SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop

The 2025 SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop is supported, in part, by grants from these sponsors (as of Nov. 20, 2024). If you are interested in supporting this program, contact our development team at development@sitcancer.org.

Bronze Sponsor 

Bronze Sponsor 

Sign up to get an update when applications open for SCION 2026.

About SCION

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.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Eligible applicants are those working in the field of cancer immunotherapy who want to develop their own immunotherapy clinical trial protocols. You will be working with other scholars and an expert group of mentors, you will learn to consider the critical and essential elements in a modern Immuno-Oncology Protocol.

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, clinical fellows and junior faculty/attendings with medical, surgical, radiation, urologic, gynecologic, or pediatric oncology training. We also accept 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.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the SCION Workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Recognize best practices and overcome the unique challenges in clinical trial design specific to cancer immunotherapy
  • Describe cancer immunotherapy clinical trial endpoints, biomarker development and validation and combination strategies
  • Develop their own clinical trial design with appropriate clinical and biomarker endpoints, and draft a protocol and informed consent
  • Estimate cost, process steps, quality issues, and regulatory path for development and approval of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)
  • Understand the special issues associated with ATMPs, medicines based on genes, tissues or cells in oncology

In addition to deepening their understanding of integral facets of the field of cancer immunotherapy, attendees will expand their professional network, developing new relationships with faculty and other thought leaders in this intimate setting.

SCION Organizers

Tullia Bruno, PhD

Tullia Bruno, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Codruta Chiuzan, PhD

Codruta Chiuzan, PhD
Institute of Health System Science, Northwell Health

Deborah Collyar, B.sci

Deborah Collyar, B.sci
Patient Advocates in Research

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Yana Najjar, MD

Yana Najjar, MD
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD

Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, PhD
Program Advisor

Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, PhD
American Society of Clinical Oncology

SCION Faculty

Kristin Anderson, PhD
University of Virginia

Cindy Chmielewski, BA
HealthTree Foundation for Myeloma

Laura Chow, MD-
University of Texas - Austin

Leslie Cope, PhD
Johns Hopkins University

Tricia  Cottrell, MD, PhD
Queen's University

Ivan Diaz-Padilla, MD, PhD
GSK

Paola Grandi, PhD
CG Oncology

Susan Halabi, PhD
Duke University

Elizabeth Hill, PhD
Medical University of South Carolina

Brian Hobbs, PhD
Telperian, Inc

Gary Kohanbash, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Michael  Lotze, MD
University of Pittsburgh

Jane Perlmutter, PhD 
Gemini Group

Phyllis  Pettit Nassi, MSW
Huntsman Cancer Institute

Virgil Simons, MPA
The Prostate Net

Patricia Spears, FASCO
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Sumit Subudhi, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Ryan Sullivan, MD
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

Award Opportunities

MARTIN “MAC” CHEEVER EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TRIAL DESIGN TRAVEL AWARDS

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. One award will be given to the participant deemed to have the most elegant protocol. The second award will be focused on primary immunoprevention and immune interception.

The awardees will receive flight, hotel, and meal reimbursement to fully support his/her travel to the SITC 2025 Annual meeting.

Learn More >

2025 PanCAN SCION Travel Award

PanCAN LogoThe Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) are pleased to support a travel award for a selected participant of the SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) program whose work focuses on pancreatic cancer or has the potential to impact pancreatic cancer patient outcomes.

The award recipient will receive reimbursement for eligible travel expenses to the SCION 2025 program and complimentary registration for the SCION 2025 program.

Learn More >

2024 Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design Travel Award Winners

2024 Martin "Mac" Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design Travel Award for Immunoprevention- Luigi Lorini, MD

I am a specialist in Medical Oncology. I’m currently an assistant physician at IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital in the Head and Neck and non Melanoma Skin Cancer Unit. I’m involved both in clinical activities and in clinical and preclinical research. I’m the young investigator of some independent clinical trials (performed within GONO, Gruppo Oncologico NordOvest). I’m also a member of the EORTC Young Investigator group.

In 2021, I had a 6 month fellowship program at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, where I increased my experience in head and neck oncology, complemented by an activity in designing clinical trials. I’m an active member of ESMO, EORTC Head and Neck Group, and EORTC Early Career Investigator Head and Neck Group. I’m involved in institutional and national/international research activities on head and neck cancer, from translational research (gene expression, next generation sequencing) to assessment of quality of life and value-based medicine. I’m particularly dedicated to rare cancer among head and neck ones (nasopharyngeal cancer, paranasal sinus cancer, adnexal cancer, and salivary gland cancer). I’m growing my experience in conducting trials with targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and I’m involved as co-PI in various clinical trials, both academic and sponsored.

2024 Martin "Mac" Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design Travel Award: Simple and Elegant- Yun Kyoung RYU Tiger,MD, Phd

PanCAN Logo

Dr. Tiger grew up at a Himalayan boarding school, where the Indian wildlife first sparked her interest in biology. After completing a quadruple-major in microbiology, chemistry, genetics, and biophysics in college, Dr. Tiger earned her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University. There, she explored the role of Wnts and their receptors in sympathetic neuronal development, particularly in axon branching and target innervation. After her Ph.D, she conducted post-doctoral research focusing on anesthetic toxicity on brain development. She identified that clinically relevant dose anesthetic exposure in early postnatal age induces abnormal dendrite arborization and improper spine development in newly generated dentate granule neurons. Anesthetic toxicity was mediated through the mTOR pathway, which can be rescued with mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin.

Following her post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Tiger attended medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed her Internal Medicine residency and Hematology Oncology fellowship at New York Presbyterian – Columbia University Irving Medical Center. As a clinical fellow, she studied a first-in-class histone acetyltransferase activator (HAT), YF2, in combination with another epigenetic drug, tazemetostat, to target two commonly found epigenetic mutations in follicular lymphoma and GC-DLBCL. These mutations are thought to be one of the key drivers of lymphomagenesis, with immune evasion as one of their mechanisms. Dr. Tiger explored ways to modulate the immune system by enhancing its recognition of the lymphoma cells with these mutations using combination therapies. For this work, she was awarded the American Society of Hematology Research Training Award for Fellows in 2022 and American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award in 2023. She was also selected to participate in the AACR Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology Workshop at Snowmass in 2022. Since completing her fellowship, she assumed a position as an assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Blood Disorders at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey where she focuses her research in lymphoid malignancies.

Learn more about the SITC Forward Fund >

Application Process

Applications Closed August 5, 2024

Application Details

Selection: Selection is made by the SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s status in early October 2024.

Terms: SCION participants will pay a registration fee for the SCION workshop. SCION participants will cover all costs for travel and lodging. This registration fee includes participation in the SITC Cancer immunotherapy Winter School.

Application Process: Applicants will submit a completed application form, sponsor statement (from a mentor/supervisor), an applicant statement of interest, curriculum vitae, and abstract of the proposed protocol. 

90-day Reporting: Workshop attendees are required to complete and submit a 90-day report following the conclusion of the 2025 SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop and provide an updated protocol that reflects progress since workshop completion. This report will include:

  • Project title
  • Brief overview of the project progress to date
  • Description of highlights related to your participation in the SCION Workshop
  • Outcomes determined at this date

Summary of Application Packet

The application should be organized as outlined below:

1) Applicant Information

Name, professional designation (MD/PhD/other), institution/organization, professional role, email, work setting, field of research/specialty, disease state, gender, and ethnicity.

2) Curriculum Vitae

NIH Biosketch or equivalent (maximum 5 pages)

3) Statement of Interest

Please tell us why you are interested in this workshop in 500 words or less. Please include:

  • A description of your career path up to this point and your aspirations for its future.
  • Background and experience in cancer immunotherapy, including current research and clinical projects.
  • A brief overview of your proposed clinical trial protocol in cancer immunotherapy research and development.
  • Trial reagent availability support currently available and plans to seek funding.

4) Letter from Department Chair, Supervisor, or Mentor

Must provide a statement of support stating that the applicant will have time and relevant resources provided to conduct or oversee their trial (e.g. research nurse, appropriate equipment, etc.).

  • The candidate’s role and academic or other appointment(s)
  • A brief description of the proposed clinical trial
  • Program support now available or intended for the term of the trial

5) Abstract Protocol

A one-page (approximately 500 word) summary of your proposed interventional study. Please include:

  1. The unmet clinical need you will be addressing including the target patient population
  2. Trial objectives and endpoints
  3. Immunologic and other biomarkers proposed (essential, contextual, and emergent/experimental
  4. The study design, including the planned number of patients (with justification for sample size) and 
    timeline for enrollment

6) Confidentiality Acknowledgement

Applicants must review and acknowledge a confidentiality statement.

Award Opportunities

2025 PanCAN SCION Travel Award

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) are pleased to support a travel award for a selected participant of the SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) program whose work focuses on pancreatic cancer or has the potential to impact pancreatic cancer patient outcomes.

The award recipient will receive reimbursement for eligible travel expenses to the SCION 2025 program and complimentary registration for the SCION 2025 program.

Application Process

Interested applicants must submit an application to the SCION program. The application period is April 22 through Aug. 5, 2024. Selected applicants that meet the SCION Travel Award Eligibility Criteria will be considered for the award. The award recipient will be notified of the decision in September 2024.

SCION Travel Award Eligibility Criteria

  • Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, clinical fellows and junior faculty/attendings with medical, surgical, radiation, urologic, gynecologic, or pediatric oncology training. We also accept advanced degree scientists (e.g., Masters, PhD, PharmD, DNP) with research experience and interest in clinical and translational immuno-oncology.
  • Eligible applicants’ work must focus on pancreatic cancer research or have the potential to impact pancreatic cancer patient outcomes.
  • Applications from those working in industry will not be considered for the travel award.

"Mac" Cheever SITC 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.

A second award will be selected from the participants in the SCION Workshop. One award will be given to the participant deemed to have the most simple and elegant protocol. The second award will be focused on primary immunoprevention and immune interception. For this award, SITC will consider a trial with protocols which address immunotherapies to prevent primary cancer, including (but not limited to) methods to identify and stimulate immune recognition of precursor or preneoplastic lesions, strategies to provide prophylactic immunity against cancer, immunotherapies for precancerous conditions or immunoprevention of their recurrence in patients with high-risk familial cancers. Protocols for smaller pilot studies will also be considered. 

Both awardees will receive travel reimbursement to the SITC 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting (SITC 2025) through SITC’s Forward Fund.

The 90-day reports demonstrating progress on participants’ protocols will be used, in part, to select two recipients for the Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design Travel Awards. One awardee will be selected from the SCION participants for having the most “simple and elegant” protocol. The second award will be given to the participant whose protocol focuses on immunoprevention/immune interception. The awardees will receive flight, hotel, and meal reimbursement to fully support his/her travel to the SITC 2025 Annual meeting.

Other registration Information

Program Deadlines

Application Submissions Close
Aug. 5, 2024

Applicants Notified
September 2024

Two Virtual Pre-Meetings with Assigned Small Group
January (Day/Time TBD)

SCION Workshop in Austin, TX
February 11-14, 2025

SCION Post Program Meeting
February 2025 

Registration Rates

Registration Category Registration Rate
General Member  $            1,500.00
Student Member  $            1,000.00
Industry Member  $            2,500.00
General Non-Member  $            1,800.00
Student Non-Member  $            1,100.00
Industry Non-Member  $            3,000.00
LMIE Member (not available to industry)  $                  - 
LMIE Non-Member (not available to industry)  $                   25.00