2024 SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop

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SCION 2024 applications are closed, but you can sign up below to get an update when applications open for SCION 2025.

About SCION

Designed to address 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.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Eligible applicants are those working in the field of cancer immunotherapy who want to develop their own immunotherapy clinical trial protocol synopsis (resulting in an approved protocol and consent). This includes, but is not limited to, clinical fellows and junior faculty/attendings with medical, surgical, radiation, urologic, gynecologic, or pediatric oncology training and advanced degree scientists (e.g., Masters, PhD, PharmD, DNP) with research experience and interest in clinical and translational immuno-oncology. Those conducting clinical trials in immunoprevention are encouraged to apply.

Applicants can be from academic, non-profit, or for-profit organizations, including the pharmaceutical industry/biotechnology. Those with other related professional degrees are also encouraged to apply.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the SCION Workshop, participants should be able to:

  • Recognize best practices and overcome the unique challenges in clinical trial design specific to cancer immunotherapy
  • Describe cancer immunotherapy clinical trial endpoints, biomarker development and validation and combination strategies
  • Develop their own clinical trial design with appropriate clinical and biomarker endpoints, and draft a protocol and informed consent
  • Estimate cost, process steps, quality issues, and regulatory path for development and approval of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)
  • Understand the special issues associated with ATMPs, medicines based on genes, tissues or cells in oncology

In addition to deepening their understanding of integral facets of the field of cancer immunotherapy, attendees will expand their professional network, developing new relationships with faculty and other thought leaders in this intimate setting.

Award Opportunities

Martin “Mac” Cheever Excellence in Clinical Trial Design Travel Awards

Established in 2022 in loving memory of Dr. Martin “Mac” Cheever, this fund recognizes his many contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy by providing travel awards to deserving early career investigators pursuing excellence in clinical trial design.

New this year, a second award will be selected from the participants in the SCION Workshop. One award will be given to the participant deemed to have the most simple and elegant protocol. The second award will be focused on primary immunoprevention and immune interception. For this award, SITC will consider a trial with protocols which address immunotherapies to prevent primary cancer, including (but not limited to) methods to identify and stimulate immune recognition of precursor or preneoplastic lesions, strategies to provide prophylactic immunity against cancer, immunotherapies for precancerous conditions or immunoprevention of their recurrence in patients with high-risk familial cancers. Protocols for smaller pilot studies will also be considered. 

Both awardees will receive travel reimbursement to the SITC 39th Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Programs (SITC 2024) through SITC’s Forward Fund.

SITC established the Forward Fund in 2012, to stimulate the development and application of cancer immunology and immunotherapy by financially supporting its education and research. Contributions to the Forward Fund help provide grants to promising young post-doctoral researchers, advocate for more young scientists to enter the field of cancer immunotherapy research and much more.

Learn More

Application Process

Applications for the 2024 SCION program are now closed.

Application Details - download application pdf

Selection: Selection is made by the SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop Organizers. Applicants will be notified via email of their application’s acceptance or decline within 8 weeks of the application deadline. 

Terms: SCION participants will be expected to pay a registration fee as well as cover all costs for all travel and lodging during the SCION workshop. The registration cost includes full access to the Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School as part of the SCION program.

Application Process: Applicants will submit a completed application form, sponsor statement (from a mentor/supervisor), an applicant statement of interest, curriculum vitae, and abstract protocol.

Reporting:  Complete and submit a 90-day report following the conclusion of the 2024 SITC Clinical Immuno-Oncology Network (SCION) Workshop with an updated protocol. This report should include:

  • Project title
  • Brief overview of the project progress to date
  • Description of highlights related to your participation in the SCION Workshop
  • Outcomes determined at this date

Summary of Application Packet

The application should be organized as outlined below:

1) Applicant Information

Name, professional designation (MD/PhD/other), institution/organization, professional role, email, work setting, field of research/specialty, disease state, gender, and ethnicity.

2) Curriculum Vitae

NIH Biosketch or equivalent (maximum 5 pages)

3) Statement of Interest

Please tell us why you are interested in this workshop in 500 words or less. Please include:
  • A description of your proposed clinical trial protocol in cancer immunotherapy research and development.
  • Trial reagent availability support now available.
  • A description of your career path up to this point and your aspirations for its future.

4) Letter from Department Chair, Supervisor, or Mentor

Must provide a statement of support stating that the applicant will have time and relevant resources provided to conduct or oversee their trial (e.g. research nurse, appropriate equipment, etc).

  • A description of the proposed clinical trial.
  • Program support now available or intended for the term of the trial.
  • The candidate’s role and academic or other appointment(s).
  • Plans and potential for the applicant to seek funding internally or externally.

5) Abstract Protocol

A one-page summary of your proposed interventional or observational study. Please include a one-page summary of the unmet clinical need you will be addressing, your immunologic goals, the biomarkers proposed, your hypotheses, and the proposed requisite number of patients and timeline.

6) Confidentiality Acknowledgement

Applicants must review and acknowledge a confidentiality statement. 

Program Deadlines

Application Submissions Open
June 19, 2023

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Application Submissions Close
August 30, 2023

Applicants Notified
October 2023

Virtual Pre-Meeting with Small Group 
January (Day/Time TBD)

Housing Deadline
Friday, Jan. 5, 2024

SCION Workshop in Austin, TX
Jan. 30 – Feb. 2, 2024 

Registration Rates

Registration Category Registration Rate
General Member  $            1,500.00
Student Member  $            1,000.00
Industry Member  $            2,500.00
General Non-Member  $            1,800.00
Student Non-Member  $            1,100.00
Industry Non-Member  $            3,000.00
LMIE Member (not available to industry)  $                  - 
LMIE Non-Member (not available to industry)  $                   25.00   

SCION Organizers

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

Deborah Collyar, BSci
Patient Advocates in Research

Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD

Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, PhD
American Society of Clinical Oncology

Sandra Demaria, MD

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Jennifer L. Guerriero, PhD

Yana Najjar, MD
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Howard Kaufman, MD, FACS

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD
IGM Biosciences

Marco Ruella, MD
Program Advisor

Michael T. Lotze, MD, FACS
University of Pittsburgh

SCION Faculty

Kristin Anderson, PhD
University of Virginia

Tullia Bruno, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Cody Chiuzan, PhD
Institute of Health System Science, Northwell Health

Cynthia Chmielewski, BA
Health Tree Foundation for Myeloma

Laura Chow, MD
University of Texas at Austin

Deborah Collyar, Bsci
Patient Advocates in Research

Leslie Cope, PhD
Johns Hopkins University

Tricia Cottrell, MD, PhD
Queen's University

Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, PhD
American Society of Clinical Oncology

Isabella C. Glitza Oliva, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Paola Grandi, PhD
CG Oncology

Susan Halabi, PhD
Duke University

Elizabeth Hill, PhD
Medical University of South Carolina

Brian Hobbs, PhD
Dell Medical School at the University of Texas

Gary Kohanbash, PhD
University of Pittsburgh

Michael Lotze, MD, FACS
University of Pittsburgh

Yana G. Najjar, MD
University of Pittsburgh

Jane Perlmutter, PhD
Gemini Group

Claire Saxton, MBA
Cancer Support Community

Virgil H. Simons, MPA
The Prostate Net

Patricia Spears, FASCO
University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sumit Subudhi, MD, PhD
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Ryan Sullivan, MD
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital

Chris Takimoto, MD, PhD
IGM Biosciences

Todd Triplett, PhD
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

COVID-19 Measures

At SITC programs, our goal is to have a safe and meaningful in-person experience. SITC will refer to the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to guide health precautions for in-person meetings. In addition, SITC strongly recommends that in-person meeting attendees take the following precautions:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Take a rapid COVID test prior to attending a meeting and do not attend in person if you test positive
  • Do not attend the meeting if you have symptoms that could be consistent with a “cold” or any other respiratory infection and leave the meeting if you develop such symptoms
  • Wear a mask in crowded indoor settings
  • Follow all health and safety protocols as required by SITC and local and state health departments
  • Review current CDC and applicable local guidance for protecting yourself from COVID-19

Attendees will have access to the meeting content online if they are unable to attend in person due to illness or a positive COVID test. For hybrid programs, attendees can change from in-person to online-only registration by contacting events@sitcancer.org. 

Registered attendees will be notified in advance of any changes to precautions, recommendations or requirements for a SITC meeting.