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The SITC Immune Monitor
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April 2016 – In this Issue

SITC 2016 | Cancer Immunotherapy 101 | Education & Events | Funding Opportunity
 Membership | Guidelines | Publications & Resources | Policy | Careers

A Message from the President

Dear Colleagues,

It is clear from the news over the last month that this is an exciting time to be in the field of cancer immunotherapy and part of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). Just in the past few weeks:

  • Entrepreneur Sean Parker designated $250 million for cancer immunotherapy research
  • Michael Bloomberg, along with other philanthropists, donated $125 million for cancer immunotherapy research
  • At the 2016 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, immunotherapy-focused sessions were filled to capacity with standing room only
  • Vice President Joe Biden, the newly-appointed leader of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative, asserted that immunotherapy is “…poised to be a critical part of America’s anti-cancer strategy” in his address at AACR, and he believes “…we can build a new system that better supports your efforts and saves lives faster”

SITC has, for over 30 years, understood the importance, relevance and potential for immunotherapeutics in the fight against cancer. We are excited to be driving the field and are proud to boast that many of our leaders are taking part in imperative national initiatives such as:

  • SITC leaders were involved at The Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Cancer Policy Forum workshop entitled Policy Issues in the Clinical Development and Use of Immunotherapy for Cancer
  • SITC joined the National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR) congressional briefing to discuss immunotherapy and the Cancer Moonshot Initiative
  • SITC members have been chosen to be on the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative Blue Ribbon Panel
  • SITC will continue the discussion on the value of cancer immunotherapy at the 31st Annual Meeting with the Value of Cancer Immunotherapy Summit, organized in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

We invite you to join us for SITC’s 31st Annual Meeting & Associated Programs in National Harbor, Maryland from November 9 – 13, 2016. This conference focuses solely on immunotherapy of cancer and tumor immunology, and involves all stakeholders in order to rapidly disseminate cutting edge information on the important advances in the field.

I look forward to seeing you in person and continuing our work toward making “cure” a reality during this historic time.

Best regards,

Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS
SITC President

SITC 2016

Present at SITC 2016: Submit an Abstract by August 8th

November 9-13, 2016
Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center
National Harbor, Maryland

 

In 2015, SITC received nearly 500 abstract submissions from delegates from over 30 countries around the globe. Help us surpass this record at SITC 2016!

Members and non-members alike are encouraged to submit an abstract through Monday, August 8, 2016 at 5 p.m. EDT. All abstracts will be reviewed and considered for poster and/or oral presentation during SITC’s 31st Annual Meeting. From "Combinations" and "Clinical Trials in Progress" to "Immune-Related Adverse Events" and "Survivorship," there is sure to be a category that reflects your research interests.

Find a complete list of abstract categories and submit your abstract here.

Cancer Immunotherapy 101

Next Up: Introductory Program Heading to Chicago

Part of the Advances in Cancer ImmunotherapyTM series, Cancer Immunotherapy 101 is an introductory, CME- and CE-certified program designed to provide clinical oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, and the entire team involved in treating cancer patients a greater understanding of cancer immunotherapies, their therapeutic effectiveness, and the appropriate selection and management of patients.

Chicago, Illinois - Thursday, June 23
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place

Organized by:

  • Linda A. Janisch, APN—University of Chicago
  • Timothy M. Kuzel, MD—Northwestern University
  • Jason J. Luke, MD, FACP—University of Chicago

    Register by June 2 for best rates!

Can't make it to Chicago? More dates and locations are available! Share the series flyer with your network to promote cancer immunotherapy education nationwide.

Additional Education & Events

Upcoming Collaborative Programs

Find more information on these and other collaborative programs here.

SITC's Annual Fundraiser


Membership Makes a Difference

Not a member yet? Join today! Membership lapsed? Renew now!

SITC is the world’s leading member-driven society dedicated to professionals working in the field of cancer immunotherapy. As a member, you will join a growing network of nearly 1,300 basic and translational scientists, practitioners, healthcare professionals, government leaders, and industry professionals worldwide.

There are several membership categories including: Regular, Affiliate, Allied Health, Emeritus, Nurse and Physician Extender, Patient and Patient Advocate, Pharmacist, and Scientist-in-Training/Student memberships. To learn more about these categories, and to apply or renew, visit the Membership page or call 414-271-2456.

Membership Benefits Include:

  • Discounted registration rates on all SITC programs
  • Eligibility to apply for SITC fellowships and grants
  • Access to SITC "Members Only" section, including meeting slides and other online resources
  • Access to SITC's online member directory
  • Waived article processing charges (a $2,500 USD savings) for SITC’s open access journal, the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC)
  • Eligible to participate in society activities and committee services
  • ... and much more!

Do You Love Being a Part of SITC? Connect-a-Colleague!

New members often join SITC because a current member has invited them. Please encourage your colleagues, including nurses, pharmacists, and students, to become official SITC members by sending personalized invitations with our online tool or simply ask the people that you invite to list your name on their membership applications. If each SITC member recruits two others, we could quickly grow to 3,000 members! Top referrers will receive recognition for their efforts.

Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines

Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines for the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

The SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines Task Force for Kidney Cancer has created guidelines to provide evidence-based consensus recommendations for the use of cancer immunotherapy in the clinical management of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Before publication, SITC members will have the the opportunity to review the guidelines and provide any comments or feedback. An email notification will be sent to the SITC membership when the manuscript has been posted. Please look for this notification in order to voice your opinion on this important initiative. Your input is a SITC member benefit, so please take advantage of this opportunity!

Publications & Resources

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, the Resource for Cutting-Edge Science in the Field

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC) is SITC's official open access, peer-reviewed journal. It encompasses all aspects of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy, from basic research to clinical application. As the global voice of the Society, JITC is the resource for SITC publications and also serves as a targeted outlet for publication of original research articles, literature reviews and position papers. 

Additionally, JITC features monthly technology primers produced by the SITC Immune Biomarkers Task Force. A hot topic in the field, these papers examine the latest in biomarker technologies for cancer immunotherapy. Access the articles here.

Interested in publishing in JITC? SITC members receive waived article processing charges for papers accepted through 2016. Submit your manuscript here.

JITC to be Represented at International Conference

SITC is pleased to announce that Dr. Cornelis J.M. Melief, Basic Tumor Immunology Section Editor, will represent JITC during a Meet-the-Editor session on May 12, 2016, during the Association of Cancer Immunotherapy’s (CIMT) Annual Meeting 2016 in Mainz, Germany.

This interactive one-hour session will include overviews from editors of journals such as Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, and Science Translational Medicine, as well as a question and answer session with audience participation. If you are attending, please plan to attend this session to learn more about this vital, targeted outlet for the publication of original research articles, literature reviews, position papers and discussion on all aspects of tumor immunology and cancer immunotherapy—from basic research to clinical application.

Public Policy Updates

SITC 2016 Value of Cancer Immunotherapy Summit in collabroation with ASCO
SITC 2016 will feature an in-depth Value of Cancer Immunotherapy Summit, organized in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), on Sunday, November 13 as part of SITC's 31st Annual Meeting & Associated Programs. The Summit will address value as a crucial topic that impacts all cancer immunotherapy constituents, from researchers and clinicians to payers and cancer patients.

National Cancer Moonshot Initiative
Following President Obama's State of the Union address, Vice President Biden is moving forward with his efforts to focus upon ending cancer as a part of his priorities during his last year in office and beyond. The overarching goal of the initiative is to double the rate of scientific progress over the next five years. An emphasis will be placed upon cutting-edge research and care including immunotherapy, genomics and combination therapies.

SITC Involvement

  • Letter of support and ongoing communication with Vice President Biden’s Office
  • Four SITC members have been named to the Blue Ribbon Panel:
    • James P. Allison, PhD—University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
    • Jeffery A. Bluestone, PhD—University of California San Francisco
    • Elizabeth M. Jaffee, MD—The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University (Co-Chair)
    • Augusto C. Ochoa, MD—Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

IOM National Cancer Policy Forum Meeting
On February 29, 2016, the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Forum held a workshop entitled Policy Issues in the Clinical Development and Use of Immunotherapy for Cancer.

SITC Involvement

  • Session chair
    • Samir N. Khleif, MD—Georgia Cancer Center
  • Speakers
    • Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD—University of Pittsburgh
    • Bernard A. Fox,PhD—Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Center
    • Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • A SITC overview was presented to highlight the society's efforts to educate practicing oncologists, nurses and patients
  • ASTRO publicly thanked SITC for a successful collaboration 

National Biomedical Research Act
U.S. Senate legislation, The National Biomedical Research Act, has been introduced to create a new funding stream called the Biomedical Innovation Fund, which would provide $5 billion per year in new funding for select initiatives at national research institutions (NIH and FDA) in years when congressional appropriations to the agencies increase.

SITC Involvement

  • SITC signed on as a supporter of the legislation in March, 2016

National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR) Congressional Briefing
SITC joined the National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR) for a special congressional briefing on April 25, 2016. SITC leader, Michael B. Atkins, MD of the Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, served as a speaker for the session entitled The Cancer “Moonshot” Initiative: New Frontiers in Cancer Exploration.

Latest Opportunities from SITC's Job Board

Immuno-oncology Scientists (multiple positions)
Pfizer - La Jolla

Post-doctoral Fellow
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center - Alburquerque, New Mexico

Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Immnuo-Oncology
Onkaido - Cambridge, Massachutes

View All Job Board Listings

If you are interested in posting an open position to SITC's job board, please reference this agreement form for posting criteria or contact SITC at info@sitcancer.org.

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