Program

Oct. 15-16, 2025, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown

Event Goals

The goals of this conference are to: 

• Highlight cutting-edge scientific and clinical advancements in oncolytic viruses, cell and immunotherapies, and combination approaches that leverage both platforms, with a core focus on challenges and topics of interest to academic researchers in basic science  

• Explore strategies to overcome key barriers to the development and implementation of these therapies, such as tumor heterogeneity, off-target effects, delivery limitations, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment 

• Foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking through scientific presentations, abstracts/poster sessions, and informal discussions 

Learning Objectives

After participating in this conference, learners will be able to: 

• Describe emerging technologies driving innovation in oncolytic viruses, cell therapies, and combinatorial approaches that leverage both platforms 

• Discuss the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of oncolytic viruses and cell therapies  

• Identify strategies for overcoming key barriers to therapeutic efficacy for cell and gene therapies in cancer, such as tumor heterogeneity, off-target effects, delivery limitations, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment 

• Recognize opportunities to integrate viral and cellular platforms to enhance immune responses and improve therapeutic outcomes 

• Discuss emerging trends and unanswered questions driving future research in oncolytic viruses, cell therapies, and their combinatorial use in cancer treatment 

Day 1 - Wednesday, Oct. 15

All times listed are in ET

Registration, Poster Check In, Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m.   

Welcome, Opening Remarks: 8:30 – 8:35 a.m.  

Session 1: Oncolytic Viruses - New Paradigms: 8:35 – 9:50 a.m. 

• John Bell, PhD, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute: Antibiotic-mediated selection of randomly mutagenized and cytokine-expressing oncolytic viruses  

• Richard Vile, PhD, Mayo Clinic: Expression of tumor antigens within an oncolytic virus enhances the anti-tumor T cell response 

• Eva Galanis, MD, Mayo: Carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing oncolytic measles virus derivative in recurrent glioblastoma: a phase 1 trial  

• Group Q&A: 15 minutes 

Break 1: 9:50 – 10:35 a.m.  

• Sponsored Presentation: 10 –10:20 a.m.

Session 2: Cell Therapies - New Paradigms: 10:35 – 11:50 a.m.  

• Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center: Armored CAR T-cells for the treatment of solid tumors 

• Todd Fehniger, MD, PhD, Washington University Medicine: CAR NK Cells 

• Leyuan Ma, PhD, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: CAR T cell and vaccine boosting approaches  

• Group Q&A: 15 minutes 

Lunch + Exhibits: 11:50 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.

Session 3: Cell and Viral Therapy Combinatorial Approaches: 12:50 – 1:50 p.m.

• Masataka Suzuki, PhD, Baylor: Oncolytic viruses and CAR-T 

• Sidi Chen, PhD, Yale: Checkpoint blockage combination with oncolytic viruses 

• Group Q&A: 10 minutes  

Break 2: 1:50 – 2 p.m. 

Session 4: Barriers and Opportunities/Mechanisms of Resistance (1): 2 – 3 p.m.  

• Balveen Kaur, PhD, Augusta University: IDH status dictates oHSV mediated metabolic reprogramming affecting anti-tumor immunity 

• Maria Castro, PhD, University of Michigan Medical School: Epigenetic reprogramming of the tumor immune microenvironment impacts the efficacy of immune mediated gene therapies 

• Group Q&A: 10 minutes  

Break 3: 3 – 3:45 p.m.

• Sponsored Presentation: 3:10 – 3:30 p.m.

Session 5 Abstracts: 3:45 – 5 p.m.

• Abstract 1: 15 minutes  

• Abstract 2: 15 minutes  

• Abstract 3: 15 minutes  

• Abstract 4: 15 minutes  

• Abstract 5: 15 minutes  

Poster Viewing/Reception: 5 – 6:30 p.m.

Day 2 - Thursday, Oct. 16

All times listed are in ET

Session 1: Barriers and Opportunities/Mechanisms of Resistance (2): 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.  

• Benjamin Deverman, PhD, Broad Institute: An AAV capsid reprogrammed to bind human Transferrin Receptor mediates brain-wide gene delivery 

• David Liu, PhD, Harvard: Genomic heterogeneity and ploidy identify patients with intrinsic resistance to PD-1 blockade in metastatic melanoma  

• Group Q&A: 10 minutes 

Break: 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.

• Sponsored Presentation: 9:55 AM – 10:15am  

Concluding Panel: 10:30 AM – 11:50 AM  

Panelists TBD 

Closing Remarks: 11:50 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Thank You to the Planning Committee

• Paola Grandi, PhD

• Balveen Kaur, PhD

• Catherine Bollard, PhD

• Evanthia Galanis, MD

• Maria Castro, PhD

• Michael Milone, PhD, MD

• Saad Kenderian, PhD

• Sarwish Rafiq, PhD