Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network 2025

WIN 2023

Aug. 7–8, 2025 in Chicago or virtual from Sept. 15–16, 2025

Applications are now closed.

The Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) is a SITC initiative seeking to promote and elevate women in the cancer immunotherapy field.

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SITC’s 2025 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute is supported, in part, by grants from these sponsors (as of April 29, 2025). Additional support has also been made through a challenge grant by an anonymous donor. 
Bronze Sponsor

Genentech

Bronze Sponsor

Gilead

Bronze Sponsor

Wilson Wolf

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Organizers

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Merck

Sandra Demaria, MD

Sandra Demaria, MD 
Weill Cornell Medicine

Teri Foy, PhD Bristol Myers Squibb

Teresa Foy, PhD 
Formerly Bristol Myers Squibb

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Kristen Hege, MD

Kristen Hege, MD
Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia and EvolveImmune

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Program Advisors

Olivera J. Finn, PhD. FAIO

Olivera J. Finn, PhD, FAIO
University of Pittsburgh

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD 
Johns Hopkins University

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Topics 

Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Grandis, MD

Jennifer R. Grandis, MD
University of California, San Francisco  

Topics

SITC is working on finalizing the schedule for the 7th Annual event. Past session topics include:

  • Authentic Leadership: Developing Your Personal Brand and Communication Skills*
  • Surviving in a Political World
  • Work Life Integration
  • The Male Perspective – Panel*
  • Women and Work: Alternate Career Paths
  • The Art of Saying No
  • How to Develop Your Team
  • How to Negotiate

*Confirmed topic for 2025

Program Details

August 7–8, 2025 in Chicago, IL | Sept. 15–16, 2025 Virtual

The 7th Annual SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute features two opportunities to attend, in-person or virtually.

The program, championed by SITC Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the society’s first female president, brings emerging female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field together for an inspirational two days of professional development and networking.

The 2025 SITC WIN Leadership Institute will feature presentations from experienced female leaders, panel discussions allowing participants to ask questions and interact with these leaders and our distinguished program organizers, and networking opportunities.

Eligibility

This program is open to female applicants only. Applicants must currently work in the field of cancer immunotherapy or be interested in starting a career in the field. If you have attended past WIN programs, you are not eligible to apply.

In addition, applicants must fit one of the following criteria:

  • Five or fewer years since applicant’s post-doctoral PhD and/or MD experience (e.g., post-doctoral lab experience or medical residency/fellowship)
  • Ten or fewer years since applicant received terminal degree (PharmD, MBA, etc.)
  • Applicant is starting or in consideration for their first leadership position

For a complete list of eligibility criteria, click here.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this meeting, participants will be able to:

  • Apply leadership skills to create an effective team environment in the workplace
  • Display a broad understanding of effective leadership roles and strategies and be able to apply them in a variety of professional, personal, and civic environments
  • Navigate unique challenges that face female leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy
  • Demonstrate the ability to understand and apply principles of effective communication in order to affect appropriate change in a variety of leadership settings
  • Rely on a network of females in the field of cancer immunotherapy for guidance and advice on advancing their career in cancer immunotherapy 

SITC Professional Interest Communities

SITC Professional Interest Communities are an original series of online communities created exclusively for SITC members. Within these communities, researchers and clinicians in the cancer immunotherapy field expand their network and receive career development support from colleagues.

The Women in SITC Community is open to women who share a common interest in immunology and cancer. Open to professional women, the goal of the community is to increase females in leadership roles within the society, foster connections and working opportunities among members, discuss immunotherapy toxicities (open to other specialties that deal with toxicity of immunotherapy), create mentorship opportunities, discuss gender bias and professional opportunities and contributions to the field of oncology/immunotherapy.

Not a member? Join SITC today and gain immediate access to the Women in SITC Community!

Hotel Information

The Drake Hotel
140 E Walton Pl
Chicago, IL 60611

Target Audience

The SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute provides female participants from clinical settings, industry, pharma, government, and academia the tools they need to succeed as emerging leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy. This program is specifically intended for those just starting their independent professional careers or those who have re-entered the workforce.

Registration Rates (In-Person and Virtual)

Industry Member - $360
Industry Non-Member - $450

Member - $240
Non-Member - $300

Student Member - $120
Student Non-Member - $150

Developing Economies Member - $0
Developing Economies Non-Member - $25

Application Process

Applications are due March 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST.

Selection is made by the SITC WIN Leadership Institute Program Co-Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s acceptance or decline.

Selection Criteria

Program Co-Organizers will consider the following in their selection of applicants:

  • Career stage
  • Diversity
  • Written responses to short answer questions

Priority will be given to applicants who are early in their independent professional careers or who are re-entering the workforce.

*While not a requirement, SITC membership and participation in SITC programs or opportunities, will be considered during the review process. Membership is a requirement for travel award applicants.

organize your application as outlined below:

I. Applicant's Career Stage: In 50 words or less, please state your career stage relative to your terminal degree (for example: 2 years in current position, after a 3 year postdoc, which is 5 years since my PhD degree; or 2 years in current position after a 3 year residency in internal medicine and 3 years of oncology subspecialty training which is 8 years since my MD degree; or 5 years in my current position after completion of my PharmD, MBA, etc.)

II. Applicant's Statement of Benefit: In 50 words or less, please state why you would benefit from attending this event.

III. Proof of Student / Fellow Status: Proof of student/fellow status or years out from such status can be provided through a letter or transcript from the institution at which the applicant completed this work.

WIN Leadership Institute Travel Awards

To support young investigators and clinicians interested in attending the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute, SITC will accept applications for travel awards, which will supplement eligible expenses up to $750 for those honored to attend. Five travel awardees will be selected. Travel awards are only available to in-person WIN Leadership Institute participants. SITC membership is a requirement for travel award eligibility.

In alignment with SITC's diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan, this program aims to enhance diversity by increasing participation from underrepresented populations in the U.S. Biomedical Sciences.

Three of the five Travel Awards will be reserved for those who self-identify as individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the biomedical sciences. The information collected in response to the self-identifying process will only be viewed by SITC staff and program organizers in consideration of the Travel Award.

Applicants will be asked to provide an additional Statement of Benefit to state how receiving a travel award to attend the 2025 WIN Leadership Institute in-person in Chicago, IL from August 7-8, 2025, will help in reaching their career objectives. 

Selection
Selection is made by the SITC WIN Leadership Institute Program Co-Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s acceptance or decline.

Application Process
Applicants will submit an application via SITC’s website through their application for the WIN Leadership Institute. Applications are due March 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. EST.

COVID-19 Measures

At SITC programs, our goal is to have a safe and meaningful in-person experience. SITC will refer to the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to guide health precautions for in-person meetings. In addition, SITC strongly recommends that in-person meeting attendees take the following precautions:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Take a rapid COVID test prior to attending a meeting and do not attend in person if you test positive
  • Do not attend the meeting if you have symptoms that could be consistent with a “cold” or any other respiratory infection and leave the meeting if you develop such symptoms
  • Wear a mask in crowded indoor settings
  • Follow all health and safety protocols as required by SITC and local and state health departments.
  • Review current CDC and applicable local guidance for protecting yourself from COVID-19

Attendees will have access to the meeting content online if they are unable to attend in person due to illness or a positive COVID test. For hybrid programs, attendees can change from in-person to online-only registration by contacting events@sitcancer.org.

View Past Programs

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