The American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting

2018 Meeting Dates and Location

The meeting will take place from March 21-25, 2018, at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago, Illinois.

Who can attend?

Anyone concerned with cancer research can attend. This includes scientists (students, postdocs, professors), clinicians, cancer patients and their advocates, and anyone with an interest in oncology research. The meeting attracts attendees from all over the world, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Africa.

Why attend?

Cancer is a major public health concern. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1,786,370 new cases of cancer in the US in 2018. The AACR Annual meeting is the best place to learn about cancer research and how to get involved. Here are a few reasons why you should attend.

Keynotes and Talks to Look Out For

The meeting will kick off with a welcome address by Robert Weinberg, PhD, co-founder and senior scientist at Breakthrough Discovery. On the first day, look forward to a talk by Yong-Dae Kim, PhD, from the Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Yong-Dae is a renowned oncologist who will give a talk about one of the most important areas of cancer research, cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells exist within every tumor, but we don’t have the tools to target them effectively. The second day will have talks by Samuel J. Palm, PhD, from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; and Virginia M. Miller, PhD, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA. Samuel will talk about why immunotherapy has been so successful in treating some forms of cancer, while Virginia will talk about how we can use gene sequencing to help improve cancer treatment.

Speakers to Watch

Each year, the AACR Annual Meeting welcomes a diverse selection of speakers. These speakers come from a variety of disciplines and specialties, they are physicians, scientists, statisticians, patients, etc. You’ll be able to see them in the poster hall and listen to them at the various symposia and special sessions. Here are a few speakers to look out for:

- Douglas S. Levine, MD, FACP, FASCO, will be talking about the importance of supporting extramural research.

- Jason D. Wright, PhD, from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY will be talking about the current regulatory environment for new drugs and the need to increase transparency in the drug development process.

- Cristina Garcia Rodriguez, MD, PhD, from the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain will give an inspiring talk about her journey with cancer research.

- And finally, Dana-Farber’s very own James D. Lewis, MD, will give a talk about the importance of mentorship in advancing oncology research.

Networking Events

There are many networking events at the AACR Annual Meeting. There are many opportunities to meet fellow scientists at the poster hall, in the special sessions, and at the many networking events held at the meeting. You can also make invaluable connections through social media, like Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow AACR on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest news surrounding the meeting. Likewise, use LinkedIn to connect with fellow attendees and make professional connections.

Workshops and Training

There are many workshops and trainings at the AACR Annual Meeting. There are hands-on workshops where you can learn about the latest techniques in molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and other oncology research methods. There are also more general workshops where you can learn about the process of publishing a paper and other skills necessary for a successful career in science. There are also many free training courses where you can learn about topics that range from grant writing to managing your career. For example, you can learn about the research and career development of young investigators from the Young Investigators Retreat or attend the Mentoring Workshop to learn how to become a better mentor. You can also attend the Funding and Collaborations Workshop to get advice on how to fund your research and form collaborations with other labs.

Summing up

The AACR Annual Meeting is a great place to learn about the latest breakthroughs in oncology research, network with other attendees, and hear from some of the best scientists in the world. It is an event not to be missed, if you are at all interested in cancer research. If you are a pre-doctoral fellow, medical student, or anyone else at the beginning of their career, this meeting is a great place to learn about the process of publishing a paper and other skills necessary for a successful career in science. This meeting will allow you to network with other attendees and make invaluable connections that can help propel your career forward.