Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

Our mission is to accelerate the development of breakthrough immune therapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases.

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI CEO @DrKarenKnudsen joined @statnews' Science vs. Cancer event at ASCO this past weekend, alongside @DrRoyHerbst, Ensign Professor of Medicine and Chief of Medical Oncology and Hematology at @YaleMed and STAT News cancer reporter @angRchen.

The discussion explored key themes from ASCO, including the most significant developments in oncology and what lies ahead for the future of cancer research.

Thank you @statnews for bringing together an insightful conversation and including PICI in the discussion.

Read more on the event: https://t.co/FGuaP53vAq

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI is proud to host a breakfast briefing on Capitol Hill tomorrow at 9:00 AM, bringing together cancer vaccine recipients whose lives have been transformed by these breakthrough immunotherapies.

Attendees will hear firsthand stories from patients, highlighting the hope, resilience, and real-world impact of cancer vaccine research. The discussion will also explore the national efforts underway to advance these innovative treatments and expand access for future patients.

Leaders from @parkerici, @MSKCancerCenter, Congresswoman @DWStweets, and more will join cancer vaccine recipients from across the country for this important conversation.

To reserve a spot, please reach out to [email protected]

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI is hiring an Assistant Controller to help drive financial integrity behind our high-impact mission to cure cancer.

This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives at the intersection of accounting, operations, and mission-driven work.

Read more information on the role: https://t.co/wYCKOOrd5B

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

Nearly 90% of large employers now cite cancer as one of their top three cost drivers.

In a new https://t.co/LjmX0zZl86 op ed, PICI CEO @DrKarenKnudsen and @Color CEO @othman discuss what they call“the triple wave” driving this trend: rising cancer diagnoses among younger populations, increased complex and costly treatments, and a growing survivor workforce requiring long-term treatment.

In the piece, they outline steps employers can take to move from reactive management to proactive cancer care strategies.

Read the full piece here: https://t.co/iznGx5EDBg

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI CEO @DrKarenKnudsen will be speaking tomorrow at the @statnews @ ASCO 2026 event.

Karen will join @DrRoyHerbst, Ensign Professor of Medicine and Chief of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Yale School of Medicine, along with @angRchen, cancer reporter at STAT, for a conversation on the biggest debates shaping oncology today, the data still to come, and what's ahead for the future of cancer research.

Join industry leaders, scientific experts, and STAT reporters for an in-depth look at the latest frontiers of cancer care and research, along with a preview of the news emerging from ASCO.

Learn more here: https://t.co/FGuaP53vAq

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

Next week, cancer vaccine recipients and advocates will be front and center on Capitol Hill.

Join PICI on June 3 from 9-10:00 AM ET in the SVC for a special breakfast briefing bringing together cancer vaccine recipients, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the urgent need to accelerate cancer vaccine research and development.

We’re deeply grateful to the recipients traveling from across the country to share their experience and advocate for the future of cancer care. We look forward to seeing you there!

To reserve a spot, please reach out to [email protected]

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI has named Rebecca Sager, urologic oncology fellow at @MSKCancerCenter, the inaugural recipient of the Conquer Cancer - Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Endowed Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Sager is being recognized for her important research exploring tumor immunology and how treatments shape the tumor immune microenvironment in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Her work represents the kind of innovative science that continues to advance the future of cancer immunotherapy and improve outcomes.

Congratulations to Dr. Sager on this well-deserved recognition!

https://t.co/X0yzjLFGp7

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

The PICI Network will be driving key conversations at the @ASCO Annual Meeting, showcasing the latest advances in cancer immunotherapy and translational research.

PICI leaders, investigators, and collaborators are contributing to over 50 oral sessions, posts, and publications across #ASCO26, highlighting the momentum of the network’s research and work on glioblastoma, melanoma, prostate, breast, lung, and urothelial cancers.

Learn more about PICI’s presence at ASCO: https://t.co/M4iEFAyoJM

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

New research published in @NatureBiotech from PICI researcher K. Christopher Garcia from @StanfordMed and collaborators introduces a new way to better understand how T cells recognize disease.

Using a combination of high-throughput screening and AI-based modeling, the team mapped how individual T cell receptors respond to millions of peptides. Their approach helped identify potential disease-linked autoantigens connected to ankylosing spondylitis and acute anterior uveitis and could help accelerate future discoveries in immunotherapy and precision medicine.

Read the study: https://t.co/laCyHCmgdJ

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

“Patients shouldn’t have to wait 10-15 years for life-saving innovations to reach them,” said PICI CEO
@DrKarenKnudsen in a recent piece from @rleuty_biotech in @SFBusinessTimes.

That vision is at the heart of the work underway at PICI, where the organization is helping transform how breakthrough cancer therapies move from discovery to patients.

From advancing personalized cancer vaccines to building new models that accelerate commercialization, PICI is bringing together researchers, clinicians, investors, and advocates to accelerate the future of cancer treatment.

Thank you to @rleuty_biotech and the @SFBusinessTimes for capturing the urgency, optimism, and momentum driving this next era of cancer immunotherapy.

Read more here: https://t.co/AVRJi9w5dn

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

PICI President of Research @mellmani and @UCLA Health’s PICI Center Director Antoni Ribas will be keynote speakers at the Tumor-Immune Systems Biology Symposium hosted by @MSKCancerCenter on May 18th.

Join us in New York at the Zuckerman Research Center to hear from leading voices shaping the future of cancer immunotherapy.

Register here: https://t.co/6PZtN77luL

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

Congratulations to PICI President of Research @MellmanIra and Zhen Su (@MyOncology) of @MarengoTx on an outstanding session at the ABI Conference in Cambridge last month on “The Coming Renaissance of Cancer Immunotherapy.”

The conversation centered on how breakthroughs in immune engineering, translational science, and accelerated development models are converging to transform cancer treatment, driving meaningful momentum as innovation speeds up and the potential to improve patient outcomes expands.

Learn more about the session here: https://t.co/N897IufQqS

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

New PICI-supported research from the RADIOHEAD cohort and PICI Research Director EnJun Yang suggests that the medications patients take when starting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment may affect survival outcomes in real-world cancer care.

In a study of over 1,000 patients treated with ICIs, researchers found that polypharmacy – taking five or more medication classes at treatment initiation – was associated with worse overall survival. Baseline use of opioids and beta-blockers was also associated with reduced survival benefit, even after accounting for clinical factors.

These findings highlight how commonly prescribed medications may influence immunotherapy effectiveness and point to a potentially modifiable factor that could help improve cancer treatment outcomes beyond clinical trial settings.

Learn more here: https://t.co/Ptuvjkrbrj

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

Thanks to @CancerResrch for co-hosting “Unlocking Next-Generation Therapies” this week in Washington, DC, convening leaders from academia, regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy to discuss how to accelerate the development and delivery of next-generation cell-based therapies.

A key highlight from the program was PICI Chief Scientific Officer @John_E_Connolly moderating a session on operationalizing risk-based flexibility in CMC across the product lifecycle, a critical lever for enabling faster, more adaptive development pathways without compromising rigor.

Learn more about the meeting and panelists here: https://t.co/0V8V8SrSNs

[John Connolly @John_E_Connolly]

Honored to moderate a fantastic panel on a key bottleneck in #celltherapy @parkerici @US_FDA @AllogeneTx @AstraZeneca @IovanceBio

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

We’re excited to share that Aimee Johnson has joined PICI as Chief Marketing Officer.

A seasoned marketing leader with more than 30 years of experience, Aimee will lead brand, marketing, and digital strategy in support of PICI’s impact and growth. Her leadership will strengthen our ability to amplify our mission and accelerate the development and delivery of breakthrough cancer therapies.

Please join us in welcoming Aimee to PICI!

Read more here: https://t.co/nY8X9ZgVv7

[Friends of Cancer Research @CancerResrch]

Last chance to register! Join us Wednesday in DC or virtually for our "Unlocking Next-Generation Therapies" meeting: https://t.co/TJJgGfkPqy. This free event will bring together experts across industries to explore innovative approaches in cell therapy development.

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

Congratulations to PICI External Affairs Officer, Kristen Dahlgren, for an outstanding session at AACR last week: “From Bench to Buzz: Making Your Research Resonate for More Funding and Attention.”

Kristen joined @TuftsUniversity’s @jayeperview and @ComedyCures Foundation’s @sarannelive to lead a discussion on why, amid rising misinformation, AI-driven noise, and funding constraints, clear and compelling communication is critical to ensure groundbreaking science reaches audiences positioned to move it forward.

[Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy @parkerici]

A year after NIH funding cuts, 27% of researchers report their funding hasn’t been restored. This is not just budgets; it is the future of science, and the impact is already being felt, as @cassiemcgrath_ reports in @HealthcareBrew.

As PICI CEO @DrKarenKnudsen shared with Healthcare Brew, these funding cuts have a large impact on researchers and patients, and stall bold innovative science. PICI is working to keep progress moving by backing high-risk, high-reward science and accelerating collaboration to turn all cancers into curable diseases.

Read Cassie’s full piece here: https://t.co/WAqRKONia4