SITC Sparkathon

The Society for Cancer Immunotherapy Sparkathon Accelerator: Emerging Leaders Igniting Innovation program is a unique vehicle to foster leadership development, innovation and collaborations. Sparkathon Accelerator will build upon the success of the first two Sparkathon events but feature a new, improved format starting in 2021.

Early career scientists will benefit from meaningful collaborations and hear the latest research in a synergistic environment amongst peers and experts in the field.

Submission period opening in early 2021!

Participants met on Sept. 12 – 14, 2018, in Chicago, Illinois for a two-and-a-half-day retreat.

Day One

• The retreat began with a forward-thinking presentation delivered by futurist, Terry Grim, MS, MA which inspired participants to creatively and innovatively approach their project designs throughout the remainder of the retreat.
• Participants learned about each other’s experiences, knowledge and strengths through ice breakers, which provided a foundation for successful communication during the next two days.

Day Two

• The class divided into three teams, and each team operated in a think tank while considering a comprehensive list of key priorities identified by SITC leadership survey results, strategic planning results, policy statements and obstacles within the field.
• Each team selected one priority or obstacle to address and began to formulate project plans. Business experts Kristi Jones, David A. Rosen, and Jon Wigginton, MD served as coaches to support the development of the proposals to ensure successful implementation.
• Teams presented their proposals to a panel of SITC leaders for merit-based approval, after which each team finalized details of their projects.

Day Three

• Teams refined their presentation skills as they made formal project presentations to a panel of SITC leaders.
• The panel selected the top project and provided feedback and recommendations for implementation. The full class is working together to consider the next steps for implementation of the project.

Following the retreat, the class is now developing a detailed plan that includes budgets and timelines. The team was awarded $200,000 for project development and implementation. The class is using a provided online communication and project management platform to further the develop plans and foster continued relationship development among the group. The collaborative interface platform is bringing 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 class has approximately 12 months to execute project plans. Projects must conclude by November 2019. SITC will consider project outcomes for publication in the Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) and for presentation at the society’s 34^th Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-10, 2019, at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.

SITC Sparkathon was inspired by a challenge grant from an anonymous donor whose generosity made this unique event possible.

We gratefully acknowledge support from the anonymous donor and:

Ignitor Sponsors
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Incyte Corporation
Genentech

Spark Sponsors
Celgene Corporation
And other friends of SITC