A Message from the President
Dear Colleagues,
I’d like to begin this month’s President’s Message honoring Stan Collender (1951-2019). Stan, an immunotherapy pioneer and advocate, was a cancer patient of past SITC President Michael B. Atkins, MD. Dr. Atkins first met Stan in 2012 when he presented with Merkel Cell Carcinoma. From there, they developed a close relationship as Stan courageously fought his disease with immunotherapy for many years. Their experience and efforts together taught us much about the impact and limitations of immunotherapy. Read more about Stan’s life and contributions to our field in the heartfelt memorial posted by Dr. Atkins to The Sentinel, SITC’s official blog.
As you know, breakthroughs in research and the advent of new cancer immunotherapy treatments this century spurred an explosion of interest and investment in our field. Through offerings like the Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) brings together the most accomplished and innovative researchers in the field to spark new collaborations and force consideration of new ideas that prompt discovery of new targets and approaches.
While the SITC Annual Meeting is perhaps our most important and visible effort to advance science and improve patient outcomes, many other SITC activities contribute to our core mission. SITC’s Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy™ (ACI) regional education series is an example of how SITC leverages its member’s clinical and science expertise to inform patient care, particularly safe and effective treatment administration. At the other end of the spectrum of SITC programs, the society seeks to expand research and knowledge in our field through the professional development of early career scientists. Young investigators are the future of cancer immunotherapy research. SITC is investing in their future through a variety of programs that provide education and professional development and promote community and collaboration.
One of our most effective programs aimed at young investigators is the SITC Meet-the-Experts – an annual luncheon at the SITC Annual Meeting (Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, at 12:05 p.m.) organized by the Early Career Scientist Committee that connects young investigators with leaders in the field. It has now grown to a year-round initiative featuring regular, free webinars. These online events focus on various topics that are pertinent to an early career scientist’s professional development. Most recently, Tullia Bruno, PhD (University of Pittsburgh), moderated our Aug. 22 webinar focused on Careers in Science Away from the Bench, which you can view on-demand here.
SITC will once again host a Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School on Jan. 13-17, 2020, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak in Houston, Texas. Led by program organizers Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD (Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy/University of California San Francisco), and Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center), this program provides intensive instruction on the core principles of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy. These programs also foster connections among peers which is critical component to their future success.
SITC also strengthens the support network for young scientists through the Professional Interest Communities. These digital discussion forums connect individuals of similar professional and personal backgrounds to share career development needs, address professional hurdles and more.
Beyond the basic education and professional development offered by SITC, SITC Fellowships provide funding to support the early careers of the most talented scientists. Supported through the Forward Fund, SITC has awarded more than $2 million in Fellowship Awards since 2014. Stay tuned later this year for information about 2020 SITC Fellowships.
SITC offers an affordable membership rate of $50 for students and scientists-in-training. Joining our society provides discounted access to vital SITC in-person programs and reduced fees on articles accepted to the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC). It also places young investigators in a professional network of the most influential basic scientists, translational researchers and clinicians in the field. Click here to become a SITC member and join the world’s leading organization dedicated solely to cancer immunotherapy research.
Finally, I would like to recognize and thank the countless number of women who organized, facilitated and attended SITC’s Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network Leadership Institute in Seattle last month. This exciting new program from SITC, championed by immediate Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, was a rousing success. I look forward to seeing our society continue its effort to support, advance and celebrate the success of women in our field.
Sincerely,
Mario Sznol, MD
SITC President
34th Annual Meeting Meet-the-Expert Lunch on Nov. 7
The Meet-the-Expert Lunch will focus on unique issues related to early career scientist career development and will give the opportunity to attendees to interact with experts in key fields of immunotherapy. Information will be provided on different relevant topics in a setting that fosters attendee/expert interactions and provides networking opportunities with leaders in the field. Experts will answer questions and lead informal dialogue during a one-hour roundtable lunch to help provide guidance and direction.
Meet-the-Expert Lunch Organizers
- Sarah E. Church, PhD – NanoString Technologies
- Ravi Patel, MD, PhD – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Jessica Thaxton, PhD, MSCR – Medical University of South Carolina
- Dario A. A. Vignali, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
- Spencer C. Wei, PhD – Spotlight Therapeutics
Topics during this year’s Meet-the-Expert Lunch will include: Basic -Translational Research in Immunology; Clinical -Translational Research in Immunology with Focus on Medical Students and Medical Residents; Clinical -Translational Research in Immunology with Focus on Fellows and Early Career Clinicians; Partnering and Collaborating with Industry; Networking: Gaining a Network and Leveraging Support; Career Path: The Big Pharma Industry Perspective; and Career Path: The Small Biotech Industry Perspective.
Click here to register to attend the 34th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2019) and secure your spot to attend the SITC Meet-the-Expert Lunch!
View SITC Meet-the-Expert Webinars On-Demand
SITC is excited to provide the Meet-the-Expert Webinars, a series of free webinars dedicated solely for early career scientists. The SITC Meet-the-Expert Webinars accommodate young investigators seeking to engage with luminaries in the cancer immunotherapy field. These webinars are an extension of the Meet-the-Expert Lunch, a Pre-Conference Program of the SITC Annual Meeting, providing a unique educational forum for early career scientists.
View Past Meet-the-Expert Webinars On-Demand
Future Meet-the-Expert webinar topics will focus on negotiation; leadership/how to develop your team; and resume and cover letter writing/alternative job search strategies. Stay tuned to the SITC website for more information, including dates and times, of these future webinars.
SITC to Host Winter School in Houston this January
SITC is pleased to host its second Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School, a comprehensive cancer immunotherapy education program, on Jan. 13-17, 2020, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak in Houston. Taught by leading experts in the field, this five-day program provides attendees with a deep understanding of the core principles of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy and examines developing areas in the field.
ORGANIZERS
- Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD – Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy/University of California San Francisco
- Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
The Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School (click here to register now), is tailored to early career scientists and clinicians new to the field. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of cancer immunotherapy and features separate tracks, clinical and research, allowing participants to tailor their experience by selecting the educational path most relevant to their learning goals.
Visit the SITC website to learn more about this exciting program.
Join a SITC Professional Interest Community
SITC Professional Interest Communities are an original series of online communities created exclusively for SITC members who are researchers and clinicians in the cancer immunotherapy field to expand their network and receive career development support from colleagues.
Join a SITC Professional Interest Community to discuss your current and future research, scientific applications and career development needs, help colleagues address professional hurdles and build new relationships. SITC members of similar professional disciplines and experience will work together to identify and recommend ways their colleagues and the society can solve hurdles in the field.
SITC Professional Interest Communities exist in the following categories:
Click here to learn more about SITC Professional Interest Communities.
SITC Members Elect 3 New At-Large Directors
SITC congratulates the three members were recently elected to the SITC Board of Directors:
- Alessandra Cesano, MD, PhD – ESSA Pharma Inc.
- Tanja de Gruijl, PhD – VU University Medical Center
- Stefani Spranger, PhD – Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT
SITC regular and emeritus members participated in the 2019 SITC Election from July 10-24, 2019. Drs. Cesano, de Gruijl and Spranger were the Top 3 in total votes received among the six candidates. The newly elected At-Large Directors will commence their three-year terms beginning in January.
SITC thanks the contributions of time and expertise from the three outgoing At-Large Directors: Charles G. Drake, MD, PhD (Columbia University Medical Center); Leisha A. Emens, MD, PhD (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center); and Kristen Hege, MD (Celgene Corporation).
Submit Comments on Renal Cell Carcinoma Guidelines by Sept. 15
Less than two weeks remain for you to participate in the open comment period of the forthcoming manuscript, "The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).”
SITC’s open comment period allows for key stakeholders and experts in the field to critically review the draft guideline prior to its publication.
To gain access to the draft manuscript, please visit the Call for Comment page of the SITC website. All comments are due to SITC by Sunday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
SITC Call for Volunteers: JITC Reviewers
SITC currently seeks new applicants to become JITC manuscript reviewers. Open to professionals with 1+ years of experience working in cancer immunotherapy, a JITC manuscript reviewer assesses the merit of submitted studies, carefully analyzes and critiques them, and provides general and specific constructive recommendations to help authors greatly enhanced the value of their manuscripts.
Learn more about this volunteer opportunity and apply by visiting the SITC Volunteer Portal.
