SCION and Winter School FAQs

The Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School program will provide a deep understanding of the core principles of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy as well as developing areas in the field including biomarker technology, validation and clinical integration, clinical trial design, data analysis and considerations for combination therapies.  The program is tailored to early-to-mid career scientists and clinicians in the field of cancer immunotherapy working in academic, clinical, industry and government settings as well as those new to the field. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of cancer immunotherapy and features separate tracks, including clinical and research, allowing participants to tailor their experience by selecting the educational path most relevant to their learning goals.

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop is an intimate immunotherapy clinical trial development program, led by experts in the field who are equipped to help their assigned students navigate through the unique considerations that accompany immunotherapy treatments. 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. In addition to hands-on sessions within their small groups, SCION participants will attend didactic Winter School presentations throughout the week to enhance their learning experience. SCION participants must apply and be selected to attend.

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.  

The SCION program does require applications. Applications for the 2026 SCION program are open now through August 7, 2025. 

Applicants will submit a completed application form, sponsor statement (from a mentor/supervisor), an applicant statement of interest, curriculum vitae, and abstract protocol. The full application details and instructions can be found here.     

The target audience is early-to-mid career scientists in the field of cancer immunotherapy working in academic, clinical, industry and government settings. The target audience also includes individuals new to the field of cancer immunotherapy who are working in academic, clinical, industry and government settings. The Winter School does not require an application, only registration. 

If accepted to the SCION program, you will only need to register for SCION. As a SCION participant, you will be joining specific sessions from the Winter School program.  This is included in your SCION registration fee.  *Please wait to register for SCION until you have been notified of your acceptance. 

Winter School is a three-day program that begins on Monday, February 16, 2026 at 8:00 AM and ends on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM. All times are Eastern Standard Time and subject to change The CIWS webpage will be the most up to date for the program schedule. 

Continuing Education Credits will be available for the CIWS 2026 program. Details about how to obtain these credits will be shared closer to the program. 

Yes, SCION applicants that are not selected to attend SCION may still register for and attend the Winter School program.

The deadline to apply for the 2026 SCION workshop is Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. 

Please email education@sitcancer.org to let us know your questions. 

Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design - 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.

Each year, SITC will identify the best and brightest in the field to continue Dr. Cheever’s passion for improving immunotherapy protocols through the Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design - Travel Award. This select group of deserving early career investigators will look to advance cancer immunotherapy through simple and elegant clinical trial design. Two awardees will be selected from the participants in SITC’s Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop. One awardee will be selected from the SCION participants for having the most simple and elegant protocol. The second award will be given to a participant whose protocol focuses on immunoprevention. The award winners are selected after the program. The awardees will receive flight, and hotel reimbursement to support their travel to the SITC Annual Meeting in the same year that they are selected as the recipients of the award.   

Unfortunately, at this time travel awards are not offered for the SCION program.  

Yes, The Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School Travel Awards are intended for individuals who will attend the program in person. The award amount, up to $1,000, will be reimbursed for eligible expenses associated with travel to attend the 2025 Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School program in person and/or registration for the Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School program. 

Once you have been accepted to the SCION program you will be emailed with directions on how to register for the program.     

Winter School participants can register to attend the program in person or virtually. More information regarding the virtual platform for the program will be provided to registrants closer to the program. 

Yes, contact events@sitcancer.org.   

Your registration type can be switched at any time, please reach out to events@sitcancer.org for assistance. 

Yes, Registrants who select to attend the Winter School virtually will have access to live-streamed presentations with the ability to participate in live Q&A for all sessions. More information regarding the virtual platform will be available closer to the program. Virtual attendees will be granted access to the enduring materials after the program. 

The cost of registration is the same for virtual and in-person attendees. Registration information can be found here. 

No, due to the intimate, hands on nature of the program, SCION is in person only.

There will be daily networking lunches. Additionally, Winter School attendees are free to spend their evening exploring Boston with other participants or faculty. 

SCION is not a recorded program. SCION participants will also have access to the 2026 Winter School enduring materials within two weeks of the program. 

Winter School enduring materials will be available within four weeks of program for both in-person and virtual attendees.