Head & Neck Cancer Symposium Planned for September 25, 2017

The third Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, titled Advances in Head and Neck Cancer: Immunotherapy and Precision Medicine, will take place on Monday, September 25, 2017. The symposium builds on the success of highly successful previous symposia in 2014 (Translating Research to Therapy and Cure) and 2015 (From Pathways to Therapies). The previous symposia were marked by strong attendance, robust discussions, and outstanding presentations from leading head and neck cancer researchers and clinicians.

As in previous years, the objective of the symposium is to promote discussions and collaborations between clinicians and researchers in order to bridge the translational gap, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the translation of research findings to effective and lasting therapies for this aggressive disease.

The agenda for the symposium includes a keynote address, poster session, and four panel discussions. The keynote address will be given by Robert L. Ferris, a leading researcher on immunology and immunotherapy. Dr. Ferris is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgery Departments of Otolaryngology, Radiation Oncology, and Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh. The panel discussions address Immunotherapy: Checkpoint Regulation, Immunotherapy: Beyond Checkpoint Regulation, Precision Medicine Strategies for Cancer and the Microbiome, and Clinical Problems and Challenges. Each panel will conclude with a discussion between the panelists and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

“I look forward to this year’s symposium as an opportunity to explore and discuss the latest developments in head and neck cancer research with experts from across the country,” said Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Director of the Oral Cancer Research Initiative and Co-Chair of the event. “I am confident that the symposium will stimulate debates about the translation of new research findings for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.”

To register or view the full program, please visit the event’s website. If you have any questions about this event, please contact the OCRI at ocri@bu.edu.