Access & Advocacy

SITC Policy Blog

SITC Hosts Predicting Drug Resistance and Drug Repurposing with Imaging-Based AI: AI in Immuno-oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 5 days ago
Increased understanding of immunotherapy mechanisms of action may enhance researchers’ ability to circumvent resistance and identify alternative therapeutic uses. Imaging-based AI that can closely analyze drug-specific structures and interactions are being developed to help expedite discoveries in these two critical areas. This webinar on September 25th discussed specific applications of imaging-based AI for better understanding of immuno-therapeutic ...
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SITC Comments on FDA Guidance

By SITC Advocacy posted 11 days ago
SITC has provided comment on the recently posted "Diversity Action Plans to Improve Enrollment of Participants from Underrepresented Populations in Clinical Studies; Guidance for Industry - Draft Guidance". SITC was pleased to see FDA incorporate feedback and topics that have stemmed from recent SITC DEI efforts including a corporate roundtable in 2022. Please find SITC's full comment letter HERE . #FDA #Policy
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SITC Hosts Predicting Early Diagnosis and Response with Multimodal AI: AI in Immuno-Oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 21 days ago
Earlier cancer diagnosis, as well as rapid determination of tumor response after treatment, could lead to enhanced immunotherapy patient outcomes. Multimodal AI that can accept various data inputs, especially as treatments become more personalized, are prime for helping facilitate advances in cancer diagnosis and response classification. This webinar on August 29th described current efforts in the development of multimodal AI for these purposes, with ...
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SITC Hosts Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Increasing Access to IO Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 08-21-2024
This webinar on August 15th examined how immune checkpoint inhibitors are being utilized around the globe and in resource limited settings. It provided a forum for physicians from Brazil, Lebanon, and Malawi to discuss their experience in evaluating checkpoint inhibitors as a treatment option as well as how they overcame challenges related to manufacturing, access, regulation, and toxicity management. View the webinar for FREE on-demand HERE . ...
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SITC Hosts Social Determinants of Health with Large/Moderate Language Models on EHR Data: AI in Immuno-oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 08-06-2024
Social determinants of health are becoming increasingly understood as having significant impact in immunotherapy patient care. Many of these determinants are captured in the electronic health record (EHR), but very few methods can effectively analyze these data to better determine correlations between determinants and immunotherapy outcomes. This webinar on July 30th focused on new, prospective methods to analyze health record data for social determinant ...
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Crisis in Clinical Research, a Commentary

By SITC Advocacy posted 07-22-2024
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to announce the publication of a commentary detailing what is being described as a Crisis in Clinical Research. The clinical research pipeline is critical to ensuring continued development of novel treatments that can offer patients with cancer safe and effective options. Unfortunately, progress has slowed since the COVID-19 pandemic due to uncovered, systemic inefficiencies across critical ...
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SITC Hosts Cell Therapy Administration: Increasing Access to IO Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 07-17-2024
This webinar on July 10th examined how cell therapies are being utilized around the globe and in resource limited settings. It featured physicians from India, Mexico, and Egypt to discuss their experience in evaluating cell therapies as a treatment option as well as how they overcame challenges related to manufacturing, access, regulation, and toxicity management. View the webinar for FREE on-demand HERE . #Policy #Webinar
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Call for Comment - Surrogate Endpoints Virtual Summit Executive Summary

By SITC Advocacy posted 07-12-2024
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) is pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive summary on the Surrogate Endpoints Virtual Summit , which was held on April 5, 2024. Surrogate endpoints have been instrumental for the advancement of immunotherapy, including dozens of approvals for a multitude of modalities across various disease states. These approvals are often facilitated through the use of endpoints that serve as surrogates ...
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Cancer Research Policy

SITC Hosts Opportunities and Implications for IO Using AI and Digital Pathology: AI in Immuno-Oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 06-27-2024
Digital pathology is becoming an increasingly important technique for immunotherapy drug development and clinical care. As AI becomes further entrenched across the field of immunotherapy, researchers have begun considering how AI and digital pathology may coexist for enhanced pathologic analyses as well as scientific and clinical decision making. The focus of this webinar on June 20th was to better understand the benefits and caveats of mixing AI ...
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SITC Hosts The Current Landscape of IO Access: Increasing Access to IO Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 06-12-2024
This webinar on June 5th reviewed effective strategies for cancer immunotherapy administration by providing a glance at IO access across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. It featured presentations on different models of access, the challenges related to increasing access to immunotherapy, and explored potential solutions that can be translated into local practice and health care systems around the world. In addition, this webinar ...
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SITC Hosts AI in Personalized Immunotherapies: AI in Immuno-Oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 05-22-2024
The vision of personalized medicine based on tumor-specific biomarkers comes closer to reality with each new scientific discovery. With the advent of AI, researchers now have a novel and expansive tool that can better analyze large-scale data sets for actionable markers that can fuel immunotherapy development and discovery. This webinar on May 15th helped individuals to learn more about the novel application of AI in immunotherapy target discovery ...
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SITC Hosts Real-Time AI Monitoring & Early Detection of Immune-Related Adverse Events: AI in Immuno-Oncology Webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 05-09-2024
AI is being investigated for real-time monitoring of patients receiving immunotherapy for immune-related adverse events (irAE). Earlier and more accurate detection of toxicities can vastly improve patient outcomes. The first webinar in our series on May 2nd educated participants on the current application of AI in irAE monitoring and detection, as well as discuss future applications of these technologies across the field. View the webinar for FREE ...
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SITC In-Person on the Hill 2024 - Thank You Dr. Sullivan

By SITC Advocacy posted 05-01-2024
SITC thanks Policy Committee chair Dr. Ryan Sullivan and many other SITC members for assisting with this year's hill visits. SITC members held over 25 Congressional meetings, including in-person meetings with Dr. Sullivan, on a host of important issues affecting cancer immunotherapy research. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf #SITContheHill #Policy
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Announcing Increasing Access to IO: A Global Webinar Series

By SITC Advocacy posted 04-24-2024
The Global Access and Impact Committee, in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, is pleased to launch SITC's first educational program crafted specifically for international audiences, titled " Increasing Access to IO: A Global Webinar Series ". This series will serve as an excellent resource for all stakeholders interested in learning about the application of immunotherapy, as well as the infrastructure and resources ...
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SITC and Association of Cancer Care Center collaborate on new webinar

By SITC Advocacy posted 04-03-2024
SITC and ACCC have collaborated on a new webinar aimed at providing further details on the Expanding Access to Cellular and Bispecific Therapy Workshop. This webinar featured expert speakers that provided perspective and thoughts on how to further access to these therapies in the community setting. A full recording of the webinar can be found at this LINK. #Webinar #Policy
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SITC provides comment on Draft FDA Guidance

By SITC Advocacy posted 03-27-2024
SITC has provided full comments on a recently released FDA Draft Guidance: "Potency Assurance for Cellular and Gene Therapy Products". Please find the letter in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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Cancer Research Policy

SITC provides meeting coverage on March 15th ODAC meeting

By SITC Advocacy posted 03-20-2024
SITC has provided meeting coverage of the March 15th ODAC meeting. The coverage includes an overview of the discussion, including representation of the different stakeholder perspectives on each issue, as well as a summary of all recommendations from ODAC. The coverage can be found in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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Cancer Research Policy

SITC provides letter to Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC)

By SITC Advocacy posted 03-12-2024
SITC has provided a letter to ODAC providing insight into the implications of control arm crossover use within clinical trials. The letter also provides support for the use of Progression Free Survival as a viable surrogate endpoint within clinical trials. Please find the letter in its entirety HERE . #Policy
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Cancer Research Policy

SITC on the Hill 2024 - Thank you Dr. Tarhini

By SITC Advocacy posted 03-05-2024
Thank you to Dr. Ahmad Tarhini from Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for partici pating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Tarhini met with Senator Rubio’s and Representative Castor’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy resear ch i n early sta ge diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pdf ...
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SITC on the Hill 2024 - Thank you Dr. Singh

By SITC Advocacy posted 03-05-2024
Thank you to Dr. Nathan Singh from Washington University School of Medicine for participating in SITC’s 2024 Capitol Hill Visits. Dr. Singh met with Senator Hawley ’s and Representative B ush ’s offices to advocate for inclusion of SITC’s FY25 appropriations language aimed at improving Immunotherapy research in early stage diseases. See SITC’s full FY25 language here: SITC FY25 Appropriations Language.pd f #SITContheHill ...
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SITC Co-Hosts Briefing on “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy”

In collaboration with the House Cancer Caucus, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) co-hosted a congressional briefing, “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy,” on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building. Leading experts discussed various aspects of cancer immunotherapy and the promise that lies ahead with further support from the federal government. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), a co-chairman of the House Cancer Caucus, also delivered remarks.

Panelists included:

  • George J. Weiner, MD – University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Marc S. Ernstoff, MD – Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Michael B. Atkins, MD – Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Crystal L. Mackall, MD – Stanford University
  • Kathryn Bell  –  Cancer Patient Survivor

As always, SITC encourages stakeholders in the field to reach out to members of Congress in support of funding and advancing cancer immunotherapy research.

More details and photos can be found by viewing past tweets and by searching the hashtag, #SITContheHill.



SITC co-hosts a briefing on “The Promise of Cancer Immunotherapy”

Cancer Immunotherapy Fact Sheets

Transforming Cancer Treatment

Advances in cancer treatment have evolved dramatically during the past decade, and continue to change and shape the way oncologists treat patients and train staff. Understanding cancer treatment options can be confusing for patients and their families.

In collaboration with Friends of Cancer Research (Friends), the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) has developed new value fact sheets in a language accessible by both patients and advocates outlining the pathways and unique benefits of immunotherapy compared to other cancer treatments.

Please click on the infographics below to learn more about critical data and basic information regarding cancer immunotherapy.

IO1-v4-72dpi.jpg IO2-v4-72dpi.jpg IO3-v4-72dpi.jpg IO1-v4-72dpi2.jpg

This project is supported, in part, by a grant from Pfizer, Inc./EMD Serono.

Appropriations Report Language

SITC annually drafts report language for consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Appropriations Committees to be incorporated into appropriations bills. Incorporation of report language helps advocate for funding of federal agencies supporting cancer immunotherapy research and regulation, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Continue reading below to view past language submitted on behalf of the society to the FDA and NCI.

Policy Comment Letters

SITC volunteers draft and provide comment when federal agencies offer opportunities to discuss relevant efforts that may affect the field of cancer immunotherapy. SITC comment letters ensure that the society provides a voice during consideration of policy changes that may affect cancer immunotherapy research, regulation, or reimbursement. The comment letters include those submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Please continue reading below to view past submitted letters on behalf of the society.

Contact SITC

If you have partnership or policy-related questions, please contact SITC staff at SITCExecOffice@sitcancer.org.

Archive

Read about how SITC has been active in policy and advocacy in recent years: