iSBTc News
Press Release
For more information, contact:
MelissaKaye Shekoski
International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer
555 E Wells St, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-271-2456 • Fax: 414-276-3349
Email: mshekoski@isbtc.org
Website: www.isbtc.org
For Immediate Release
INTERNATIONAL CANCER RESEARCHERS GATHER TO DISCUSS IMMUNOLOGY/BIOLOGICAL THERAPY AT iSBTc
San Diego, CA --- The International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer's (iSBTc) 23rd Annual Meeting gathered more than 400 attendees from 25 countries to share the latest information on current clinical trials, methodologies, and new initiatives within tumor immunology and biological therapy of cancer at San Diego's Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, October 31-November 2, 2008.
Led by an internationally diverse and highly regarded slate of key opinion leaders, the three-day meeting comes on the heels of a year that has experienced a swell of optimism in the field of cancer immunotherapy. iSBTc's 23rd Annual Meeting was an interactive event with more than 50 scientific lectures and 140 poster presenters covering the cutting-edge science in fields of biological therapy and tumor immunology including:
- Adoptive Transfer
- Cancer Stem Cells and the Host Response
- Co-Stimulation / Immunoregulation
- Dendritic Cells
- Enhancing Cancer Vaccines
- Endpoints, Response Criteria for Clinical Trial Design
- Infectious Agent Vectors
- Innate Immunity to Tumors
- New Agents
- TH-17, Cytokines and T Cell Subsets
- Trafficking and In Vivo Imaging
- Tumor Escape / Tumor Microenvironment
- Tumor Targeting Monoclonal Antibodies
iSBTc also used the venue as an opportunity to recognize the lifetime achievements of key leaders in field, as well as promote young and upcoming researchers.
RICHARD V. SMALLEY, MD MEMORIAL AWARD
iSBTc's 2008 Richard V. Smalley, MD Memorial Award winner, Giorgio Parmiani, MD, of the San Raffaele Foundation, opened the meeting's program with his keynote address entitled, "Different Tumor Antigens in the Immunotherapy of Cancer: Are We Selecting the Right Target?". The Smalley Award serves as recognition of research excellence in the field of cancer biologics and is accompanied by an honorarium of $5,000.
YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARDS
Continuing in iSBTc's tradition of promoting the professional development of young researchers, three categories of awards have been created to encourage and reward excellence from students, fellows-in-training and junior faculty within the field of cancer biologics. Winners were chosen by a committee of iSBTc leadership.
iSBTc Presidential Award:
Andrea Facciabene, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania, was named the winner of the 2008 Presidential Award, iSBTc's highest honor extended to a young investigator. Dr. Facciabene's abstract, entitled "CCL28 a New Link Between Hypoxia Angiogenesis and Tumor Immune Evasion," was selected based on both his abstract submission and the 20-minute oral presentation he provided of his findings during the Presidential Session.
iSBTc Presidential Travel Awards:
In addition to Dr.Facciabene, three other young investigators were selected for their excellence for a submitted abstract and were provided the opportunity to orally present their research during the Presidential Session. The Presidential Travel Award winners included:
- Stephanie K. Watkins, PhD, National Cancer Institute
- Jianda Yuan, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Erik Johnson, MD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
iSBTc Travel Awards:
Based on abstract submissions, iSBTc granted six travel awards to young investigators presenting posters at the 23rd Annual Meeting. Travel Award winners included:
- Jason Steel, PhD, National Cancer Institute
- Jack Bui, MD, PhD, University of California, San Diego
- Yong-Oon Ahn, Seoul National University College of Medicine
- Andrea Worschech, M.Sc., National Institutes of Health
- Markus Schmid, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Institute of Molecular Immunology
- Shujuan Liu, PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Photos, presentation slides and the Final Program from the 23rd Annual Meeting will be made available at www.isbtc.orga.
iSBTc's 24th Annual Meeting and Associated Programs are scheduled for October 29-November 1, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1984, the International Society for Biological Therapy of Cancer is a not-for-profit organization of clinicians, researchers, students, post-doctoral fellows, and allied health professionals dedicated to improving cancer patient outcomes by advancing the development and application of biological therapy through interaction, innovation and leadership.
###
