WIN 2023

Aug. 8–9, 2024 in Chicago or virtual from Aug. 22–23, 2024

Applications for the in-person and virtual programs were due April 3, 2024, at 5 p.m. PST. Sign up below to get an update when applications open for WIN 2025

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

SITC’s 2024 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute is supported, in part, by grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., and Wilson Wolf. Additional support has also been made through a challenge grant by an anonymous donor (Supporters as of March 1, 2024).

Sign up to get an update when applications open for the 2025 Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute.

SITC WIN Leadership Institute Organizers

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

ORGANIZER

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Merck

Sandra Demaria, MD

ORGANIZER

Sandra Demaria, MD 
Weill Cornell Medicine 

Olivera J. Finn, PhD

ORGANIZER

Olivera J. Finn, PhD 
University of Pittsburgh

Teri Foy, PhD

ORGANIZER

Teri Foy, PhD 
Bristol Myers Squibb

Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD

ORGANIZER

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

Kristen Hege, MD

ORGANIZER

Kristen Hege, MD 

Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD

ORGANIZER

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

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD

ORGANIZER

Cornelia L. Trimble, MD 
Johns Hopkins University

Program Details

August 8–9, 2024 in Chicago, IL | August, 22–23, 2024 Virtual

The 6th 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 2024 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.

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.

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 

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

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

Registration Rates (In-Person Only)

Industry Non-Member - $300
Industry Member - $240

Non-Member - $200
Member - $160

Student Non-Member - $100
Student Member - $80

LMIE Non-Member - $25
LMIE Member - $0

Application Process

Applications for the in-person and virtual programs were due
April 3, 2024, at 5 p.m. PST

Applicants will submit an application via SITC’s website. 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.

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 costs up to $750 for those honored to attend. Five travel awardees will be selected.

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 according to the NIH definition.

The information collected in response to the self-identifying process will only be viewed by SITC staff and WIN program organizers in consideration of WIN Leadership Institute travel awards.

Applicants will be asked to provide an additional Statement of Benefit to state how receiving a travel award to attend the 2024 SITC WIN Leadership Institute in-person in Chicago, IL from Aug. 8–9, 2024 in Chicago 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 were due April 3, 2024, at 5 p.m. PST.

SITC WIN Faculty

Kristin Anderson, PhD
University of Virginia

Jyoti Bajpai, MD, DM
Tata Memorial Center

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD
Merck

Tullia Bruno, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Sandra Demaria, MD
Weill Cornell Medicine

Olivera Finn, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Teri Foy
Bristol Myers Squibb

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

Jennifer Grandis, MD
University of California San Francisco

Jennifer Guerriero, PhD
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Kristen Hege, MD

Priti Hegde, PhD
Kite Pharma

Priscilla Kelly, MD
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Ashley Koegel, MD, 
Bristol Myers Squibb

Sandra Masur, PhD, FASCB
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Jill O'Donnell-Tormey, PhD
Cancer Research Institute

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

Melody Smith, MD
Stanford University

Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Cornelia Trimble, MD
Johns Hopkins University

Xiaofei Wang, PhD
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Alethia Young, BA
Bicycle Therapeutics


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.