. A few highlights include:

 

  • Hosting a record-breaking Annual Meeting, where more than 7,400 individuals participated in-person or virtually to glean the latest science and research in the immunotherapy space

  • Forming a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force to help set the strategic direction for the society’s efforts

  • SITC’s official journal – The Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer – celebrated 10 years of publication! Moreover, JITC surpassed 40,000 total citations and accepted more than 500 high-quality articles for publication

  • Publishing a stellar manuscript and conceptual framework to assist investigators in selecting phase III trials evaluating anti-PD-1-based combinations for activation within institutions based on the potential value to patients and the immuno-oncology field

  • Convening key oncology experts from academia, industry and government, including the FDA and NCI, to lead a conversation around what’s become a crisis in clinical research – limited patient access and slowed drug development due to staffing shortages, administrative burden and current business models

  • Bringing together a group of regulatory stakeholders to discuss gaps between the progress in biologic and regulatory sciences in immunotherapy, as well as the differences and similarities in regulatory approaches in immunotherapy development in different parts of the world

  • Hosting a Cellular Therapy Regulatory Summit, which consisted of cellular therapy experts to identify the most significant hurdles facing cellular therapy researchers throughout the Investigational New Drug (IND) Application process


While it was a tremendous year, we know there is more work to be done. A couple weeks ago, we learned of the diagnosis of Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli, director of the National Cancer Institute. The SITC family’s thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Bertagnolli as she fights her battle. Her diagnosis only redoubles our resolve to continue to find a cure for cancer.

SITC will continue to drive the mission of making “cure” a reality for all patients with the leadership of my friend and colleague, Leisha Emens, MD, PhD, as the incoming SITC President. I’m excited for Dr. Emens to take the reins and look forward to the initiatives she has planned.

Thank you for allowing me to serve in the role of SITC President – it has been an honor and a pleasure, and I’m thankful to have participated in many field-wide initiatives that connected me to academic, pharma and biotech collaborators and NCI and FDA colleagues.  
Sincerely, 
Patrick Hwu, MD
SITC President

 


SITC thanks Dr. Hwu for his service as President

2023 Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy™ (ACI) Live  Programming Registration NOW Open 
Registration for SITC’s 10th year of ACI live programming is now available. The coming year’s series will feature 15 topic-driven programs, approximately four hours in length, offering CME, CNE, CPE and MOC credit at no cost for clinicians. All of these programs will be available to attend virtually, with six of them hosted in-person, as well. 
Learn More and Register


March 10, 2023 I 2-6 pm ET I In-Person in Houston, TX and Hosted Virtually through Zoom Webinar
Organizers:
Adi Diab, MD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Greg Lizee, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Rahul A. Sheth, MD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Feb. 24, 2023 I 1-5 pm ET I Hosted through Zoom Webinar
Organizers:
Pavani Chalasani, MD, MPH 
University of Arizona Cancer Center
Peter Kabos, MD
University of Colorado Cancer Center

Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School I Jan. 17–21, 2023 Austin, TX or Virtual 
SITC’s Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School (CIWS) is a comprehensive cancer immunotherapy education program, led by experts in the field. Participants will improve their understanding of the core principles of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy and examine developing areas in the field.
Early registration rates are available through Dec. 12.
Register now and save up to $200 off the regular rates!
Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School is a perfect fit for individuals working in academic, clinical, industry and government settings who are early-to-mid-career scientists and clinicians, or those who are new to the field.

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