Cellular Reprogramming and Metastatic Disease

Forum Chairs

Sarah-Maria
Fendt
,
PhD
KU Leuven University, Belgium
Raul
Mostoslavsky
,
MD, PhD
Harvard University

Forum Description

We propose to explore current understanding of the molecular mechanisms that allow cancer cells to leave the primary site, disseminate, and grow as metastatic disease in
a foreign tissue. We will also explore how these cells avoid/resist treatment as part of such metastatic disease progression. Despite major advances in cancer treatment, once tumors metastasize, and regardless of the tumor type, prognosis remains dismal. New knowledge suggest that beyond genetic mutations, cancers cells may acquire non-genetic adaptations (metabolism, epigenetics, cell cycle resistor phenotypes, immune modulation) that could confer unique advantage to these aggressive cells. We plan to discuss new models to study metastatic disease, and current state of affairs in the field.

Forum Summary

Venue & Travel Information

Hilton Denver Inverness

200 Inverness Drive West
Englewood, CO 80112

hilton.com
303-799-5800

Travel Forms

Travel forms are due 30 days prior to the start of the forum to allow enough time to plan transportation.

Denver International Airport (DIA) is approximately 30 minutes from the venue.

  • Arrival day of the forum at approximately 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM
  • Departures from the venue at approximately 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM
TRAVEL FORMS DUE:
November 2, 2021
submit travel form

Travel Policy

Please familiarize yourself with our policies and procedures for travel. We truly appreciate you taking the time to participate in this forum. As you make your plans, please remember that we are a nonprofit organization dependent on donations and volunteers. We do NOT pay for upgrades, change fees, incurred costs resulting from a flight change, transportation to or from your local (home side) airport, meals or other incidentals.

  • Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the forum to send this out.
  • Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
  • Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the forum. It will be provided upon arrival in the forum packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day Friday and Saturday.
  • REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.
  • Spouses are welcome to come with you at their own cost but are not allowed to attend the forum. Please no children.

What the Foundation Pays

Accommodations and meals are provided by the foundation during the forum. Airfare will be covered only if booked through our travel agent. The Foundation will also cover airport transportation on the forum side at the designated shuttle times. You can select not to utilize Foundation arranged transportation at your own expense when completing the travel form. Once your travel form is received your accommodations and airport transfer will be confirmed. Please let us know of any food allergies or other information we should be aware of on the travel forms.

  • If you would like your airfare covered by the Foundation, you must book with our travel agent. Note we do not cover upgrades, changes, late bookings, etc.
  • Flights must be booked at least 30 days prior to the forum to confirm your accommodations and airport transfer.
  • As a nonprofit we utilize volunteers and other methods to maximize our efforts (or our donor support) when making accommodations and arranging ground transportation. Ground transportation will be provided upon your arrival either by a foundation volunteer or arranged shuttle. You will be provided airport transportation information the week of the forum. We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling.

Abstracts

Abstracts are due 30 days prior to the start of the meeting to allow enough time to prepare the meeting book.

The abstracts should be only one or two paragraphs outlining the theme of your presentation and should reflect the objective and spirit of the meeting (see above). Abstracts will be circulated about one week before the meeting. The meeting organizer will start requesting them a month before the meeting.

abstracts DUE:
November 2, 2021
submit abstract

Forum Structure

The structure of the forum has been developed over years of experience.

  • Participants have approximately 45 minutes, depending on the number of participants, for their presentation and discussion. The presentation is meant as a conversation start and should last about twenty minutes briefly covering background information and areas that are new or need further input. This should be structured in such a way as to lead to a lively discussion. Participants are encouraged to interrupt to ask questions or start discussions.
  • A MAXIMUM of 5 slide equivalents per presentation is allowed (Power point slides should not contain more than one graph or gel per slide and no more than 5 bullet points to stress the points being made by the presenter.) We appreciate cooperation with the spirit of this guideline. Handouts are welcome but should be distributed before sessions.
  • Everyone is expected to actively participate in every session and discussions.
  • The time spent at the forum is relatively short, so please be familiar with papers received prior to arrival.
  • It is very important that you commit to all sessions of the 2 days of the forum.

Forbeck Scholars Participation

Scholars are selected for each Forbeck Forum. These are outstanding junior clinical or post-doctoral fellows selected based on the quality and relevance of science.

  • Scholars present for 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of participants
  • The same presentation rules apply for scholars
  • After the Forum you are selected to attend, you will attend three years of Scholar Retreats held in Lake Geneva, WI. If you attend a Fall Forum, you will attend the Spring Retreat. If you attend a Spring Forum you will attend a Fall Retreat.
  • Scholars are selected by the Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and peer reviewers selected from past Forbeck Scholars.

General Program

The outline below illustrates a typical program schedule. You will receive a complete schedule, including speaking times, the Thursday the forum starts.

Arrival Day
1:00 PM Arrivals
6:00 PM Cocktails (opt'l)
7:00 PM Dinner
Forum Day 1
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Scientific Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Scientific Sessions
6:00 PM Cocktails & Dinner
Forum Day 2
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Scientific Sessions
12:00 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Scientific Sessions
6:00 PM Cocktails & Dinner
Departure Day
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. If you have something new to ask, please feel free to contact us.

  • Travel Confirmation will be sent out within 1 week of the forum. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, and airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Due to frequent airline changes, we wait until the week of the meeting to send this out.
  • Airport transfer is provided by Foundation staff, volunteers or arranged shuttle at specific times. If you opt to utilize Foundation airport transportation on your travel form, please be patient in receiving this information. We will send it to the week of the forum.
  • Speaker agenda is not sent out prior to the meeting. It will be provided upon arrival in the meeting packet. We do not tell people when they are speaking because we expect everyone to attend all sessions. Sessions are all day.
  • Frequently airport transfer is provided by volunteers. Please be patient on receiving this information. Airport transfer will be sent out prior to arrival.
  • REMINDER: We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer or incidentals while traveling. We will not honor miscellaneous receipts sent for these expenses.

Forum Participants

Julio
Aguirre-Ghiso
,
PhD
Mount Siani Hospital
Salvador Aznar
Benitah
,
PhD
Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona
Adrienne
Boire
,
MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering
Ayelet
Erez
,
PhD
The Weizmann Institute
Christina
Ferrer
,
PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Karuna
Ganesh
,
MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Ilaria
Malanchi
,
PhD
The Francis Crick Institute
Sean
Morrison
,
PhD
University of Texas SouthWestern
Erika
Pearce
,
PhD
Max Planck Institute
Ben
Stanger
,
MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
Sohail
Tavazoie
,
MD, PhD
Rockefeller University
Christopher
Vakoc
,
MD, PhD
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Matthew
Vander Heiden
,
MD, PhD
Koch Institute at MIT
Karen
Vousden
,
PhD
Crick Institute
Robert
Weinberg
,
PhD
The Whitehead Institute
Sara
Zanivan
,
PhD
Beatson Institute

Forum Scholars

Elena Piskounova, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Jatin Roper, MD
Duke University
Sharanya Sivanand, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology