Leadership Development

Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School

Conceived as a program to support career development opportunities for investigators and clinicians interested in immuno-oncology, the 7^th annual SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School provided early career scientists and clinicians a deep understanding of the core principles of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, as well as developing areas in the field including biomarker technology, validation, and clinical integration; clinical trial design, data analysis and considerations for combination therapies.

Over 225 attendees

Four-day program included topics on:

• Biomarker Technologies
• Clinical Trial Design
• Grantsmanship

Breakout sessions for clinicians and researchers

Special thank you to the Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School Organizers

SITC’s Clinical Immuno-oncology Network (SCION) Workshop

SITC’s Clinical Immuno-oncology Network (SCION) Workshop addresses 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.

33 participants

Four-day program with:

• Tailored support for cancer immunotherapy trials
• Guidance from cancer immunotherapy experts
• Empowerment in protocol development

As part of the program, participants had full access to Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School. In addition, two SCION participants were selected to receive the Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design travel award to support their travel to SITC 2025. To learn more about the awards and the recipients, visit the Forward Fund page.

Special thank you to the SCION Organizers

Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network Leadership Institute

SITC held two impactful WIN Leadership Institute programs this summer, the first held Aug. 7–8 in person in Chicago, IL and the second held Sept. 15-16 was virtual only. Now in its eighth year, the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute is the only program that provides female professionals mentorship and guidance to succeed as emerging leaders in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

The two-day program explored how to:

• Apply leadership skills to create an effective team environment in the workplace
• Display a broad understanding of effective leadership roles and strategies
• 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 women in the field of cancer immunotherapy for guidance and advice on advancing their career in cancer immunotherapy 
  
  

Sparkathon

This prestigious, impactful program brings together early career investigators and leading experts to address challenges in the field, speed the pace of discovery, and foster development of the next generation of leaders. The Sparkathon Class of 2025 focused on cellular therapy for solid tumors, including topics pertaining to how to manage your research laboratory and team, how to provide, as well as how to seek mentorship, and information on career trajectories across academia, industry, and government. The 2025 Sparkathon was held prior to the Spring Scientific, with a focus on Cellular Therapies for Solid Tumors. The 14 Sparkies engaged in networking and mentorship opportunities and had the opportunity to share their research with peers and experts, and receive feedback. Participants are also invited to gather at the Sparkathon Alumni Reception each year at the SITC Annual Meeting to continue valuable networking and opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration.

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) Peer Review Mentorship Program

To support the training of the next generation of peer reviewers, continued its Peer Review Mentorship Program in 2025. The program paired mentees with JITC editors and experienced reviewers to provide hands-on training in the scientific peer-review process, resulting in the graduation 20 participants from eight countries 

Mentorship and Networking Program for Undergraduate Students in STEM

In 2025, SITC hosted its fourth interactive, day-long mentorship and networking workshop for undergraduates in STEM. Held in conjunction with the SITC Annual Meeting, the program provided students with opportunities to engage with leaders in the field, connect with mentors from a variety of professional backgrounds and network with peers interested in science and medicine careers. The in-person program welcomed 38 students from the National Harbor, MD and Washington, DC area.

“Leading with Authenticity: Networking and Mentorship that Inspires Inclusion” Panel

This new panel, held in conjunction with the SITC Annual Meeting, featured three distinguished speakers who shared strategies practical strategies for building meaningful mentoring relationships and fostering an inclusive workforce within the biotechnology and life sciences sectors. The session offered actionable guidance to nearly 50 early-career scientists, equipping them with tools to apply during conversations with mentors.

Fellowships and Travel Awards

With support from the SITC Forward Fund, SITC provided 4 fellowships and 57 travel awards to students, trainees, and early-career investigators, supporting the professional development of early career scientists in immunotherapy. Learn more about the fellowship and award recipients on the Forward Fund page.