Application Submissions Open
May 15, 2025

Application Submissions Close
August 7, 2025

About SCION

Designed to address the unique considerations for designing clinical trial protocols focused on cancer immunotherapy, the SCION Workshop connects participants with experienced faculty in the field and dedicated patient advocates to advise on clinical trial protocol development.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Eligible applicants are those working in the field of cancer immunotherapy who want to develop their own immunotherapy clinical trial protocol synopsis (resulting in an approved protocol and consent). This includes but is not limited to clinical fellows and junior faculty/attendings with medical, surgical, radiation, urologic, gynecologic, or pediatric oncology training and advanced degree scientists (e.g., Masters, PhD, PharmD, DNP) with research experience and interest in clinical and translational immuno-oncology. 

Applicants can be from academic, non-profit, or for-profit organizations, including the pharmaceutical industry/biotechnology. Those with other related professional degrees are also encouraged to apply. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the SCION Workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize best practices and overcome the unique challenges in clinical trial design specific to cancer immunotherapy
  • Describe cancer immunotherapy clinical trial endpoints, biomarker development and validation and combination strategies
  • Develop their own clinical trial design with appropriate clinical and biomarker endpoints, and draft a protocol and informed consent
  • Estimate cost, process steps, quality issues, and regulatory path for development and approval of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)
  • Understand the special issues associated with ATMPs, medicines based on genes, tissues or cells in Oncology

In addition to deepening their understanding of integral facets of the field of cancer immunotherapy, attendees will expand their professional network, developing new relationships with faculty and other thought leaders in this intimate setting.

SCION Organizers

Tullia Bruno, PhD

Tullia Bruno, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Codruta Chiuzan, PhD

Codruta Chiuzan, PhD
Institute of Health System Science, Northwell Health

Deborah Collyar, B.sci

Deborah Collyar, B.sci
Patient Advocates in Research

Tricia C

Tricia Cottrell, MD, PhD
Queen's University

Yana Najjar, MD

Yana Najjar, MD
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD

Program Advisor

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD

Program Advisor

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD
SMART Research  

Award Opportunities

MARTIN “MAC” CHEEVER EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TRIAL DESIGN TRAVEL AWARDS

Established in 2022 in loving memory of Dr. Martin “Mac” Cheever, this fund recognizes his many contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy by providing travel awards to deserving early career investigators pursuing excellence in clinical trial design. One award will be given to the participant deemed to have the most elegant protocol. The second award will be focused on primary immunoprevention and immune interception.

The awardees will receive flight, hotel, and meal reimbursement to fully support their travel to the SITC Annual Meeting in the same year that they are selected as the recipients of the award. 

Learn More >

Learn more about the SITC Forward Fund >

Application Process

Applications will open May 15, 2025

Application Details

Selection: Selection is made by the SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s status within 10 weeks of the application deadline.

Terms: SCION participants will pay a registration fee for the SCION workshop. SCION participants will cover all costs for travel and lodging. This registration fee includes participation in the SITC Cancer immunotherapy Winter School.

Application Process: Applicants will submit a completed application form, sponsor statement (from a mentor/supervisor), an applicant statement of interest, curriculum vitae, and abstract of the proposed protocol. 

90-day Reporting: Workshop attendees are required to complete and submit a 90-day report following the conclusion of the 2026 SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop and provide an updated protocol that reflects progress since workshop completion. This report will include:

  • Project title
  • Brief overview of the project progress to date
  • Description of highlights related to your participation in the SCION Workshop
  • Outcomes determined at this date

Other Registration Information

Program Deadlines

Application Submissions Close
Aug. 7, 2025

Applicants Notified
September 2025

Two Virtual Pre-Meetings with Assigned Small Group
January (Day/Time TBD)

SCION Workshop in Boston, Massachusetts
February 16-18, 2026

SCION Post Program Meeting
February 2026 

Summary of Application Packet

The application should be organized as outlined below:

1) Applicant Information

Name, professional designation (MD/PhD/other), institution/organization, professional role, email, work setting, field of research/specialty, disease state, gender, and ethnicity.

2) Curriculum Vitae

NIH Biosketch or equivalent (maximum 5 pages)

3) Statement of Interest

Please tell us why you are interested in this workshop in 500 words or less. Please include:

  • A description of your proposed clinical trial protocol in cancer immunotherapy research and development
  • Trial reagent availability support currently available
  • A description of your career path up to this point and your aspirations for its future

4) Letter from Department Chair, Supervisor, or Mentor

Must provide a statement of support stating that the applicant will have time and relevant resources provided to conduct or oversee their trial (e.g. research nurse, appropriate equipment, etc). 

  • A description of the proposed clinical trial
  • Program support now available or intended for the term of the trial
  • The candidate’s role and academic or other appointment(s)
  • Plans and potential for the applicant to seek funding internally or externally

5) Abstract Protocol

A one-page summary of your proposed interventional or observational study. Please include a one-page summary of the unmet clinical need you will be addressing, your immunologic goals, the biomarkers proposed, your hypotheses, and the proposed requisite number of patients and timeline.

6) Confidentiality Acknowledgement

Applicants must review and acknowledge a confidentiality statement. 

Award Opportunities

"Mac" Cheever SITC Travel Award

Established in 2022 in loving memory of Dr. Martin “Mac” Cheever, this fund recognizes his many contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy by providing travel awards to deserving early career investigators pursuing excellence in clinical trial design.

To continue Dr. Cheever’s passion for improving immunotherapy protocols, each year, SITC will identify two individuals to receive a Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design - Travel Award. One awardee will be selected from the participants in the SITC’s Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop as having the most simple and elegant protocol at the close of the intensive and selective workshop. 

The second awardee will be selected from the participants in the SITC’s Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop as having the best protocol focused on primary immunoprevention and immune interception. For this award, SITC will consider a trial with protocols which address immunotherapies to prevent primary cancer, including (but not limited to) methods to identify and stimulate immune recognition of precursor or preneoplastic lesions, strategies to provide prophylactic immunity against cancer, immunotherapies for precancerous conditions or immunoprevention of their recurrence in patients with high-risk familial cancers. Protocols for smaller pilot studies will also be considered.  

Both awardees will receive flight, hotel, and meal reimbursement to fully support their travel to the SITC Annual Meeting in the same year that they are selected as the recipients of the award.