A Message from the President
During this period of significant change within the U.S. federal government, Dr. James Gulley temporarily stepped aside as President of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). As Immediate Past President, I am honored to step in and assume his responsibilities until he is able to return. Despite the uncertainties that recent events have created, I am proud to say that SITC remains unwavering in its mission to develop potent immunotherapies for all cancer patients, and continues to deliver valuable immuno-oncology resources and events that support our members as they pursue cutting edge IO research, develop the next generation of IO researchers and clinicians, and deliver better clinical outcomes to patients with new and more effective IO therapies.
To that end, SITC released a
statement on the National Institutes of Health cuts to indirect costs with tools to help you contact your representatives. We recognize the devastating impact these actions will have many of our members’ institutions, research funding, and patient care. We continue to partner with our fellow organizations, including One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), Research!America, American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT), and others, with sign on letters to Congress highlighting the broad impact of these funding cuts.
We are committed to supporting our SITC family through these unprecedented transitions in biomedical research and clinical care. While things around us may seem murky, our mission is still crystal clear: applying advances in IO-focused cancer research for the benefit of patients. To that end, SITC continues to invest in the next generation of immunotherapy experts with professional development opportunities that are now more important than ever. These include fellowships for cancer immunotherapy research, the new Biotech Virtual Programs, and our Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute.
For 2025, SITC is proud to offer three fellowships totaling $300,000 in funding. A student membership is required to apply for a fellowship, so be sure to
join SITC before applying. This year, the application process includes a two-step submission, beginning with a Letter of Intent due by
March 12, 2025. For complete details, please visit the
SITC Fellowships webpage.
The
Biotech Virtual Programs, designed for early career professionals interested in transitioning into a career in biotech, are co-organized by
Christopher Heery, MD – Arcellx, Inc. and
Claire Vanpouille-Box, PhD – Weill Cornell Medicine. The program kicks off with the Talent Development Webinars, both taking place in March:
- Clinical Development Career Path: March 3, 10–11 a.m. CST, will feature panelists Yusri Elsayed, MD, MHSc, PhD – Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Kristen Hege, MD – Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia and EvolveImmune and Rachel Humphrey, MD – Normunity, Inc
- Research and Development Career Path: March 27, 3–4 p.m. CST, will feature a discussion with Dmitry Gabrilovich, MD, PhD – AstraZeneca, Priti Hegde, PhD – Kite Pharma, and Ira Mellman, PhD, FAIO – Medici Therapeutics
SITC’s commitment to its membership is stronger than ever and we are excited about both new and returning initiatives that can support and advance your career. Rest assured we will also continue to work with our fellow organizations to raise our collective voices calling for support of cutting edge biomedical research and innovative cancer treatment strategies for every patient. A heartfelt thanks for all the work you do to improve cancer patient outcomes using immunotherapy.
Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD
SITC Immidiate Past & Acting President
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Program Spotlight
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Spring Scientific – Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors is Next Month!
March 12–14, San Diego, CA and Virtually
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There is still time to register for SITC’s Spring Scientific! Join keynote speaker John Haanen, MD, PhD for a cutting-edge presentation – Learnings from TIL to Melanoma. Additional session topics include CARs, the tumor microenvironment, predictive biomarkers and more.
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Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute
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Championed by SITC Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the society’s first female president, this program unites emerging female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field for two inspiring days of professional development and networking. Applications for the in-person and virtual programs are due March 24, 2025 at 12 p.m. EST.
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Discover the 2024 Year in Review
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Additional Programming and Events
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