2011 Scholar Retreat
Mentors
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.
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Sponsoring a Forbeck Forum is a powerful way to directly support groundbreaking cancer research by fostering collaboration among top scientists in the field. These intimate, focused meetings bring together leading researchers to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and spark innovative approaches that can accelerate progress toward cures. Your sponsorship helps cover the cost of hosting these unique gatherings, ensuring that vital conversations and partnerships continue to thrive. It's an investment in science, in collaboration, and ultimately, in better outcomes for patients.
Forum Summary
The 7th annual Forbeck Scholar retreat was held in Lake Geneva, WI from September 15-18th. The meeting was a great mix of Forbeck Scholars and mentors from various fields of cancer. Ensuring a lively discussion, both scholars and mentors adhered to the 5-slide format, allowing free flowing discussion in a true think tank environment.
Due to the diverse interests of the scholars as well as the mentors, topics such as imaging, signal transduction, immunotherapy, and micro RNAs in cancer, brain tumors, and mathematical analysis of the genome were all presented. The opportunity to hear and discuss aspects of cancer outside of each participant’s fields of study is an invaluable experience and fosters many collaborations and cross-fertilizations – essential for progress in the fight against cancer.
The meeting was organized by 2005 Forbeck Scholar Kim Kelly, who, with four additional mentors, each with state-of-the-art science programs, was able to discuss not only outstanding science, but also important aspects of science such as running a laboratory and mentoring other scientists. First time attendee, Dr. Tom Parsons’ focused on recent efforts to understand how mechanical properties of tumor microenvironment affect the biology of tumor cells. Dr. Parsons summed up the event by stating “This was an incredible environment for the exchange of ideas and an opportunity to see the outstanding potential of young researchers starting their careers in cancer”. Invited back as a mentor due to his outstanding research accomplishments was Dr. Nabeel Bardeesy. Dr. Bardeesy discussed the identification of an epigenetic program that overrides cell differentiation and reprograms metabolism in advanced pancreatic cancers. Dr. Craig Logsdon presented his exciting findings on the oncogene Ras and potential underlying mechanisms of pathological Ras activity. Finally, Dr. Mike Jensen, Scientific Advisory Board Member, discussed the potential to use the body’s own immune system as a therapy for cancer.
Venue & Travel Information
CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE
The Forbeck Forum is an exclusive, invite-only venue designed for open discussion, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. Limited to just 15-20 participants, this intimate gathering brings together the world’s leading oncology experts to exchange insights and drive innovation in the field.
If you’ve received this invitation, you’ve been recognized as one of the foremost leaders in oncology. Please confirm your attendance by clicking the button below and completing the confirmation form.
We look forward to your participation in this impactful and inspiring event!
Travel Forms
Please familiarize yourself with our travel policy below before booking your travel. If you have any questions about our policy, please do not hesitate to contact us for clarification.
Travel forms are due 30 days prior to the start of the forum to allow enough time to plan transportation.
Chicago's O'Hare Airport (ORD) is the preferred airport as it allows for easier bookings, less transfers, and ease of grouping participants into shuttles.
- Arrival day of the forum at approximately 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
- Departures from the venue at approximately 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
For any other arrival times at Chicago's O'Hare airport, ground transportation must be arranged and paid for by the individual.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GROUND TRANSPORTATION
To maximize funding for our Forums, the Foundation does not reimburse ground transportation costs outside the designated shuttle pick-up times. If you arrive after the final shuttle, or do not wish to wait for or take a scheduled shuttle, you will be responsible for arranging and covering your own transportation to the Forum venue.
Travel Policy & General Information
Travel Policy
Please familiarize yourself with our policies and procedures for travel. We truly appreciate you taking the time to participate in this meeting. As you make your plans please remember that we are a nonprofit organization dependent on donations and volunteers. So please note what we do and do not cover.
What the Foundation Pays For
- ACCOMMODATIONS for the nights of the Forum only. People traveling from oversees or far away may arrive 1 night early to adjust for jet lag or to navigate longer travel times.
- MEALS are provided by the foundation during the forum.
- A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FOR AIRFARE will be set based on an economy ticket from your home airport. If you have travel before or after that is fine. We do not increase the allowance for other travel plans.
- The Foundation provides SHUTTLES TO/FROM THE AIRPORT to the meeting venue at designated shuttle times.
- You can select not to utilize Foundation arranged transportation at your own expense when completing the travel form.
What the Foundation does not cover
- We do not cover upgrades of any kind.
- Travel Allowance will not be increased due to late booking or changes.
- We do not cover incidental costs during your travel. So please do not send your food receipts.
- We do not cover additional nights at the venue outside of the meeting dates.
- We do not cover transportation outside of the designated shuttle times.
- We do not reimburse for home side airport transfer (to/from your home/office to your airport).
Important Things to Note
- Everyone must fill out the travel form!
- We must have your itinerary and travel receipt to receive reimbursement.
- Flights must be booked at least 30 days prior to the meeting or you may not have accommodations and airport transfer.
- We often use volunteers for airport transfers.
- The travel confirmation will be sent out the WEEK before your Forum.
- The speaking agenda will be spent out the NIGHT before your Forum.
- We expect participants to attend ALL sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Travel Confirmation will be sent out with in 1 week of the meeting. This will include a hotel confirmation number, if there is one, airport transfer details. We have to wait until we receive almost everyone’s travel to book airport transfer. Also due to frequent airline changes we wait until the week of the meeting to send this out.
- 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 Friday and Saturday.
- Frequently airport transfer is provided by volunteers. Please be patient on receiving this information. Airport transfer will be sent out prior to arrival.
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.
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.
- Each presentation is limited to 2 slide equivalents. Slides should include no more than one graph or gel per slide and a maximum of 5 bullet points. Avoid animations or motion effects. Slides should support discussion, not serve as a script. Thank you for adhering to the spirit of this format.
- A Whiteboard and markers will be available to supplement your digital slides.
- 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.
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.