1. science
2. medicine
3. oncology

First Annual
Immuno‑Oncology
Young Investigators’ Forum
A Continuing Medical Education
Program for Oncology Junior Faculty and Fellows
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Abstract Submission Deadline: January 16, 2015
Warwick Allerton Hotel Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
April 30 – May 3, 2015
This educational activity is certified for
CME credit by National Jewish Health
Supported by an educational grant from
AstraZeneca
An Invitation From the Program Chairs
Dear Colleague:
We are delighted to invite you to the Immuno-Oncology Young Investigators’ Forum. This Forum is a
unique educational opportunity designed for US-based Junior Faculty and Fellows (MDs and DOs) who
conduct basic science, laboratory translational research, and/or clinical research using immuno-oncology
strategies directed at solid tumor or hematologic malignancies. This forum is an independent medical
education activity certified by National Jewish Health and is supported by an independent educational
grant from AstraZeneca. It will take place in Chicago, Illinois, at the Warwick Allerton Hotel Chicago on
April 30-May 3, 2015.
The purpose of this meeting is to bring together expert faculty with Junior Faculty and Fellows who
share interests in immuno-oncology. Oncology Junior Faculty and Fellows are invited to submit an
abstract of their research (clinical or basic science) to a panel of 8 recognized oncology expert faculty for
assessment. The abstracts are blinded and each expert scores the submissions. Based on the scores,
the top 40 abstracts are accepted (ideally, 10 clinical research [Junior Faculty and Fellows] and 10 basic
science research [Junior Faculty and Fellows]). These investigators are invited as presenting faculty to
attend the Forum and present their research in full for further review and comment by the expert faculty
and presenting faculty. Funding for travel, lodging, and meals will be provided to all 40 presenting faculty.
During the Forum, additional group discussions with expert faculty will be planned. At the conclusion of
the activity, participants should be able to:
• Identify areas of immuno-oncology research that offer new inroads to effective therapies
• Describe the key components to be included in immuno-oncology basic science and clinical research
• Discuss research study designs that may improve on current approaches to immuno-oncology
research
• Recognize strengths and weaknesses of the research presented and receive constructive input on
the studies presented
Based on the scores of the expert faculty, the top presenting faculty in each category noted above will
be provided with a grant to be used for their research. Of special note, the research of the top 2 Junior
Faculty (1 clinical, 1 basic science) will receive a $10,000 research grant award to assist the recipients
in current or future research studies. All research grants will be issued to the respective institutions of
the awardees. This Forum is an exceptional opportunity to focus on research, interact with other young
investigators, and receive invaluable mentorship from the expert faculty.
We encourage you to submit the abstract of your research by February 13, 2015.
We are working with Julie Maravalhas of ARCoaltion LLC (ARC) who can be reached at 973-443-3825,
or Julie.Maravalhas@ar-coalition.com if you need additional information.
On behalf of the expert faculty, we hope to see you in Chicago this spring.
Sincerely,
Mario Sznol, MD
James P. Allison, PhD
Program Chairs
Mario Sznol, MD
Professor of Medicine
Section of Medical Oncology
Yale University School of
Medicine
New Haven, CT
James P. Allison, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Immunology,
Division of Basic Science
Research
University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Mario Sznol, MD, graduated from Rice University
and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston,
Texas. He trained in internal medicine at BCM and
completed a medical oncology fellowship in the
Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Mount Sinai
Hospital, New York. From 1987-1999 he was a
Senior Investigator in the Biologics Evaluation
Section (BES), Investigational Drug Branch (IDB),
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program of the
National Cancer Institute, and was Head of the
BES from 1994-1999. He also attended in the
Biological Response Modifiers Program, NCI, and
on the Immunotherapy Service of the Surgery
Branch, NCI. Dr Sznol was a vice president and
executive officer of Vion Pharmaceuticals in New
Haven, CT from 1999-2004.
Allison is professor and chair of The University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of
Immunology in the Division of Basic Science
Research. He directs MD Anderson’s Immunology
Platform and is deputy director of the David H.
Koch Center for Applied Research in Genitourinary
Cancers, Department of Genitourinary Medical
Oncology – Research. He also is a Howard
Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.
He is currently professor of internal medicine at
Yale University School of Medicine, Vice-chief of
the Section of Medical Oncology, and co-director
of Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer.
Allison’s research focuses on the mechanisms that
govern T cell responses and applying that basic
understanding to overcome cancer’s evasion of
attack by the immune system. His fundamental
discoveries include the T cell antigen receptor
used by T cells to recognize and bind to antigens;
the co-stimulatory molecule CD28 that must signal
the T cell to launch an immune response to a
bound antigen; and the immune system inhibitory
checkpoint molecule CTLA-4, which inhibits
activated T cells from attacking. Allison
developed an antibody against CTLA-4 that
became ipilimumab, the first drug ever shown to
increase survival for patients with metastatic
melanoma. It was approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration in 2011. Additional
checkpoints and co-stimulatory molecules also
have been identified. Allison is exploring
combinations of immunological therapies and
targeted drugs in preclinical studies to more
effectively treat a variety of cancers.
Dr Sznol’s interests include investigational
treatment for melanoma and renal cancer,
immunotherapy, and phase I/II drug development.
Allison earned his doctorate at The University of
Texas, Austin, and did his postdoctoral fellowship
in molecular immunology at Scripps Clinic and
Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA. He came to
MD Anderson in 2012 from Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center in New York.
Program Information
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE
SELECTION PROCESS
•
•
•
•
All abstracts must be received by the close of
business on February 13, 2015.
ELIGIBILITY
•
US-based Junior Faculty and Fellows (MD, DO, or
equivalent with or without PhD degree), involved in
immuno-oncology strategies directed at solid tumor
or hematologic malignancies.
- Junior Faculty are defined as physicians who are
Instructor or Assistant Professor level, and not
more than 5 years from first faculty appointment
- Fellows must be actively enrolled in a US
Fellowship program
•
•
•
•
PhD-only research Young Investigators are not
eligible.
Candidates must be based in the United States
(training must be completed at a US-based
institution).
All work must be unpublished original research in
an area related to immuno-oncology (clinical or
basic science). Please note: publication of research
as an abstract alone does not preclude eligibility;
however, an abstract will not be accepted if it has
been published as a full article before May 1, 2015.
Abstracts/papers to be presented at future medical
meetings are eligible for submission.
ABSTRACTS: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
•
•
•
•
•
Only 1 abstract submission per Young
Investigator will be accepted.
Abstracts must conform exactly to the abstract
preparation instructions. Those that do not may be
rejected.
No revisions to submitted abstracts will be
accepted.
Only original work done by the Young Investigator
will be accepted.
All accepted abstracts will be published in a
program workbook. The publication of this
workbook will not preclude publication or
presentation elsewhere.
•
Submission deadline is Friday, February 13, 2015.
The expert faculty will review all submissions.
Authors of accepted abstracts will be expected to
present their research according to their status at
the time the research was completed (ie, if research
was conducted during fellowship training, it will be
presented in the Fellows’ category).
Presentations will be podium format and will
consist of a formal presentation and question-andanswer period.
FINALISTS
The 40 finalists (authors of accepted abstracts) will be
provided with the following:
• One (1) round-trip, economy-class ticket to
Chicago.
• Reimbursement for ground transfers to and from
the program hotel in Chicago
• 3 nights’ lodging (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
at the program hotel
• All group buffet meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
for the duration of the program.
AWARDS
An awards ceremony will be held on Saturday evening,
May 2, 2015, at which time financial grant awardees will
be announced for the first-, second-, and third-place
winners in each of the categories. The recipients of the
two $10,000 research awards will also be announced at
this time.
CREDIT DESIGNATION AND COMPLIANCE
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of National Jewish Health and ARCoalition
LLC.
National Jewish Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. National Jewish
Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the
credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Instructions for Abstract Preparation and Submission
1.IDENTIFICATION
Your submission MUST include the following
information:
• Full name, degree(s).
Organize the body of the abstract in the
following manner:
a)Disclosure of relevant financial relationships
(not included in 500-word limit).
• Mailing address (No PO Boxes).
b)A sentence stating the purpose of the study,
unless stated in the title.
• Daytime telephone, fax, pager, e-mail
address.
c)A brief statement of methods, if pertinent.
• Current institution (where fellowship is being
conducted).
• Previous institution (where research was
conducted, if applicable).
• Submitting author type: Junior Faculty or
Fellow.
• Study type: basic science or clinical
research.
2.FORMAT
Abstracts should consist of a brief title (bold,
Initial Capitals) descriptive of the research.
Include first and last names and degrees of
the authors. Underline the presenting author’s
name and list the name and location of the
institution where research was completed. Do
not identify authors in the body of the abstract.
Sans serif font (such as Arial or Helvetica) is
preferred. Do not use font sizes smaller than
10 point.
Abstract text must be 500 words or fewer.
Please make sure all figures are high
resolution (at least 300 dpi). No more
than a total of 4 figures and/or tables per
submission are permitted. Please limit
figures to 1 graph or image each (ie, no
multiple-part figures). All figures will be
printed in black and white. Please keep this
in mind and adjust your figures and legends
accordingly. Legends should be included
as part of the abstract text and not as part
of the figures (not included in the 500-word
limit); figures should be embedded in the
abstract file and not included as separate
e-mail attachments.
d)A summary of results.
e)A statement of conclusions reached. It is
not satisfactory to state, “The results will be
discussed.”
3.SUBMISSION
BY E-MAIL:
Forward an e-mail with the abstract attached
as a Microsoft Word Version 2003 or higher
document to: Abstracts@ar-coalition.com.
All identification information listed herein
MUST be included at the top of your
abstract. Abstracts that do not have complete
identification information may not be
accepted. The subject line of your e-mail
must read: “Your Last Name, Dept 3408.”
4.NOTIFICATION
Abstract Receipt:
Notification of abstract receipt will be provided
to you via e-mail.
Abstract Acceptance:
Notification of abstract acceptance or
rejection will be provided to you via e-mail in
mid‑February 2015.
ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS BROCHURE
Additional copies of this "Call for Abstracts"
brochure can be obtained by contacting
Julie Maravalhas at (973) 443-3825 or
julie.maravalhas@ar-coalition.com or downloaded
from www.ar-coalition.com/news/immuno.
Expert Faculty
Program Chairs Mario Sznol, MD Professor of Medicine Section of Medical Oncology Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT Faculty Bernard A. Fox, PhD Harder Family Chair for Cancer Research Chief, Laboratory of Molecular and Tumor Immunology, EACRI Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR Helen E. Heslop, MD Willem W. Overwijk, PhD Associate Professor Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology‐Research Division of Cancer Medicine The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX James P. Allison, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Immunology Division of Basic Science Research University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX Padmanee Sharma, MD, PhD Professor, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, TX Dan L. Duncan Chair and Interim Director, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Houston Methodist Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX Paul M. Sondel, MD, PhD Reed and Carolee Walker Professor, Pediatric Oncology University of Wisconsin Madison, WI Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD Professor of Medical Oncology Department of Cutaneous Oncology Director, Donald A. Adam Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center Moffitt Cancer Center University of South Florida Tampa, FL