ABOUT CCIC SYMPOSIUM
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The Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium is excited to announce our pan-Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Symposium! We will host a series of symposia approximately once every two months each focused on a theme in cancer immunotherapy. Each symposium will feature a keynote speaker followed by trainee and/or ECI speed poster presentations and opportunity for networking amongst our members.
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Symposium No. 5: Cancer Microbiome
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Date: April 20, 2022, Time: 1:00-3:00 PM EST
There is a dynamic interplay between the gut microbiota and the innate and adaptive immune systems during homeostasis and inflammation. Early in life, intestinal microbes can educate and regulate the developing immune system and impact susceptibility to immune-mediated diseases, such as allergy, autoimmunity and cancer. An understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways underlying the impact of the microbiome in health and disease can allow for innovative approaches to be developed to harness the microbiome to treat or prevent disease. We are excited to announce Drs. Kathy McCoy (University of Calgary) and Alexander Hynes (McMaster University) as our keynote speakers. |
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Dr. McKoy is the director of a 10,000-square-feet germ-free, gnotobiotic facility at the University of Calgary. She leads a team of researchers that transplant specific microbiomes into germ-free animals in an environment free from bacterial or viral contaminants. The coupling of animal studies with advanced imaging capacities, such as intravital microscopy, enables them to investigate the interplay of the microbiome and the tumor immune microenvironment. Dr. Hynes works at the Farncombe Family Institute for Digestive Health Research, a premier bacteriophage lab. His lab has identified unique compounds that awaken and interfere with phages in the microbiome and some of these are also anti-cancer drugs.
This symposium will provide investigators and trainees in the CCIC network the opportunity to share and discuss their ideas and contributions to the field of cancer microbiome. To be considered for presentation, abstracts must be received by 5 PM EST April 4, 2022. Please submit your abstract here |
Symposium No. 4: Myeloid cells in the TME
Date: February 17, 2022, Time: 12:30-2:30 PM EST
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of many factors that interact with cancercells to influence their growth and response to therapy, including various immune cells andextracellular matrix proteins. This fourth CCIC symposium will explore the role of myeloid-derived immune cells in the TME with a focus on how they impact cancer metastasis.
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of many factors that interact with cancercells to influence their growth and response to therapy, including various immune cells andextracellular matrix proteins. This fourth CCIC symposium will explore the role of myeloid-derived immune cells in the TME with a focus on how they impact cancer metastasis.
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Keynote speaker, Dr. Mikala Egeblad, an Associate Professor at Cold Spring HarborLaboratory, will discuss her exciting research on myeloid cells in the TME, and the imagingplatforms her lab uses to study the behavior of myeloid cells and their interactions with cancercells. We invite scientists from all research backgrounds and career stages to join us in discussing the role of myeloid-derived immune cells in the TME with a focus on how they impact cancer metastasis and treatment response.
The symposium will then provide graduate students, post doctoral fellows, medical students and residents the opportunity to share and discuss their contributions to the field. To be considered for presentation, abstracts must be received by February 1st 2022, 12:00PM EST. Please submit your abstract here. |
Symposium No. 3: NK Cell Immunotherapy
Date: November 17, 2021, Time: 12:30-2:30 PM EST
The increasing resolution of analysis and understanding of natural killer cell function has inspired a growing interest in developing NK cells for immunotherapy. In this third CCIC symposium, we will gather scientists and researchers to share and discuss NK cells in cancer and immunotherapy focusing on NK cell-specific engagers and cellular therapies. The objectives are to expand our knowledge and provide updates about the latest research into NK cell immunotherapy and how it is translated into clinical trials and patients' responses to these treatments.
The increasing resolution of analysis and understanding of natural killer cell function has inspired a growing interest in developing NK cells for immunotherapy. In this third CCIC symposium, we will gather scientists and researchers to share and discuss NK cells in cancer and immunotherapy focusing on NK cell-specific engagers and cellular therapies. The objectives are to expand our knowledge and provide updates about the latest research into NK cell immunotherapy and how it is translated into clinical trials and patients' responses to these treatments.
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As a Professor in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at University of Minnesota Medical School, our keynote speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Miller, will discuss the topic and share his extensive experience in developing NK cell immunotherapeutics and translating into clinical trials of patients with cancer. We invite abstracts from trainees and early career scientists working on NK cell based immunotherapies to present at this symposium.
The symposium will then provide graduate students, post doctoral fellows, medical students and residents the opportunity to share and discuss their contributions to the field. |
Symposium No. 2: Host Metabolism and Cancer
Date: September 22, 2021, Time: 12:30-2:30 PM EST
Over the past century, obesity, metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation have become some of the most important public health challenges. Given the high incidence of cancer and the decreased efficacy of cancer therapies in patients with altered metabolism, many landmark advances in cancer biology and epidemiology studies support the emerging hypothesis that metabolic determinants have a role in creating a protumorigenic microenvironnement.
Over the past century, obesity, metabolic syndrome and chronic inflammation have become some of the most important public health challenges. Given the high incidence of cancer and the decreased efficacy of cancer therapies in patients with altered metabolism, many landmark advances in cancer biology and epidemiology studies support the emerging hypothesis that metabolic determinants have a role in creating a protumorigenic microenvironnement.
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In this second CCIC symposium, we will gather scientists and researchers in order to share and discuss host metabolism and its role in the tumor microenvironment. The objectives are to expand our knowledge and provide updates about the latest research into host-cancer interaction and how its dysregulation can affect cancer outcomes and patients' responses to treatments. As a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, our speaker, Dr. Marcia Haigis, will discuss the topic and share her work about metabolic reprogramming in cancer.
The symposium will then provide graduate students, post doctoral fellows, medical students and residents the opportunity to share and discuss their contributions to the field. |
Symposium No. 1: Oncolytic viruses and their payloads
Date: June 10, 2021, TIme: 12:30-2:30 PM EST
Oncolytic viruses preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. Belonging to one of the newest classes of cancer therapy, oncolytic virotherapy shows promise due to its ability to replicate within the tumour causing oncolysis while simultaneously stimulating an anti-tumor immune response. Oncolytic viruses can be further genetically engineered to improve safety, efficacy, or even carry additional therapeutic or immune-stimulating cargo. The versatility of this multimodal therapeutic represents an exciting dimension of science combining virology, genetic engineering, and cancer immunotherapy.
Oncolytic viruses preferentially infect and kill cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. Belonging to one of the newest classes of cancer therapy, oncolytic virotherapy shows promise due to its ability to replicate within the tumour causing oncolysis while simultaneously stimulating an anti-tumor immune response. Oncolytic viruses can be further genetically engineered to improve safety, efficacy, or even carry additional therapeutic or immune-stimulating cargo. The versatility of this multimodal therapeutic represents an exciting dimension of science combining virology, genetic engineering, and cancer immunotherapy.
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In this speaker series, we aim to bring together researchers from all backgrounds and career stages to share their work on oncolytic viruses, their biology as well as technical advances in creating the next generation of cancer therapeutics. We are excited to host Dr. Alan Melcher (The Institute for Cancer Research, London, UK) for this symposium! Following Dr. Melcher’s talk, there will be an opportunity to share data and discuss science. We invite abstracts from graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, medical students, residents and fellows, and early career investigators to share their work in our June 10 seminar.
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ORGANIZERS
PI LeadsJeanette Boudreau, PhD (Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University)
Kristi Baker, PhD (Assistant Professor, University of Alberta) Lee-Hwa Tai, PhD (Associate Professor, Universite de Sherbrooke) Daniela Quail, PhD (Assistant Professor, McGill University) |
Committee MembersKathrin Warner, PhD (Post-Doc & Manager, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre)
Maryam Ghaedi, MSc, PhD (Post-Doc, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre) Mathieu Crupi, PhD (Post-Doc, The Ottawa Hospital) Victoria Hoskin, PhD (Post-Doc, Queens University) James SeongJun Han, MSc, PhD (Post-Doc, University of Toronto) Adrienne Borrie, MSc, PhD (MD candidate, Dalhousie University) Sarah Nersesian, MSc (PhD candidate, Dalhousie University) Sabrina Guettouche, MD (MSc candidate, CRHMR) Brian Laight, BSc (MD/PhD candidate, Queens University) Kuheli Dasgupta, MSc (PhD candidate, University of Toronto) |