2027 Spring Scientific Schedule

Breaking New Ground in Cancer Immunotherapy: Cell Therapies, T-Cell Engagers, and Novel IO Strategies

February 24–26, 2027 in San Diego, CA at the Rancho Bernardo Inn

Spring Scientific Homepage

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2027 

9 a.m.–1 p.m. Registration

1–1:05 p.m. Opening Remarks 

Keynote Address

Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr., PhD – University of Pennsylvania

1:05–1:55 p.m. 

1:05–1:55 p.m.

Session I: Next-gen CAR T: Genetic Engineering to Optimize T cell Fitness While Minimizing Toxicity

Moderator: Justin Eyquem, PhD – University of California, San Francisco

1:55–3:15 p.m. 

1:55–2:15 p.m. Kole T. Roybal, PhD — University of California, San Francisco

2:15–2:35 p.m. Priti Hegde, PhD — Kite Pharma, Inc.

2:35–2:55 p.m. Gordon Moody, MS — AstraZeneca

2:55–3:05 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

3:05–3:15 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

3:15–3:40 p.m. Break 

Session II: Next-gen TILs

Moderator: Kristen M. Hege, MD – Board Member: Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune

3:40–5 p.m. 

3:40–4 p.m. Parameswaran Hari, MD — Obsidian Therapeutics

4–4:20 p.m. George Coukos, MD, PhD, FAIO — Weill Cornell Medicine 

4:20–4:40 p.m. TIL Therapy as a Front-line Therapy for Advanced Solid Tumors
Brian R. Gastman, MD — Iovance Biotherapeutics

4:40–4:50 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

4:50–5 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

5–6:30 p.m. Poster Session and Networking Reception 

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2027

7:30–8:30 a.m. Registration 

8:30–8:35 a.m. Opening Remarks 

Session III: Next-gen TCR T Cells and TCR Mimetics

Moderator: Daniel J. Powell, Jr., PhD – University of Pennsylvania

8:35–9:55 a.m. 

8:35–8:55 a.m. Mark Yarmarkovich, PhD — NYU Grossman School of Medicine

8:55–9:15 a.m. Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 

9:15–9:35 a.m. Delfi Krishna, PhD — Immatics Biotechnologies 

9:35–9:45 a.m. Abstract Presentation 

9:45–9:55 a.m. Abstract Presentation 

9:55–10:20 a.m. Break 

Session IV: In vivo Cell Therapies — Viral

Moderator: Priti Hegde, PhD – Kite Pharma, Inc.

10:20–11:50 a.m. 

10:20–10:40 a.m. Deepti Telaraja, MD — Lilly

10:40–11 a.m. 

11–11:20 a.m. Dian Kortleve, PhD — University of California, San Francisco

11:20–11:40 a.m. Jennifer Hamilton, PhD — Azalea Therapeutics

11:40–11:50 a.m. Abstract Presentation 

11:50 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch and Networking 

Session V: In vivo Cell Therapies — Non-viral

Moderator: Justin Eyquem, PhD – University of California, San Francisco

1–2:40 p.m. 

1–1:20 p.m. Luhan Yang, PhD — Qihan Biotech

1:20–1:40 p.m. Non-viral Integrative Technology for CAR T cells
Cecilia Cotta-Ramusino — Tessera Therapeutics

1:40–2 p.m.
Targeting Strategies, microRNA-based Targeting
Brian Brown, PhD — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2–2:20 p.m. 

2:20–2:30 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

2:30–2:40 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

2:40–3:05 p.m. Break 

Session VI: Cell Therapy for Non-oncology Indications and Autoimmunity

Moderator: Kristen M. Hege, MD – Board Member: Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ, and EvolveImmune

3:05–4:15 p.m. 

3:05–3:25 p.m. Ashley K. Koegel, MD — Bristol Myers Squibb

3:25–3:45 p.m. Justin Eyquem, PhD — University of California, San Francisco

3:45–4:05 p.m. Gwendolyn Binder, PhD — Cabaletta Bio

4:05–4:15 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

4:15–6 p.m. Poster Session and Networking Reception 

Friday, Feb. 26, 2027

7:30–8:30 a.m. Registration 

8:30–8:35 a.m. Opening Remarks 

Session VII: Novel Antibody-based Therapies

Moderator: Darrell J. Irvine, PhD – The Scripps Research Institute

8:35–10:05 a.m. 

8:35–8:55 a.m. PD-1 + ADC
Gary C. Starling, PhD — Astellas

8:55–9:15 a.m. 

9:15–9:35 a.m. 

9:35–9:55 a.m. Thomas Karasic, MD — Incyte 

9:55–10:05 a.m. Abstract Presentation 

10:05–10:30 a.m. Break 

Session VIII: Next-gen T cell Engagers 

Moderator: Priti Hegde, PhD – Kite Pharma, Inc.

10:30–11:50 a.m. 

10:30–10:50 a.m. Olivier Nolan-Stevaux, PhD — Gilead Sciences, Inc.

10:50–11:10 a.m. Ensar Halilovic, PhD — Crossbow Therapeutics

11:10–11:30 a.m. 

11:30–11:40 a.m. Abstract Presentation

11:40–11:50 a.m. Abstract Presentation 

11:50 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch and Networking

Session IX: Cancer Vaccines

Moderator: Darrell J. Irvine, PhD — The Scripps Research Institute

1–2:10 p.m.  

1–1:20 p.m.KRAS Vaccine for Pancreatic Cancer
Neeha Zaidi, MD — Johns Hopkins Medicine 

1:20–1:40 p.m. David M. Berman, MD, PhD — Moderna

1:40–2 p.m. Darrell J. Irvine, PhD — The Scripps Research Institute 

2–2:10 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

2:10–2:25 p.m. Break 

Session X: Oncolytic Viruses and other In vivo Tumor Delivery Systems

2:25–3:40 p.m. 

2:25–2:45 p.m. CAR T + oncolytic virus
Barbra J. Sasu, PhD — Dispatch Biotherapeutics 

2:45–3:05 p.m. GM-CSF armed adenovirus
Vijay Kasturi, MD — CG Oncology 

3:05–3:25 p.m.Bringing In Vivo CAR-T to Solid Tumors
Matthias Stephan, MD, PhD — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

3:25–3:35 p.m. Abstract Presentation 

3:35–3:40 p.m. Closing Remarks