2026 UCSD Moores Cancer Center Annual Scientific Retreat
Join us Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Scripps Seaside Forum for a day of discovery, connection, and innovation in cancer research — open to all UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center members, staff, and trainees, as well as collaborators from consortium partners La Jolla Institute for Immunology and San Diego State University.
REGISTER NOWHighlighted Presentations
View the full agenda of Moores Cancer Center research presentations.
2026 Keynote Speaker
Elena Martinez, PhD
Dr. Martinez is an epidemiologist with expertise in cancer disparities research. She is Professor in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and Associate Director of Population Sciences at UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center. She holds the Walton Endowed Chair for Cancer Research. Nationally, she has established strong leadership and commitment to the area of cancer health disparities, particularly in relation to Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S. Dr. Martinez is immediate past President of the American Society for Preventive Oncology. She has served on NCI’s Board of Scientific Counselors and Board of Scientific Advisors and was one of 28 members nationally who served on the prestigious Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel. She has been continuously funded by NIH as PI/MPI for over 20 years. Currently, she is multiple principal investigator (MPI) of several NIH/NCI-funded team science research projects that focus on addressing disparities and inequities. These include, among others, the UC San Diego Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) award, whose goal is to promote institutional inclusive excellence by hiring a cohort of early-stage faculty in biomedical sciences.
Poster Session Submission
We invite trainees to submit their research and participate in this year’s Poster Session. This is an opportunity to showcase your work, engage with fellow researchers and faculty, and contribute to the cancer center’s annual scientific meeting.
To be considered, please complete the poster submission form and provide the required information. A one-page abstract is required as part of your submission.
If you have any questions, please contact Raluca Ciochina at rciochina@health.ucsd.edu.
Office of Translational Science Program Overview
Four focused networking sessions designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among retreat participants, including clinical researchers, basic scientists, and translational investigators.
Session Themes
- Treatments & Therapeutic Approaches
- Early Detection & Screening
- Health Disparities & Equity in Care
- AI Integration & Digital Health
Location and Transportation
Venue:
Scripps Seaside Forum
8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Shuttle and Transit Options:
From Moores Cancer Center or Koman Outpatient Pavillion, take Mesa Nueva Shuttle, then transfer to Sio Shuttle at Gilman Transit Center. From Gilman Transit Center, take the SIO Shuttle directly to the Forum.
Rideshare and Parking:
Uber/Lyft/taxi drop-off address: Scripps Seaside Forum
We recommend public transport or street parking along La Jolla Shores Drive, El Paseo Grande or Paseo Del Ocaso