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Scientific

Summit 2026

  • January 29 - February 1, 2026
2026: Celebrating Groundbreaking Research

Back Together Again: SU2C Scientific Summit 2026

Welcome to the SU2C Scientific Summit 2026! I hope everyone had a productive 2025 filled with new discoveries, exciting breakthroughs, and a renewed sense of urgency as we navigate uncharted waters together.

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Julian Adams, Ph.D.
President, CEO - SU2C

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SU2C Science Year in Review
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2026 Schedule

Come ready for an inspiring, high-energy experience where innovation thrives, collaborations ignite, and the path to new cures becomes clearer than ever.

JAN
29

Thursday,
January 29

Two Innovation Summits, Reviews, Poster Session

JAN
30

Friday,
January 30

Plenary Session, Dinner Event

JAN
31

Saturday,
January 31

Three Innovation Summits

FEB
1

Sunday,
February 1

SU2C SAC Meeting

View Full Schedule
POSTER ABSTRACTS

NEW This Year:
Innovation Summits!

Supercharge your Scientific Summit experience with our brand-new Innovation Summits — high-impact, deep-dive sessions on the cutting edge of science and innovation. These add-on sessions are your chance to go beyond the main stage and explore what’s next in your field.

Each Innovation Summit is offered at a specific time, and with multiple options running simultaneously, you'll need to pick the one(s) that excites you most — no double booking! Spots are limited, so be sure to reserve your seat early. Let the innovation begin!

SU2C Innovation Summit

Early Detection, Screening, and Treatment for Anal and Oropharyngeal Cancers

  • Thursday, January 29, 2026
  • 8:00 AM - 2:45 PM
  • The Langham Huntington -Huntington Ballroom II & III
  • Moderator: Lawrence D. Piro, MD
Logo of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation featuring a pink heart outline and the organizations name in bold black text.
  • Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will be the engine to convene researchers focusing on topics related to early detection, screening, and treatment for HPV-related tumor in the anus and oropharynx at an in-person Innovation Summit in early 2026. The best way to combat cancers and to accelerate impactful outcomes is through the power of collaboration. Collaboration has been a cornerstone of SU2C since day one.
  • The goal of the Innovation Summit is to have the most cutting-edge researchers brainstorm to bring the best ideas forward for what will ultimately achieve the greatest benefit to the anal and oropharyngeal cancers population.
  • Post-summit, SU2C will distribute an RFA, and ultimately, we will launch a dedicated Research Team on early detection, screening, and treatment for anal and oropharyngeal cancers.
  • When we all come together, anal and oropharyngeal cancers don’t stand a chance.
Final Agenda
Final Moderators
Final Attendees
SU2C Innovation Summit

Advancing the Use of Theranostics in Cancer Care

  • Thursday, January 29, 2026
  • 8:00 AM - 2:45 PM
  • The Langham Huntington - Viennese Ballroom
  • Moderator: Martin Pomper, MD, PhD
  • Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will convene leading researchers in the field of theranostics for cancer detection and treatment at an in-person Innovation Summit in early 2026. SU2C has already funded four research projects in theranostics for pancreatic and gastroesophageal cancers and is interested in exploring this rapidly advancing area further to deliver better outcomes for patients.
  • The goal of the Innovation Summit is to bring together top experts to share progress, discuss barriers, and identify the most promising strategies to accelerate theranostic research and clinical translation. Through open dialogue and collaboration, participants will help shape a shared vision for how theranostics can transform cancer care across multiple tumor types.
  • Following the summit, SU2C intends to release a Request for Applications (RFA) to build a dedicated Research Team on theranostics, co-branded with partnering funding organizations. This team will focus on advancing the most impactful ideas generated during the meeting into tangible patient-centered projects.
  • Collaboration has been a cornerstone of SU2C from the start. By uniting our expertise, creativity, and commitment, we can drive new breakthroughs. When we come together, cancer doesn’t stand a chance.
Final Agenda
Final Moderators
Final Attendees
SU2C Innovation Summit

Translating Data to the Limits of Detection

  • Saturday, January 31, 2026
  • 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
  • The Langham Huntington - Georgian Ballroom
  • Moderator: Peter Sorger, PhD
  • Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will convene researchers focusing on topics related to detecting cancer as early as possible at an in-person Innovation Summit in early 2026. The best way to combat cancers and to accelerate impactful outcomes is through the power of collaboration. Collaboration has been a cornerstone of SU2C since day one.
  • The goal of the Innovation Summit is to have the most cutting-edge researchers brainstorm to bring the best ideas forward for what will ultimately achieve the greatest benefit to all patients.
  • The overall programmatic goal is to fund translational trials for early detection of cancer, enabled by AI. Questions to consider include: How do we optimize data collection and analysis for the purpose of early-stage detection particularly of pre-invasive and early solid cancers (Stages 0 and 1)? What determines the limits of detection with respect to molecules or cells and the tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity? How do we increase the ability of assays and AI to pick up the tiniest signals using (i) specimens we already collect, (ii) specimens we might collect in the future, and (iii) non-invasive methods? Finally, how might such data be optimally used in patient care, balancing the risks of both under and over-treatment?
  • Post-summit, SU2C will work with funding collaborators to prepare and distribute an RFA, and ultimately, we will launch a dedicated Early Detection Research Team(s) co-branded with the participating funding organizations.
  • When we all come together, cancer doesn’t stand a chance.
Final Agenda
Final Moderators
Final Attendees
SU2C Innovation Summit

Breakthrough Pathways in Malignant Glioma: A Disease of the Neural Ecosystem

Main Session
  • Saturday, January 31, 2026
  • 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
  • The Langham Huntington - Viennese Ballroom
  • Moderators: William G. Nelson, MD, PhD, DSc and Scott A. Armstrong, MD, PhD.
Continued Discussion
  • Sunday, February 1, 2026
  • 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  • The Langham Huntington - Georgian Ballroom
  • Moderators: William G. Nelson, MD, PhD, DSc and Scott A. Armstrong, MD, PhD.
  • Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will be the engine to convene the best and brightest in the world for malignant glioma research at an early 2026 in-person Innovation Summit focused on defining breakthrough pathways for detection and treatment of brain cancer. We know the best way to combat this disease and accelerate impactful treatment is through the power of collaboration, which has been a cornerstone of SU2C since day one.
  • The goals of the Innovation Summit are: (1) to bring together the most cutting-edge researchers to brainstorm the most innovative ideas for what will ultimately achieve the greatest benefit to malignant glioma patients, children and young adult (CAYA) patients as well as adult patients, (2) to integrate disparate fields of research – neuroscience, immunology, epigenetics, and metabolism – into a cohesive and compelling framework which directly addresses the core challenges of glioma biology, and (3) to align towards a collaborative, paradigm-shifting ethos required to generate breakthrough ideas towards conquering these diseases.
  • The key opportunity for this Innovation Summit is to reframe the central scientific discussion around malignant glioma. Instead of viewing the tumor as an isolated cellular mass, this Innovation Summit will conceptualize malignant gliomas as a dynamic, integrated, and evolving ecosystem that actively communicates with, co-opts, and manipulates its host environment – the brain itself. This perspective shift is not only conceptual but also validated by a wave of recent, high-impact research that opens entirely new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
  • Post-summit, SU2C will distribute an RFA, and ultimately, compose a dedicated “Dream Team” with the potential to cure malignant gliomas following the game-changing RFA criteria required and co-branded with the participating funding organizations.
  • We are coming together to discuss how to cure malignant gliomas. Patient Advocates are here to share their journeys, to help guide participants towards options which will be feasible for patients, and to outreach with others about the upcoming RFA to aid in bringing the most promising research opportunities forward for funding. Researchers are here to identify the most promising options for patients and afterwards guide academic research moving forward. Nonprofits are here to share outcomes from research funded which has high impact for patients and to consider coming together with SU2C and other funders towards a larger scale initiative. Companies are here to share information about their research and pipeline towards promising outcomes for patients and to consider donating assets and funds towards this large-scale research initiative.
  • When we all come together, malignant gliomas don’t stand a chance.
Final Agenda
Final Moderators
Final Attendees
SU2C Innovation Summit

Approaches Towards Detecting and Treating Early Onset Cancers

  • Saturday, January 31, 2026
  • 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM
  • The Langham Huntington - Huntington Ballroom II & III
  • Moderator: Kimryn Rathmall, MD, PhD, MMHC
  • Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) will convene researchers focusing on topics related to early onset cancers at an in-person Innovation Summit in early 2026. The best way to combat cancers and to accelerate impactful outcomes is through the power of collaboration. Collaboration has been a cornerstone of SU2C since day one.
  • The goal of the Innovation Summit is to have the most cutting-edge researchers brainstorm to bring the best ideas forward for what will ultimately achieve the greatest benefit to the patients experiencing cancer at young ages.
  • The overall programmatic goal is to fund translational trials for early prevention and detection of early onset cancers. Screening, liquid biopsy, nutrition intervention, novel therapeutics in certain high-risk populations, and use of AI tools for risk stratification are examples of ideas to consider. Questions to consider include: How to build tools for use in the clinic? How to apply tools to this clinical problem? What’s ready for translation in terms of new diagnostics and/or therapeutics?
  • Post-summit, SU2C will work with funding collaborators to prepare and distribute an RFA, and ultimately, we will launch a dedicated Research Team on early onset cancers co-branded with the participating funding organizations.
  • When we all come together, cancer doesn’t stand a chance.
Final Agenda
Final Moderators
Final Attendees
Ready to engage?

Register for the SU2C Scientific Summit 2026

This SU2C Scientific Summit 2026 promises to be another exciting opportunity to convene for updates on the scientific achievements of the various SU2C-funded projects and explore collaborations! In attendance will be SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee members, reviewers of the SU2C projects, SU2C grantees, as well as representatives from Stand Up To Cancer’s funding collaborators.

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    Knowledge Expansion
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    Networking Opportunities
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    Inspiration
AACR logo with text: Finding Cures Together. Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer.

Stand Up To Cancer conducts a highly involved review process to identify the top research proposals that have the potential to make a significant impact in the cancer space. The American Association for Cancer Research is SU2C’s scientific partner and supports the review of grants it administers on behalf of SU2C. This review process is conducted in collaboration with SU2C’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

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