Spotlight on the Cancer Cell: Intrinsic Properties and Vulnerabilities for Therapeutics
Jan 26–29, 2026 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle, Cary, NC, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Anwesha Dey, Laura D. Attardi and Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
Jan 26–29, 2026 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle, Cary, NC, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Anwesha Dey, Laura D. Attardi and Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
Available Formats:
Supported by the Directors' Fund
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandMonday, January 26, 2026
Fundraising
Booking Function
Merchandise Options
Registration Options
Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:15–5:00 PM
Welcome and Keynote Address
8:30–9:30 AM
Kevan M. Shokat, University of California, San Francisco
Overcoming the Undruggable Nature of the Most Common Human Oncogene K-Ras
Overcoming the Undruggable Nature of the Most Common Human Oncogene K-Ras
Cancer Evolution, Tumor Heterogeneity and Metastasis
9:30–11:45 AM
Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, University College London
Tumor Evolution and Metastasis Revealed through Research Autopsies in PEACE
Tumor Evolution and Metastasis Revealed through Research Autopsies in PEACE
Manuel Valiente, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre
Metastatic Colonization and the Development of Brain Metastasis
Metastatic Colonization and the Development of Brain Metastasis
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
Lunch
11:45–12:45 PM
Posters
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 1: Late-breaking research presentations selected from abstract submissions
2:30–4:30 PM
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Drugging Cancer Pathways and New Targets on the Horizon
5:00–7:00 PM
Kevin Marks, Delphia Therapeutics
Exploiting Pathway Activation as a New Form of Synthetic Lethality
Exploiting Pathway Activation as a New Form of Synthetic Lethality
Gregory L. Verdine, Harvard University and FogPharma
Drugging Oncogenic Transcriptional Drivers
Drugging Oncogenic Transcriptional Drivers
Anwesha Dey, Genentech, Inc.
Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Cancers
Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Cancers
Peter C. Scacheri, Amgen Research
Targeting Signaling Pathway in Cancers
Targeting Signaling Pathway in Cancers
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:15–5:00 PM
Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities and Therapeutic Opportunities
8:30–11:30 AM
Ashok R. Venkitaraman, Cancer Science Institute
p53 and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities
p53 and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities
Karen M. Cichowski, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Chemical Synthetic Lethal Interactions for the Development of Combinatorial Therapies
Chemical Synthetic Lethal Interactions for the Development of Combinatorial Therapies
LaQuita Jones, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Unexpected Resistance Mechanisms Underlying AML Targeted Therapy
Unexpected Resistance Mechanisms Underlying AML Targeted Therapy
Josh Plotnik, AbbVie, Inc.
Novel Synthetic Lethal Targets in Cancer
Novel Synthetic Lethal Targets in Cancer
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Lunch
11:30–12:30 PM
Posters
12:30–2:30 PM
Career Roundtable
3:00–4:30 PM
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Metabolic Rewiring in Cancer and Metabolic Approaches to Therapy
5:00–7:00 PM
Ralph J. DeBerardinis, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Cell-Intrinsic Metabolic Features Contributing to Cancer Initiation and Progression
Cell-Intrinsic Metabolic Features Contributing to Cancer Initiation and Progression
Poul H Sorensen, University of British Columbia
Metabolic Adaptation Mechanisms that Confer Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Cancer Cells
Metabolic Adaptation Mechanisms that Confer Resistance to Oxidative Stress in Cancer Cells
Dohoon Kim, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Cancer Metabolism and Metabolic Toxicity
Cancer Metabolism and Metabolic Toxicity
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Cellular Plasticity and Cell State Changes in Cancer
8:30–11:30 AM
Karuna Ganesh, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Regenerative Plasticity during Colorectal Cancer Metastasis
Regenerative Plasticity during Colorectal Cancer Metastasis
Cédric Blanpain, Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Stem Cell Function in Development, Homeostasis and Cancer
Stem Cell Function in Development, Homeostasis and Cancer
Laura D. Attardi, Stanford University School of Medicine
p53 Governs Cell State Changes in Lung and Pancreatic Cancers
p53 Governs Cell State Changes in Lung and Pancreatic Cancers
Kate Yen, Auron Therapeutics
Targeting Drivers of Tumor Cell Plasticity
Targeting Drivers of Tumor Cell Plasticity
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
On Own for Lunch
11:00–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2: Late-breaking research presentations selected from abstract submissions
2:30–4:30 PM
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Looking to the Future: Provocative New Themes in Cancer
5:00–6:45 PM
Laura Wood, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
New Insights into Tumor Development from CODA 3D Reconstruction
New Insights into Tumor Development from CODA 3D Reconstruction
Speaker to be Announced
Hoifung Poon, Microsoft Health Futures
Multimodal Generative AI for Precision Health
Multimodal Generative AI for Precision Health
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions
6:45–7:00 PM
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Entertainment
8:00–11:00 PM
Cash Bar
8:00–11:00 PM
Friday, January 30, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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