A group of 30 emerging leaders will be selected through an application process to meet for a two-day retreat in a “Technology Hackathon” meets “Shark Tank” format to explore the hurdles and challenges facing the field of cancer immunotherapy with the goal of identifying projects that provide a solution to one or more of the identified hurdles.
The emerging leaders will develop project proposals with guidance from renowned business experts over the two-day period. A panel of judges will award the most promising project(s) $175,000, which the participants will use to implement the project(s) during the following 12-18 months, culminating in a presentation at the society’s 33rd Annual Meeting, Nov. 9 – 11, 2018.
Projects must be collaborative by design throughout implementation. Sample projects may include high-risk (non-preliminary data) projects, methods exchange, whitepapers, business plans, educational and media tools. The 30 participants will emerge as a unique cohort, a dynamic network of young cancer immunotherapy professionals formed to further individual professional development and foster collaborations across institutions and work settings.
SITC Sparkathon Retreat
The retreat will be held 8 a.m. Aug. 28 – 4:30 p.m. Aug. 29, 2017 in Chicago, IL.
- Step One: The cohort will initially operate in a think tank to consider a comprehensive list of key priorities identified by SITC leadership survey results, strategic planning results, policy statements and hurdles within the field.
- Step Two: The cohort will then be tasked with prioritizing and selecting 1-3 projects to develop into full concept proposals for merit-based approval by a panel of SITC leaders.
- Step Three: Once projects have been identified, the cohort will break into teams of ten to formulate project plans. Teams will be provided with business experts to serve as coaches to support the development of the proposals to ensure the potential for successful implementation.
- Step Four: Cohort participants will refine their presentation skills as they will need to make formal presentations of their projects to a panel of SITC leaders.
- Step Five: The panel will select the top project(s) and provide feedback and recommendations for implementation. The full cohort will come together to consider the next steps for implementation of the project(s).
- Step Six: Project implementation (see below).
Project Implementation
Following the retreat, the cohort will formulate a detailed execution plan including budgets and timelines. The group will be provided with resources of up to $175,000 for project(s) development and implementation. An online communication and project management platform will be provided to further the development of plans on an ongoing basis and foster continued relationship development among the group. The collaborative interface platform will bring like-minded people together in a secure community designed to enable relevant and purposeful interactions, ignite knowledge sharing, drive content creation and improve performance.
The cohort will have approximately 12-18 months to execute project plans. Project outcomes will be considered for publication in the Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) and for presentation at the society’s 33rd Annual Meeting, to be held Nov. 9 – 11, 2018 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, District of Columbia.