WIN 2023

Aug. 7–8, 2025 in Chicago or virtual from Sept. 15–16, 2025

Applications are now closed.

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

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

Join the SITC WIN community today. Missed the registration deadline? Sign up for an email update when registration opens for next year. 

“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

View ScheduleApplication ProcessTravel AwardsAboutOrganizersEmail Us

SITC’s 2025 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute is supported, in part, by grants from these sponsors (as of July 11, 2025). Additional support has also been made through a challenge grant by an anonymous donor.
Bronze Sponsor

Genentech

Bronze Sponsor

Gilead

Bronze Sponsor

Incyte

Bronze Sponsor

Merck

Bronze Sponsor

Wilson Wolf

Application Process

Applications were due March 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST.

Organize your application as outlined below:

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

Selection Criteria

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.

Program Details

August 7–8, 2025 in Chicago, IL | Sept. 15–16, 2025 Virtual

Jennifer Grandis, MD

Keynote Speaker

Jennifer R. Grandis, MD
University of California,
San Francisco 

The 7th Annual SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute features two opportunities to attend, in-person or virtually.

The program, championed by SITC Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the society’s first female president, brings emerging female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field together for an inspirational two days of professional development and networking.

The 2025 SITC WIN Leadership Institute will feature presentations from experienced female leaders, panel discussions allowing participants to ask questions and interact with these leaders and our distinguished program organizers, and networking opportunities.

Learning Objectives

Industry Member - $360
Industry Non-Member - $450

Member - $240
Non-Member - $300

Student Member - $120
Student Non-Member - $150

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

SITC Professional Interest Communities

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.

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

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 

Hotel Information

Target Audience

The Drake Hotel
140 E Walton Pl
Chicago, IL 60611

SITC Professional Interest Communities are an original series of online communities created exclusively for SITC members. Within these communities, researchers and clinicians in the cancer immunotherapy field expand their network and receive career development support from colleagues.

The Women in SITC Community is open to women who share a common interest in immunology and cancer. Open to professional women, the goal of the community is to increase females in leadership roles within the society, foster connections and working opportunities among members, discuss immunotherapy toxicities (open to other specialties that deal with toxicity of immunotherapy), create mentorship opportunities, discuss gender bias and professional opportunities and contributions to the field of oncology/immunotherapy.

Not a member? Join SITC today and gain immediate access to the Women in SITC Community!

Topics

Registration Rates (In-Person and Virtual)

SITC is working on finalizing the schedule for the 7th Annual event. Past session topics include:

  • Authentic Leadership: Developing Your Personal Brand and Communication Skills*
  • Surviving in a Political World
  • Work Life Integration
  • The Male Perspective – Panel*
  • Women and Work: Alternate Career Paths
  • The Art of Saying No
  • How to Develop Your Team
  • How to Negotiate

*Confirmed topic for 2025

Faculty Conflict of Interest Disclosures

View Faculty Conflict of Interest Disclosures PDF

Faculty Conflicts of Interest
Kristin Anderson, PhD Executive Role: Powell-Drescher Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (volunteer).
Tullia Bruno, PhD Employee: Tabby Therapeutics, Genmab, Galvanize, Attivare, Mestag, Kalivir.
Consultant: Advisory Board, consultant, consultant, consultant, consultant, Advisory Board.
Lisa Butterfield, PhD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Sandra Demaria, MD Researcher: Boehringer Ingelheim. Consultant: Lytix Biopharma.
Tracy Dooley, MD Investor: As a venture investor with Avestria Ventures and IFLI, I have financial relationships with all of our portfolio companies listed at https://www.avestria.vc/ and at https://www.i-fli.org/news.
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD

Researcher: Astra-Zeneca/Medimmune, Merck, Merus NV.

Consultant: Nanobiotix: Consultant, Novasenta: Consulting, Novotech Consulting. Advisor: Bicara Therapeutics, Inc: Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advisory Board, Bobcat Bio: Advisory Board, Coherus BioSciences, Inc.: Advisory Board, CorriRX Therapeutics: Advisory Board, CureVac: Advisory Board, MeiraGTx, LLC: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Merck: Advisory Board, Merus N.V: Data Safety Monitoring Board, Mirror Biologics Inc: Data Safety Monitoring Board, OncoCyte Corporation: Advisory Board, Pfizer: Advisory Board, Regeneron: Advisory Board.
Stock holder: Novasenta - Equity.
Teresa Foy, PhD Disclosure not submitted.
Thomas Gaewski, MD, PhD, FAIO Disclosure not submitted.
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD Owner: Beyond the Codon, LLC.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Other: Employee of Bristol Myers Squibb.
Sangeeta Goswami, PhD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Jennifer Grandis, MD Consultant: Bluedot Bio, Inc.
Royalty and Patent Beneficiary: Bluedot Bio, Inc.
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD Consultant: Array BioPharma, AstraZeneca, BD Biosciences, Biocytics and Carolina BioOncology Institute, Duke Street Bio, GlaxoSmithKline, Incyte, iTeos, Kowa, Kymera, Laverock, Synkine, LTZ Therapeutics Inc., OncoOne, Voro.
Other: Array BioPharma/Pfizer, Duke Street Bio, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck.
Other Details: Sponsored research support.
Kristen Hege, MD Employee: Self-Employed.
Executive Role: BOD: Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, EvolveImmune, KSQ.
Consultant: cTRL, Dispatch, Neomorph, Moonlight, Generate, Third Rock Ventures, RedTree Ventures.
Advisor: cTRL, Dispatch Bio, Cartography, Kamau.
Publicly Traded Stocks: BMS, Mersana, Adaptimmune.
Priscilla Kelly, MD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Justin Kline, MD Disclosure not submitted.
Ashley Koegel, MD Employee: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Bristol Myers Squibb.
Daniel Powell, PhD

Researcher: Incyte, Tmunity, InstTIL bio, Crossbow, Myrio, GenMab.
Consultant: InsTIL Bio, Crossbow Therapeutics, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Galapagos.

Royalty and Patent Beneficiary: Miltenyi Biotech, Prescient Therapeutics, Tmunity/Kite.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Atara, Crossbow Therapeutics.
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA Employee: Merck.
Other: Employee.
Other Details: Current employee.
Amishi Shah, MD Researcher: BMS, Eisai, EMD Serono.
Advisor: BMS, Exelixis, Pfizer.
Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD Consultant: Achelois, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Akoya Biosciences, Apricity, Asher Bio, BioAtla LLC, BioNTech, Candel Therapeutics, Catalio, C-Reveal Therapeutics, Dragonfly Therapeutics, Earli Inc, Enable Medicine, Glympse, Henlius/Hengenix, Hummingbird, ImaginAb, InterVenn, Biosciences, JSL Health, LAVA Therapeutics, Lytix Biopharma, Matrisome, Neuvogen, NTx, Oncolytics, Osteologic, PBM Capital, Phenomic AI, Polaris Pharma, Soley Therpeutics, Sporos, Spotlight, Time Bioventures, Trained Therapeutix Discovery, Two Bear Capital, Vironexis, Xilis, Inc.
Melody Smith, MD Employee: Stanford University.
Consultant: CVS Caremark.
Advisor: A28 Therapeutics.
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Cornelia Trimble, MD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Linda Vo, PhD No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Sarah Warren, PhD Employee: Kite Pharma, Gilead.
Consultant: SciSpot.
Publicly Traded Stocks: Gilead.
E. John Wherry, PhD Disclosure not submitted.

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Organizers & Program Advisors

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD

Program Advisor

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD 
Johns Hopkins University

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD

Program Advisor

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Olivera J. Finn, PhD

Program Advisor

Olivera J. Finn, PhD, FAIO 
University of Pittsburgh

Kristen Hege, MD

Organizer

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

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD

Organizer

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

Teri Foy, PhD

Organizer

Teri Foy, PhD 
Formerly Bristol Myers Squibb

Sandra Demaria, MD

Organizer

Sandra Demaria, MD 
Weill Cornell Medicine 

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

Organizer

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Merck

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 eligible expenses 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 2025 WIN Leadership Institute in-person in Chicago, IL from August 7-8, 2025, will help in reaching their career objectives. 

Selection
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.

Application Process
Applicants will submit an application via SITC’s website through their application for the WIN Leadership Institute. Applications are due March 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST.

COVID-19 Measures

At SITC programs, our goal is to have a safe and meaningful in-person experience. SITC will refer to the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to guide health precautions for in-person meetings. In addition, SITC strongly recommends that in-person meeting attendees take the following precautions:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Take a rapid COVID test prior to attending a meeting and do not attend in person if you test positive
  • Do not attend the meeting if you have symptoms that could be consistent with a “cold” or any other respiratory infection and leave the meeting if you develop such symptoms
  • Wear a mask in crowded indoor settings
  • Follow all health and safety protocols as required by SITC and local and state health departments.
  • Review current CDC and applicable local guidance for protecting yourself from COVID-19

Attendees will have access to the meeting content online if they are unable to attend in person due to illness or a positive COVID test. For hybrid programs, attendees can change from in-person to online-only registration by contacting events@sitcancer.org.

View Past Programs

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