A Message from the President
It’s no secret that SITC is dedicated to supporting early career researchers and practitioners in the field of cancer immunotherapy! Both the Society and the Forward Fund are committed to expanding education and professional development opportunities for early career investigators and clinicians, with programming, funding, and award opportunities specifically designed to meet the needs of this unique group. We know that these key SITC members will become the next generation of leaders both for SITC, and the cancer immunotherapy field at large.
Many upcoming programs geared toward early career scientists and clinicians are about to launch, and I encourage you to learn more about them, and share them with early career folks who stand to benefit from these programs. To start, SITC recently opened registration for Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School (CIWS) taking place January 30–February 2, 2024 in Austin, TX, both in person and virtually. Over the same dates, SITC’s Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop, an intimate immunotherapy clinical trial development program, will also take place with some CIWS programming included in the SCION Workshop. The SCION application period is now open through August 14, 2023. SITC is committed to financially assisting attendees of these programs with travel awards through its Forward Fund via a competitive review process.
Two additional programs will be opening soon. First, SITC’s Sparkathon 2024, a free and exclusive program that brings together early career investigators with established SITC leaders in cancer immunotherapy to foster leadership development, collaborations and scientific exchange will be held March 13–15, 2024. Second, SITC’s Spring Scientific, Metabolism at the Hub of Cancer Immunity, (travel awards will also be available!), will address the critical roles of immune, microbiome, and tumor metabolism in the treatment of cancer with immune-based strategies. The SITC Spring Scientific will be held March 10–12, 2024.
In addition to these education and award opportunities, SITC’s Fellowship programs continue to grow. SITC and the Forward Fund are excitedly looking forward to announcing the recipients of the 2023 SITC Fellowships in the next few months. This includes the prestigious Steven A. Rosenberg Scholars Award, which is rapidly becoming the most prestigious award for early career investigators in cancer immunotherapy. Also, SITC opened applications for the NCI Immunotherapy Fellowship on July 19. Stay tuned for further updates about these programs, and please remember to mark your calendar for the 2024 SITC Fellowship Program, which will open in early 2024.
For those who can’t wait until 2024 for programming, be sure to join us at the 38th Annual Meeting and Pre-Conference Programs in San Diego, CA, where SITC’s Early Career Scientist committee arranges a host of events. We will see many deserving early scientists receive their travel awards and fellowships during an award ceremony at the annual meeting. SITC takes great pride in watching the early career investigators grow with us as their careers progress.
Lastly, I’d like to mention SITC’s Immune Exclusion Virtual Summit, a wonderful educational opportunity for all taking place on September 18, 2023 from 12-5 p.m. EDT. Join us as we explore how the biology of immune exclusion manifests in different tumor types, discuss novel therapeutic opportunities, and review the novel tools available to study tumors with this distinct immunophenotype.
We are excited about building the future with you!
Sincerely,
Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD
SITC President