New Horizons in Immunotherapy for Cancer symposium: Collaborative cancer research

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

On May 17, the first New Horizons in Immunotherapy for Cancer symposium, hosted by Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (EACRI), brought together expert voices in immuno-oncology from inside and outside Providence. Over the course of the day, a group of science professionals participated in thought-provoking discussion, discovery and collaboration.

“We were thrilled to host the first New Horizons in Immunotherapy for Cancer symposium. This type of symposium is critical for advancing science by allowing thought leaders, scientists and clinicians to come together to review data and best practices,” said R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed), executive medical director of Providence Cancer Institute and director of the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute (EACRI).

The event marked the first of what will surely become an annual tradition of ideation and exchange.

Event brings together long-term collaborative relationships

Themed sessions throughout the day focused on breakthrough strategies in cancer immunotherapy, from foundational cytokine science to the role of biomarker-directed treatments.

A panel discussion included Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D., former chief medical officer, Providence Cancer Institute, and director of cancer research, EACRI. Dr. Urba is a pioneer and key figure in the development of immunotherapy. In 1993, Dr. Urba was recruited from the National Cancer Institute to establish a cancer program and lead translational research at Providence.

“It was a pleasure to spend the day with my former colleagues from the NCI and recent colleagues from the EACRI,” said Dr. Urba. “This gathering was an opportunity to reflect on past achievements and to look forward to future work. I was honored by my friends’ willingness to travel to Portland and share their insights. I am immensely proud of their contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy.”

Shared commitment to bench-to-bedside approach

“We recognize the contributions in immunotherapy by our founder, Dr. Walter Urba, who retired in January,” added Dr. Bell. “He came to Oregon focused on immunotherapy and built an institute with the purpose of translating discoveries from the lab to the clinic. Our clinicians work side-by-side with our scientists to remove the barriers to translation.”

Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., FAACR, FAIO, a keynote speaker at the symposium, agreed that collaboration is essential to cancer research. Dr. Coussens is chairwoman of the Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), interim director for the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU.

“No drugs get to the clinic based on only one point of view or even one data source. It takes people in basic research labs coming together with data scientists, drug developers, people that think about chemistry and pharmacology, all working together to move a drug to an early trial,” she said.

Here’s a summary of the day’s events and the presenters:

Welcome: R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed)

Session 1: Cytokines and Cellular Therapy for Solid Tumors

Moderator: R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed)
Keynote: Brendan Curti, M.D.

Presentations by:

- Eric Tran, Ph.D.
- Andrew Weinberg, Ph.D.

Session 2: Checkpoint Inhibitors, T Cell Agonists and Vaccines

Moderator: Bernard Fox, Ph.D.
Keynote: Lisa Coussens, Ph.D., FAACR, FAIO

Presentations by:

- William Redmond, Ph.D.
- Bernard Fox, Ph.D.

Keynote: Mario Sznol, M.D.

Session 3: Beyond T Cells—Targeting Myeloid Cells and the Development of Biomarker-Directed Therapy

Moderator: Marka Crittenden, M.D., Ph.D.
Keynote: Alan Korman, Ph.D., FAIO

Presentations by:

- Rom Leidner, M.D.
- Marka Crittenden, M.D., Ph.D.
- Rachel Sanborn, M.D.
- Carlo Bifulco, M.D.

Session 4: The Future of Immuno-oncology

Moderator: Bernard Fox, Ph.D.
Keynote: Kristen Hege, M.D.

Panel Discussion:

- - - John Janik, M.D.
    - Walter Urba, M.D., Ph.D.
    - Mario Sznol, M.D.
    - Brendan Curti, M.D.

Panel Moderator: R. Bryan Bell, M.D., D.D.S., FACS, FRCS(Ed)

Topic: The Impact of the BRMP and the Future of Immuno-oncology

At the end of the day, participants and presenters gathered for informal, friendly conversations. Keynote speaker, Alan Korman, Ph.D., FAIO, said he was happy to be a part of the inaugural event. “I have a special relationship with Providence because of the people and the welcoming nature of the organization,” he said.

About Providence Cancer Institute of Oregon

Providence Cancer Institute in Oregon is a leading provider of cancer care in Oregon and a global leader in immuno-oncology. Through its research division, the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, patients have access to state-of-the-art genomic sequencing, adoptive cellular therapies and a robust clinical research portfolio comprising early phase, investigator-initiated, cooperative group and industry-sponsored trials. Learn more at www.providence.org/ORcancer. 