Tumor Microenvironment: Identifying Drivers of Progression and Resistance
May 17–20, 2026 | Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers:
Lisa M. Coussens, Sandra S. McAllister, and Laura L. Kiessling
In Person
On Demand
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May 17–20, 2026 | Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers: Lisa M. Coussens, Sandra S. McAllister, and Laura L. Kiessling
Lisa M. Coussens, PhD
Oregon Health & Science University
Lisa M. Coussens is a leading researcher in cancer tumor and immunobiology at Oregon Health & Science University. Her lab focuses on the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation in solid tumor development using murine transgenic models and human clinical specimens. Her research has helped shift the understanding of tumor microenvironments, identifying various myeloid cell lineages in tumor progression and limiting productive cytotoxic T cell responses. Her findings have been instrumental in redefining the therapeutic potential of targeting myeloid cells and stromal components in cancer, contributing to five proof-of-concept clinical trials based her lab’s discoveries.
Sandra S. McAllister, PhD
Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Dr. Sandra S. McAllister is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. Her research focuses on how aging and immune fitness influence breast cancer progression and treatment response. Her
team led the first preclinical study combining CDK4/6 inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade, forming the rationale for a phase 1b clinical trial that reported improved outcomes over standard therapies. Dr. McAllister has co-organized several impactful meetings, including the 2016 Keystone Meeting on Cancer Pathophysiology and the AACR Tumor Microenvironment Working Group’s networking event for early-career investigators.
team led the first preclinical study combining CDK4/6 inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade, forming the rationale for a phase 1b clinical trial that reported improved outcomes over standard therapies. Dr. McAllister has co-organized several impactful meetings, including the 2016 Keystone Meeting on Cancer Pathophysiology and the AACR Tumor Microenvironment Working Group’s networking event for early-career investigators.
Laura L. Kiessling, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Laura L. Kiessling is a Novartis Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research broadly focuses on the biological roles of glycans, which have emerged as critical components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Dr. Kiesling’s longstanding interests in glycans and their involvement in diverse biological systems, from bacterial cell walls to stem cells, have contributed molecular and systems level insights into the regulatory capacity of sugars in biology. The importance of glycans in cancer, in general, and the TME in particular, has recently refocused her research program at the chemistry-biology interface to identify molecular features and mechanisms that regulate the TME.
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In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandSunday, May 17, 2026
Fundraising
Booking Function
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Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Monday, May 18, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
Welcome Remarks (Joint)
8:00–8:10 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Keynote Address (Joint)
8:10–9:00 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Gabriel A. Rabinovich, Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental
The Power of Glycocheckpoints: Translating Glycan-Encoded Information into Novel Therapies in Cancer and Autoimmune Inflammation
The Power of Glycocheckpoints: Translating Glycan-Encoded Information into Novel Therapies in Cancer and Autoimmune Inflammation
Aging in Human Health and Disease (Joint)
9:00–11:15 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Clemens A. Schmitt, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine
Targeting the Root of Cancer Reprogression - Eradicating Senescent Persisters
Targeting the Root of Cancer Reprogression - Eradicating Senescent Persisters
Donna L Farber, Columbia University Medical Center
Immune Aging Across the LifeSpan
Immune Aging Across the LifeSpan
Peter D. Adams, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
The Epigenetic Landscape of Aging
The Epigenetic Landscape of Aging
Milos Spasic, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Leveraging HDAC Inhibition to Combat Paclitaxel Resistance in Aging Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Short Talk: Leveraging HDAC Inhibition to Combat Paclitaxel Resistance in Aging Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Grand Foyer
Poster Setup
11:15–1:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
On Own for Lunch
11:15–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Workshop: Data Jamboree/Workshop leveraging the NCI Human Tumor Atlas Data (HTAN) to study the TME
2:30–4:30 PM
Sea to Sky C
Erik A. Sahai, Francis Crick Institute
Elana Fertig, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Novel Analytical Approaches for Data Forecasting and Data Integration with HTAN
Novel Analytical Approaches for Data Forecasting and Data Integration with HTAN
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Cross-Talk in the TME Driving Cancer Progression and Therapeutic Resistance
5:00–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Sheila A. Stewart, Washington University School of Medicine
Senescent Fibroblasts that Drive Immune Suppression and Cancer Progression
Senescent Fibroblasts that Drive Immune Suppression and Cancer Progression
Teresa Zimmers, Oregon Health and Science University Knight Cancer Institute
Impact of Cachexia on Cancer Progression and Response to Therapy
Impact of Cachexia on Cancer Progression and Response to Therapy
Daniela F Quail, McGill University
Impact of Obesity on Tumor-Associated Chronic Inflammation
Impact of Obesity on Tumor-Associated Chronic Inflammation
Giuseppina Caligiuri †, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Short Talk: WNT7 Orchestrates Myofibroblast Heterogeneity to Induce Desmoplasia
Short Talk: WNT7 Orchestrates Myofibroblast Heterogeneity to Induce Desmoplasia
Brittney Poole, University of Florida
Short Talk: Tumor-Derived CTGF Modulates the Tumor Microenvironment to Promote Cancer-Associated Cachexia through TGF-beta
Short Talk: Tumor-Derived CTGF Modulates the Tumor Microenvironment to Promote Cancer-Associated Cachexia through TGF-beta
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
Pathways Controlling Inflammation and Tissue Homeostasis (Joint)
8:00–11:00 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Melissa Davis, Morehouse School of Medicine
Impact of Genetics, Biology, and Social Determinants on Cancer Risk
Impact of Genetics, Biology, and Social Determinants on Cancer Risk
Andrea Ablasser, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
cGAS STING Pathway in Inflammation
cGAS STING Pathway in Inflammation
Jenny P Ting, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Impact of Innate Immune Receptors in Cancer
Impact of Innate Immune Receptors in Cancer
Emma Saart, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Short Talk: Exploring the Role of Genetic Ancestry in Shaping the Endometrial Tumor Microenvironment
Short Talk: Exploring the Role of Genetic Ancestry in Shaping the Endometrial Tumor Microenvironment
Jaroslav Zak, University of Utah
Short Talk: An IL-34–IGF-1 Axis Fuels KRAS-Mutant Lung Cancer Progression
Short Talk: An IL-34–IGF-1 Axis Fuels KRAS-Mutant Lung Cancer Progression
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Grand Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:20–9:25 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Career Roundtable (Joint)
1:45–2:45 PM
Sea to Sky B
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Inflammatory Responses in the TME
5:00–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Sandra S. McAllister, Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Impact of the Aging TME Cellular and Molecular Landscape on Response to Therapy
Impact of the Aging TME Cellular and Molecular Landscape on Response to Therapy
Lisa M. Coussens, Oregon Health & Science University
Innate-Adaptive Crosstalk Mechanisms as Leverage Points for Therapy
Innate-Adaptive Crosstalk Mechanisms as Leverage Points for Therapy
Erik A. Sahai, Francis Crick Institute
Why Liver Metastases are so Hard to Treat with Immunotherapy
Why Liver Metastases are so Hard to Treat with Immunotherapy
David Kung-Chun Chiu, Stanford University
Short Talk: A Liver-Imposed Immunoregulatory Circuit Drives Immune Exclusion in Primary Liver Cancer and Pan-Gastrointestinal Liver Metastasis
Short Talk: A Liver-Imposed Immunoregulatory Circuit Drives Immune Exclusion in Primary Liver Cancer and Pan-Gastrointestinal Liver Metastasis
Mariko Morimoto, University of Notre Dame
Short Talk: Selective Chemical Remodeling of Tumor-Associated Macrophages to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance
Short Talk: Selective Chemical Remodeling of Tumor-Associated Macrophages to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
Therapeutic Targeting in Chronic Disease
8:00–11:00 AM
Sea to Sky C
Laura L. Kiessling, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Critical Role of Glycosylation in Regulating Tissue Homeostasis and Disease Progression
Critical Role of Glycosylation in Regulating Tissue Homeostasis and Disease Progression
Michael Klichinsky, Carisma Therapeutics
Engineering Myeloid Cells for Cancer, Autoimmunity, and Fibrosis
Engineering Myeloid Cells for Cancer, Autoimmunity, and Fibrosis
Malia E Leifheit, Rush University
Short Talk: Combination of Gilteritinib and mTOR Inhibitors for the Treatment of FLT3+ Acute Myeloid Leukemia Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Short Talk: Combination of Gilteritinib and mTOR Inhibitors for the Treatment of FLT3+ Acute Myeloid Leukemia Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Stanislav Drapela, Moffitt Cancer Center
Short Talk: Aging Exposes a Targetable Metabolic Achilles’ Heel in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis
Short Talk: Aging Exposes a Targetable Metabolic Achilles’ Heel in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Grand Foyer
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Symposia Spotlight
2:30–4:30 PM
Sea to Sky C
David Askew, Case Western Reserve University
The Bone Marrow Niche Promotes Relapse of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia after Stem Cell Transplant
The Bone Marrow Niche Promotes Relapse of T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia after Stem Cell Transplant
Alma Banuelos, Mayo Clinic
Sex-dependent Regulation of CD8⁺ T-Cell Antitumor Immunity by the ATP-exporting Channel Pannexin-1
Sex-dependent Regulation of CD8⁺ T-Cell Antitumor Immunity by the ATP-exporting Channel Pannexin-1
Stefanie Cassoday, Rush University Medical Center
Intratumoral Influenza Vaccine Combined with IL-15 and PD-1 Blockade Induces Durable Antitumor Immunity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Intratumoral Influenza Vaccine Combined with IL-15 and PD-1 Blockade Induces Durable Antitumor Immunity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Rohin Chakraborty, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network
Role of Natural Killer-like T Cells in Inducing Pre-tumor Cell Growth to Initiate Medulloblastoma
Role of Natural Killer-like T Cells in Inducing Pre-tumor Cell Growth to Initiate Medulloblastoma
Felicia Lazure, Moffitt Cancer Center
Aging Drives the Differential Evolution of KRAS-driven Lung Adenocarcinoma Towards a Primitive Stem-Like State
Aging Drives the Differential Evolution of KRAS-driven Lung Adenocarcinoma Towards a Primitive Stem-Like State
Mojdeh Shakiba, CSHL
Pancreatitis Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) through Epigenetic Reprogramming of Macrophages
Pancreatitis Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) through Epigenetic Reprogramming of Macrophages
Chong Sun, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
The eATP-P2RY2 Axis is a Primary Driver of Pathological COX–PGE₂ Activation in the Tumor Microenvironment and Adaptive Immunotherapy Resistance
The eATP-P2RY2 Axis is a Primary Driver of Pathological COX–PGE₂ Activation in the Tumor Microenvironment and Adaptive Immunotherapy Resistance
Theresa A Weis, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Temporal Dynamics to Macrophage Depletion in Mediating Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer-Kidney Crosstalk
Temporal Dynamics to Macrophage Depletion in Mediating Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer-Kidney Crosstalk
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Unraveling the TME
5:00–6:45 PM
Sea to Sky C
Jeremy Goecks, Moffitt Cancer Center
Using Machine Learning to Quantify the Tumor Microenvironment and Predict Response to Therapy
Using Machine Learning to Quantify the Tumor Microenvironment and Predict Response to Therapy
Elana Fertig, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Forecasting Cancer Signatures
Forecasting Cancer Signatures
Daniella Liao, BC Cancer Research Institute
Short Talk: Longitudinal Peripheral Immune Profiling During Immunotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Short Talk: Longitudinal Peripheral Immune Profiling During Immunotherapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Tuulia Vallius, Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Spatial Determinants of Tumor Cell Dedifferentiation and Plasticity in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma
Short Talk: Spatial Determinants of Tumor Cell Dedifferentiation and Plasticity in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma
Willie Wu, BC Cancer Research Institute
Short Talk: Decoding the Spatial Architecture of the Lung Tumor Microenvironment in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Short Talk: Decoding the Spatial Architecture of the Lung Tumor Microenvironment in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:45–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Entertainment
8:00–9:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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