2025 Spring Scientific - Schedule

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Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors

MARCH 12–14, 2025

Abstract topics and presenters will be announced in late January/early February.

Select a Day >

Wednesday, March 12

Thursday, March 13

Friday, March 14

Wednesday, March 12

Registration | 12-1 p.m. PDT

Opening Remarks

1–1:10 p.m. PDT
Evan W. Weber, PhD – University of Pennsylvania

Keynote Address
1:10–2:10 p.m. PDT
1:10 p.m.

TBD
2 p.m.

Question and Answer

Break

2:10–2:25 p.m. PDT

Session I: TILs
2:25-3:45 p.m. PDT
2:25 p.m.
 TBD
2:45 p.m.

Inducing Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in the Tumor Microenvironment with TIL Engineered to Express Regulated Membrane-bound IL15 and LIGHT (TNFSF14)
Jan ter Meulen, MD, PhD – Obsidian Therapeutics
3:05 p.m.

TBD
John Haanen, MD, PhD – Netherlands Cancer Institute
3:25 p.m.

Abstract 
3:35 p.m.

Abstract 

Session II: TCR Gene Therapy – From Private to Public Antigen Targeting
3:45–5:10 p.m. PDT
3:45 p.m. Identification of Neoantigen Reactive T cell Receptors from Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Their Use in the Treatment of Patients with Cancer
Maria Parkhurst, PhD – National Cancer Institute
4:05 p.m.

Personalized Decoding of Anti-tumor T cell Responses Using Genetic Screens
Wouter Scheper, PhD – Netherlands Cancer Institute 
4:25 p.m.

TBD
Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
4:45 p.m.

Clinical Trial Update for ACTengine IMA203, PRAME TCR Transduced T cell Adoptive Cell Transfer, in Refractory Melanoma and Advanced Cancers
Jason J. Luke, MD, FACP – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
5 p.m.

Abstract 

Thursday, March 13

Registration & Breakfast (Regulatory Affairs Panel Discussion) |  8-9 a.m. PDT

Opening Remarks

9-9:05 a.m. PDT
John Haanen, MD, PhD – Netherlands Cancer Institute

Session III: CARs
9:05–10:25 a.m. PDT
9:05 a.m.

TBD
9:25 a.m.

Engineering a Potent T cell Response Against Solid Tumors
Cristina Puig-Saus, PhD – University of California, Los Angeles
9:45 a.m.

Custom CAR Designs
Daniel J. Powell, Jr., PhD – University of Pennsylvania
10:05 a.m.

Abstract 
10:15 a.m.

Abstract 

Session IV:  Everything but the T cell
10:25–11:45 a.m. PDT
10:25 a.m. Engineering Myeloid Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy: CAR-M and Beyond
Michael Klichinsky, PhD – Carisma Therapeutics 
10:45 a.m.

Novel Tumor Microenvironment Modulation Approaches for Enhanced Immunotherapy
Rizwan Romee, MD – Dana Farber Cancer Institute
11:05 a.m.

Myeloid Cells: Barriers to Durable Anti-cancer Outcomes
Jennifer L. Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
11:25 a.m.

Abstract 
11:35 a.m.

Abstract 

Lunch & Poster Preview

11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. PDT

Session V:  The Tumor Microenvironment – Understanding and Engineering Effective Immunotherapy
1–2:20 p.m. PDT
1 p.m. Harnessing the Power of Cancer Evolution to Enhance T cell Therapies
Kole T. Roybal, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
1:20 p.m.

TBD
Renier J. Brentjens, MD, PhD – Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
1:40 p.m.

TBD
Christine Brown, PhD – City of Hope
2 p.m. Abstract 
2:10 p.m.

Abstract 

Session VI:  Strategies to Enhance T cell Fitness and Potency
2:20–3:40 p.m. PDT
2:20 p.m. TBD
2:40 p.m.

Genetic Modification Strategies to Improve CAR T cell Function
Stephen Gottschalk, MD – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
3 p.m.

Reprogramming T cell fate and Function to Enhance CAR T cell Potency
Evan W. Weber, PhD – University of Pennsylvania
3:20 p.m.

Abstract 
3:30 p.m.

Abstract 

Break

3:40–3:55 p.m. PDT

Rapid Oral Presentations
3:55–5:55 p.m. PDT 
3:55 p.m. Rapid Oral Abstract 
4:15 p.m.

Rapid Oral Abstract 
4:35 p.m.

Rapid Oral Abstract 
4:55 p.m.

Rapid Oral Abstract 
5:15 p.m.

Panel Discussion 

Abstract Poster Session & Networking Reception 

5:55–7:25 p.m. PDT

Friday, March 14

Registration & Breakfast | 7-8 a.m. PDT

Opening Remarks

8–8:05 a.m. PDT

Session VII: Next Generation Engineering Strategies for Cell Therapy
8:05–9:25 a.m. PDT
8:05 a.m.

TBD
8:25 a.m.

TBD
8:45 a.m.

Ex vivo and In vivo Gene Editing to Reprogram T cell Function
Justin Eyquem, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
9:05 a.m.

Abstract 
9:15 a.m.

Abstract 

Break

9:25–9:40 a.m. PDT

Workshop: Technologies for Correlative Studies
9:40–11:40 a.m. PDT 
9:40 a.m. TBD
10 a.m.

Integrating Bulk and Spatial Technologies for the Interrogation of Lymphocyte Infiltration
Katie Campbell, PhD – University of California, Los Angeles
10:20 a.m.

Uncovering Immune Correlates of Efficacy in TIL Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma
Alexandre Harari, PhD – University Hospital of Lausanne
10:40 a.m.

What Can Neoantigen-specific T cells Teach Us About Human Antitumor Immunity?
Sri Krishna, PhD – National Cancer Institute
11 a.m.

Panel Discussion 

Lunch 

11:40 a.m.–1 p.m. PDT

Session VIII:  Novel Targets for Solid Tumor Cell Therapies
1–2:20 p.m. PDT
1 p.m.

Targeting Intracellular Cancer Drivers Using PC-CAR T cells
Mark Yarmarkovich, PhD – NYU Grossman School of Medicine
1:20 p.m.

TBD
James R. Heath, PhD – Institute for Systems Biology
1:40 p.m.

Tumor-wide RNA Splicing Aberrations Generate Immunogenic Public Neoantigens
Hideho Okada, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
2 p.m.

Abstract 
2:10 p.m.

Abstract 

Closing Remarks

2:20–2:30 p.m. PDT

Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center