UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Hosts Annual Scientific Retreat to Foster Collaboration and Highlight Innovation
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center recently held its Annual Scientific Retreat, bringing together faculty, staff, trainees and collaborators for a full day of knowledge sharing, innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration. The scientific retreat took place in a truly exceptional beachfront setting in La Jolla: an inspiring location that reflects the excellence of our membership. The retreat highlighted groundbreaking research and fostered discussions aimed at advancing cancer science and patient care.
The day began with opening remarks from J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology, and Diane M. Simeone, MD, director of Moores Cancer Center. Their introductions set the stage for a dynamic program of scientific presentations spanning basic, translational, clinical and population science.
Reflecting on the retreat’s origins and growth, Dr. Gutkind said, “Ten years ago, when I first joined the Center, I saw the need for a gathering that would bring all Moores members together: somewhere we could truly get to know one another and build collaborative projects. Our first retreat had just 100 attendees. Now we’ve grown to over 300, and the energy is palpable. Today will spark collaborations that never would have formed otherwise.”
Morning sessions featured presentations from leading researchers, including Miguel Reina-Campos, PhD, on tissue immune networks, Corina Antal, PhD, on RNA-binding proteins as novel cancer targets, and Rebecca Shatsky, MD, on predictive biomarkers in breast cancer. Debashis Sahoo, PhD, explored how artificial intelligence can identify immutable features in cancer, illustrating the intersection of technology and oncology research.
The retreat also included critical discussions on cancer prevention and public health. Nicolas Lopez-Galvez, PhD, shared insights into environmental chemical mixtures and their links to cancer risk, while Timothy Wilkin, MD, discussed strategies to prevent HPV-related cancers in people with HIV. Rebecca Rakow-Penner, MD, PhD, highlighted advances in women’s cancer imaging, underscoring the retreat’s emphasis on translating research into clinical practice. To close out the morning sessions, Vivien Maltez, PhD, explored leveraging bacteria to reshape the tumor microenvironment, Enfu Hui, PhD, shared new insights into PD-1 signaling, and Jesse Nodora, DrPH, provided a community outreach update.
On the energy and caliber of the morning sessions, Dr. Simeone commented, “I’m thrilled about our scientific retreat today. We have one of the best gatherings in the world, bringing together the brightest minds: from junior faculty to basic scientists, clinicians, clinical trialists, and population health experts. The talks have been cutting-edge across every domain, and I feel so lucky to be part of this community.”
Afternoon sessions emphasized innovation and precision oncology. Kathryn Tringale, MD, MAS, presented biomarker-based strategies for predicting and preventing CAR T-cell neurotoxicity. Keynote speaker Trey Ideker, PhD, reflected, “It’s an enormous honor to deliver my first keynote at Moores. What stands out is how collaborative Moores is. Today I’ll highlight collaborations spanning new trials, patient cohorts, and promising drug targets.” His lecture highlighted innovative approaches to precision oncology, reflecting Moores Cancer Center’s commitment to leveraging computational tools to improve cancer care.
Throughout the day, attendees engaged in trainee poster sessions and networking events organized by the Office of Translational Science, fostering collaboration across disciplines. The retreat concluded with awards recognizing the best trainee posters from each of the five research programs, as well as honors for investigators who received their first NIH R01 grant or launched their first clinical trial within the past year, both of which represent major milestones in a scientific career. Raffle announcements and closing remarks from Diane Simeone, MD, Elena Martinez, PhD, Amy Spilkin, PhD, and J. Silvio Gutkind, PhD, celebrated the achievements of Moores Cancer Center researchers and honored the collaborative spirit of the community.
The Annual Scientific Retreat underscored the power of collaboration in driving cancer research forward. By bringing together diverse expertise, Moores Cancer Center continues to advance scientific discovery and patient care, shaping the future of oncology with innovation, compassion, and shared purpose.