Scholar Retreat

Mentors

Anthony G.
Letai
,
MD, PhD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Forum Description

The Scholar Retreat held annually, invites scholars and mentors to attend a 3-day meeting. This meeting focuses on bringing junior scientists together from various areas of cancer research. The collaborations and innovative ideas that come from this meeting have been numerous and outstanding. The mentors provide great guidance regarding science and career for these junior scientists.

At the Retreat, the Scholars share their research with the other Scholars and Mentors. Each Scholar will participate in four sequential retreats, with all expenses paid by WGFRF. The opportunity for Scholars to connect and form relationships with researchers from completely different areas of cancer research and to have a sort of peer review is one of the most valuable roles of the Retreat. Through the Mentors, the Retreat offers Scholars guidance on practical career issues such as writing grants and preparing successful scientific publications.

Each year, the Scholar Retreat coincides with the Foundation’s annual ‘Blue Jean Ball’ fundraiser. All Scholars attend this event, providing them an opportunity to meet with families whose lives have been directly affected by cancer. This experience resonates particularly with scientists who, unlike clinicians, do not have contact with patients, by putting a human face on cancer.

Forum Summary

The 8th annual Scholar re-treat featured presentations by Scholars and Mentors in each of the topics of the four most recent annual forums: the Biology and Treatment of Primary Brain Tumors, immunotherapy and Breaking Tolerance, Cancer genomics, and Epigenetics. One extremely heartening theme that was common to all of these sessions was that it was clear that our ability to study human tumors directly has increased vastly. no longer is it necessary to study only models and cells that are remote approximations of patients’ own tumors. now the trip between patient tumor, hypothesis generation and testing in the laboratory, and back to the patient is occurring nearly continuously, a vast improvement in recent years.

This retreat was fortunate to benefit from the experience of Forbeck stalwart Chuck Sherr (St. Jude’s, Memphis) who kicked off the retreat with a fascinating discussion of why if one particular type of mutation is selected in a cancer cell, another is not, and how this can teach you about the cancer’s cell of origin. The Brain Tumor session that followed, chaired by Martine Roussel (St. Jude’s, Memphis), was characterized by the type of bedside-to-bench investigation that is providing information so much more rapidly today, even in the challenging disease of glioma.

The Dinner was accompanied by an exciting keynote address by Tom Gajewski (University of Chicago), who shared recent advances in manipulating the immune system to recognize and destroy cancers. He particularly described how a certain type of immune cell, the T cell, can be directed against cancer cells. Most interestingly, his talk was not merely describing immunology theory, but also presented results of testing in patients, some of which showed strikingly encouraging responses. The lesson that came across was that the immune system can be recruited as a powerful ally in the search for durable remissions in even very challenging cancers.

The final day was a combination of genomics and Epigenetics. Cancer genomics is the study of the changes in the genetic code of cancer cells. This type of study has been tremendously advanced by the speed and economy of genome sequencing, so that now it is possible to sequence all the DNA in a tumor so efficiently that one can compare sequences among many tumors simultaneously. it is a challenge to manage the huge amount of information produced, but we learned that the payoff is that one can potentially use this information to identify new targets for cancer therapy and perhaps also to individualize cancer therapy based on the tumor’s individual genome.

However, the genome does not tell the whole story. For example, the cells of your eyeball, your skin, and your heart have the identical genome but look and function very differently. It is Epigenetics that creates these critical differences. Epigenetics is the study of all the extra chemical marks on the genome that influence how the genetic code is read. if the genome contains the genetic letters, the epigenome provides the punctuation. We heard about modern techniques to read how a cancer cell’s entire epigenome differs from that of normal cells and about how these differences might arise. Particularly excitingly, Jay Bradner (Dana-Farber, Boston) told us about how drugs can be developed to alter the epigenome of cancer cells, perhaps forcing them to misread their altered DNA and forget they are cancer cells, with some stunning examples of the effects on tumors. it was made clear that manipulation of the epigenome by drugs is laden with ample, unexploited potential in cancer.

A summary of the content of the presentations does not do justice to the amount of interaction that takes place during a retreat. The format of the meeting is more conducive to rapid learning and immediate response than the vast majority of cancer meetings elsewhere, and it permits dissemination of ideas in a way not possible at larger meetings. While some of this interaction takes place in the meeting rooms, it continues at the relaxed social events made possible by the organizers, and even after the meeting in collaboration via email. As always, the setting was most conducive to discussing science and the setting most con-genial to the scientists themselves, all one could want from a retreat.

Venue & Travel Information

Geneva National Resort

1221 Geneva National Avenue, South

Lake Geneva, WI 53147

262-245-7000

Travel Forms

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

Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is the preferred airport as it is only 45 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

Chicago's O'Hare Airport (ORD) is 1 1/2 hours from the venue without traffic. The Foundation can only accommodate 1 pick up per day at O'Hare. If you absolutely must fly into O'Hare (ie: International Flights) the Foundation will have the following pick-up times at O'Hare:

  • Arrival day of the forum at approximately 3:00 PM
  • Departures from the venue at approximately 10:00 AM

Any other arrival times at Chicago's O'Hare airport must be arranged and paid for by the individual.

TRAVEL FORMS DUE:
August 13, 2012
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:
August 13, 2012
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

Jay
Bradner
,
MD
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Carl
June
,
MD
Abramson Cancer Center
Martine F.
Roussell
,
PhD
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Lou
Staudt
,
MD, PhD
National Institutes of Health

Forum Scholars

Oliver Ayrault, PhD
Institute Curie
Oren Becher, MD
Duke University
Benjamin P. Berman, PhD
USC Epigenome Center
Joshua Brody, MD
Mount Sinai Hospital
Grant Challen, PhD
Washington University
Clark C. Chen, MD, PhD
University of California San Diego
Derek Y. Chiang, PhD
Novartis
Sharon J. Diskin, PhD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Gary Hon, PhD
University of California San Diego
Russell Jones, PhD
McGill University
Chang-Hyuk Kwon, PhD
Ohio State University Medical Center
Chris Putnam, PhD
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
Alvaro Rada-Iglesias, PhD
Stanford University
Stefanie Sarantopoulos, MD, PhD
Duke University
Chris Vakoc, MD, PhD
Cold Spring Harbor
Lili Yang, PhD
University of California Los Angeles