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2026 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute

July 30–31, 2026 in Boston, MA | Sept. 10–11, 2026 Virtual

The Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) is a SITC initiative seeking to promote and elevate women in the cancer immunotherapy field.

Applications are now closed.

Get an email update for 2027 applications

Sarah Moore

“I am so grateful to have participated in this empowering experience last September! Surrounded by brilliant female scientists, it became a pivotal steppingstone in my journey as a female leader. The camaraderie of this conference is unparalleled.”

Sarah Moore
 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

“I actively use tips learned in the in-person program which helped me frame the next 5 years, and most importantly I met some incredible women. I encourage everyone interested in IO/ tumor immunology to apply.”

Pamela Basto, MD, PhD
 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

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The 2026 SITC Women in Immunotherapy Network-Leadership Institute is supported, in part, by: Kite Pharma, Inc., Wilson Wolf Corporation, and Merck Sharp & Dohme, LLC. Additional support has also been provided by an anonymous donor. (Supporters as of June 22, 2026)
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Sign up to get an email when applications open for the 2027 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute.

Program Details

July 30–31, 2026 in Boston, MA | Sept. 10–11, 2026 Virtual

The SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute is a two-day program and networking forum championed by SITC’s first female president, Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD.

Accepted applicants explore topics like gender equity, work-life balance, negotiation skills, team building and other leadership development strategies.

Apply today to network and share your experiences with emerging women leaders in cancer immunotherapy from clinical settings, industry, pharma, government and academia. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this meeting, participants will be able to:

  • Apply leadership skills to create an effective team environment in the workplace
  • Display a broad understanding of effective leadership roles and strategies and be able to apply them in a variety of professional, personal, and civic environments
  • Navigate unique challenges that face female leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy
  • Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply principles of effective communication in order to affect appropriate change in a variety of leadership settings
  • Rely on a network of females in the field of cancer immunotherapy for guidance and advice on advancing their career in cancer immunotherapy 

Eligibility

This program is open to female applicants only. Applicants must currently work in the field of cancer immunotherapy or be interested in starting a career in the field. If you have attended past WIN programs, you are not eligible to apply.

In addition, applicants must fit one of the following criteria:

  • Five or fewer years since applicant’s post-doctoral PhD and/or MD experience (e.g., post-doctoral lab experience or medical residency/fellowship)
  • Ten or fewer years since applicant received terminal degree (PharmD, MBA, etc.)
  • Applicant is starting or in consideration for their first leadership position

Target Audience

The SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute provides female participants from clinical settings, industry, pharma, government, and academia the tools they need to succeed as emerging leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy. This program is specifically intended for those just starting their independent professional careers or those who have re-entered the workforce.

Hotel Information

The Westin Copley Place, Boston 
10 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02116 
(617) 262-9600

Registration Rates (In-Person and Virtual)

In Person Rates

Industry Member - $515
Industry Non-Member - $750

Member - $410
Non-Member - $600

Student Member - $205
Student Non-Member - $300

Developing Economies Member - $0
Developing Economies Non-Member - $25


Virtual Rates

Industry Member - $360
Industry Non-Member - $575

Member - $300
Non-Member - $425

Student Member - $150
Student Non-Member - $225

Developing Economies Member - $0
Developing Economies Non-Member - $25

Faculty Conflict of Interest Disclosures

View Faculty Conflict of Interest Disclosures PDF

Faculty Conflicts of Interest
Tullia Bruno, PhD Consultant: Galvanize, Immunitas
Walking Fish, Kalivir, Be Spoke, Mestag,Tabby SAB
Lisa Butterfield, PhD

Consultant: Greywolf, MicroCrispr, Echo Immune, Arc Nouvel, 7 Hills
Sandra Demaria, MD Researcher: Boehringer Ingelheim
Tracy Dooley, MD Investor: As a venture investor and advisor with Avestria Ventures, IFLI, and MSF, I have financial relationships with all portfolio companies listed at https://www.avestria.vc/ , https://www.i-fli.org/ , and https://www.myelomasolutionsfund.org/
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD Researcher: Astra-Zeneca/Medimmune, Merck, Merus NV. 
Consultant: Bobcat Bio, CorriRX Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novasenta, Novotech, Pfizer, Regeneron
Consulting. Advisor: Bicara Therapeutics, Inc: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Bobcat Bio: Advisory Board, CorriRX Therapeutics: Advisory Board  
Fortvita Biologiics, Inc: Independent Data Monitoring Board, Johnson & Johnson: Advisory Board, MeiraGTx, LLC: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Merck: Advisory Board, Merus N.V: Data Safety Monitoring Board;, Novasenta: Advisory Board, Novotech: Advisory Board, Pfizer: Advisory Board, Regeneron: Advisory Board, Takeda: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Novasenta - Equity
Teresa Foy, PhD

Consultant: Seattle Children's Research Institute T1D Fund
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD Owner: Beyond the Codon, LLC.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Other: Employee of Bristol Myers Squibb.
Nicole Gormley, MD Owner: Gormley Advisory, LLC
Consultant: Independent regulatory consultant providing advisory services to multiple pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and investment organizations in oncology drug development.
Sangeeta Goswami, PhD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jennifer Grandis, MD Consultant: Bluedot Bio, Inc.
Royalty and Patent Beneficiary: Bluedot Bio, Inc.
Kristen Hege, MD Employee: Self-Employed.
Executive Role: BOD: Kelonia, EvolveImmune, KSQ
Consultant: Neomorph, Moonlight, Generate, Third Rock Ventures, Red Tree Ventures, Shennon, Avemi
Advisor: Dispatch, Cartography, Kamau, OverT, Waypoint, Legend, Moderna, CellDel, Infinitopes
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb
Howard Kaufman, MD, FACS Board member: Ankyra Therapeutics, Cryton Biosciences
Consultant: Castle Biosciences, ImmVira, Marengo Therapeutics, PrimeVax, Tatum Biosciences, Virogin
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD Board member: Apexigen/Pyxis Oncology, Affini-T Therapeutics, Antengene, Innovative Cellular Therapeutics, Wugen, Astra Zeneca, Takeda, Roche/Genentech, Regeneron, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lyell
Consultant: Regeneron, Agenus Inc., Cartography, Arcellx
Travel: Roche/Genentech
Ashley Koegel, MD Employee - Bristol Myers Squibb
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb
Justin Kline, MD Disclosure not submitted.
Ashley Koegel, MD Employee: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Yana Najjar, MD

Research: Merck, Pfizer, BMS, Replimune
Consultant: Novartis, Merck, InterVenn Biosciences, Pfizer, Immunocore, BMS, Replimune, Therakos, Sun Pharma, Roche
Board Member: Pfizer, Merck, BMS, Replimune, Therakos, Immunocore
Immunocore, Pfizer, Isatari
Daniel Powell, PhD Researcher: Incyte, Tmunity, InstTIL bio, Crossbow, Myrio, GenMab
Consultant: InsTIL Bio, Crossbow Therapeutics, Chronara, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos
Board Member: Crossbow Therapeutics, Chronara, Tentarix
Royalty and Patent Beneficiary: Miltenyi Biotech, Prescient Therapeutics, Tmunity/Kite.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Atara, Crossbow Therapeutics
Adrian Rawcliffe Board member: Wave Life Sciences (current), Etiome (current), Adaptimmune plc (until Nov 2025)
Consultant: Flagship Pioneering
Publicly Traded Stocks: Wave Life Sciences
Rosanna Ricafort, MD Employee: Bristol Myers Squibb
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb
Ruth Salmon, PhD Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA Employee: Merck.
Other: Employee.
Other Details: Current employee.
Li Sun, PhD Owner: Shennon Biotechnologies Inc. 
Board Member: Shennon Biotechnologies Inc. 
Patent Holder: Shennon Biotechnologies Inc. 
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Sarah Warren, PhD Consultant: SciSpot, Endofold
Publicly Traded Stocks: Gilead.

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Organizers & Program Advisors

Tullia Bruno

Organizer

Tullia Bruno, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

Organizer

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Independent Consultant

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD

Organizer

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Kristen Hege, MD

Organizer

Kristen Hege, MD 
Board Member, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune

Sandra Demaria, MD

Program Advisor

Sandra Demaria, MD 
Weill Cornell Medicine 

Teri Foy, PhD

Program Advisor

Teri Foy, PhD 
Formerly Bristol Myers Squibb

Application Process

Applications closed March 27, 2026, at 12 p.m. EST.

How To Organize Your Application

I. Applicant's Career Stage: In 50 words or less, please state your career stage relative to your terminal degree (for example: 2 years in current position, after a 3 year postdoc, which is 5 years since my PhD degree; or 2 years in current position after a 3 year residency in internal medicine and 3 years of oncology subspecialty training which is 8 years since my MD degree; or 5 years in my current position after completion of my PharmD, MBA, etc.)

II. Applicant's Statement of Benefit: In 50 words or less, please state why your career development would benefit from attending this event.

III. Proof of Student / Fellow Status: Proof of student/fellow status or years out from such status can be provided through a letter or transcript from the institution at which the applicant completed this work.

Selection Criteria

Selection is made by the SITC WIN Leadership Institute Program Co-Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s acceptance or decline.

Program Co-Organizers will consider the following in their selection of applicants:

  • Career stage
  • Written responses to short answer questions

Priority will be given to applicants who are early in their independent professional careers or who are re-entering the workforce.

While not a requirement, SITC membership and participation in SITC programs or opportunities will be considered during the review process. Membership is a requirement for travel award applicants.

WIN Leadership Institute Travel Awards

To support young investigators and clinicians interested in attending the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute, SITC will accept applications for travel awards, which will supplement costs up to $750 for those honored to attend.

Five travel awardees will be selected. Travel awards are only available to in-person WIN Leadership Institute participants. SITC membership is a requirement for travel award eligibility.

Applicants will be asked to provide an additional Statement of Benefit to state how receiving a travel award to attend the 2026 WIN Leadership Institute in Boston, MA, from July 30-31, 2026, will help in reaching their career objectives.

View Past Programs

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