Immunotherapy Workgroup

Fight CRC’s Immunotherapy Workgroup is committed to moving immunotherapy forward by evaluating and identifying gaps in translational and clinical research, following the path of the science, and advising research.

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The Fight CRC Immunotherapy Workgroup was convened after the family of Gordon Cole, colorectal cancer survivor, Fight CRC board member and founder, donated a legacy gift in his memory. Fight CRC works closely with this group to discuss priorities for projects and funding to advance immunotherapy science.

The National Cancer Institute defines immunotherapy as:

“A type of biological therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.”

National Cancer Institute

A Blueprint to Advance Colorectal Cancer Immunotherapy

In 2017, the Immunotherapy Workgroup created a plan for follow-up discussions after their initial meetings and authored a blueprint. Dr. Al Benson, one of the co-chairs on the project, presented a preview of the blueprint at the 2016 American Association of Cancer Research Meeting.

In September 2017, the blueprint was accepted for publication by the Cancer Immunology Research Journal and published in its November 2017 issue.

Read the Fact Sheet detailing the blueprint and what it means for patients

Meet the Immunotherapy Workgroup Members

Dr. Al B. Benson, III
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Dr. Aimee Murphy
Audro Biotech

Dr. Emily Chan
Vanderbilt University Ingram Cancer Center

Dr. Dustin Deming
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Dr. Luis Diaz
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Franck Housseau
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. S. Peter Kang
Merck

Dr. Smitha Krishnamurthi
Case Western University

Dr. Dung T. Le
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Wells Messersmith
University of Colorado

Dr. Cynthia L. Sears
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Neil Segal
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dr. Arvin Yang
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Dr. Rebecca Moss
Bristol-Myers Squibb

Dr. Edward Cha
Genentech

Dr. Tom Marsilje †
Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation

Dr. Michael Morse
Duke Cancer Institute

Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee
Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Dr. Stanley Hamilton
MD Anderson

Dr. Christopher Lieu
University of Colorado

Dr. Arthur Brodsky
Cancer Research Institute

Cindy York
James Cancer Center Ohio State University

Dr. Christopher Heery
National Institute of Health (NIH)

Dr. Richard M. Goldberg
James Cancer Center Ohio State University

Dr. Vanessa Lucy
Cancer Research Institute

Dr. Wolf Fridman
INSERM

Dr. Jill O’Donnell-Tormey
Cancer Research Institute

Nancy Roach
Fight Colorectal Cancer

Andrea (Andi) Dwyer
Fight CRC/University of Colorado

Anjee Davis
Fight Colorectal Cancer

Keavy McAbee
Fight Colorectal Cancer

Sharyn Worrall
Fight Colorectal Cancer