Anschutz Health Sciences Building. Photo courtesy of ZGF Architects © Connie Zhou
University of Colorado Anschutz
Cancer Center
Scientific Retreat
Friday, November 20th, 2026
University of Colorado Anschutz
At the Don Elliman Conference Center, located on the 2nd floor of the Anschutz Health Science Building (AHSB)
18900 N Revere Ct,
Advance Career Research
Shape Strategic Vision
Turn Discovery Into Impact
Featuring Keynote Speaker
Razelle Kurzrock, MD, FACP
Director of the Center for Precision Oncology and Rare Cancers, Professor of Medicine and Chair of Precision Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center
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Coming soon!
2026 Cancer Center Scientific Retreat Speakers
Featured Speaker
Razelle Kurzrock, MD, FACP
Director of the Center for Precision Oncology and Rare Cancers, Professor of Medicine and Chair of Precision Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center
Dr. Kurzrock is a world-renowned leader in precision oncology and research on rare cancers. She is the Associate Director of Clinical Research for the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Associate Director of Precision Oncology at the Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, and the founding director of the Michels Rare Cancers Research Laboratories at the MCW Cancer Center. She is recognized as one of the world’s 25 most important voices in precision medicine and one of the most highly cited scientists globally. She has authored over 950 scientific and medical publications. Dr. Kurzrock is the Chair of the Early Therapeutics and Rare Cancers Committee (SWOG NCI) — one of the largest clinical trials cooperative groups in the country — and has been the principal investigator for more than 100 early-phase clinical trials, leading to the FDA approval of eight life-changing drugs. In 2022, Dr. Kurzrock and the DART rare cancer study team received the National Cancer Institute Director’s Award of Merit for outstanding work.
Call for Abstracts
You and members of your lab are invited to submit abstracts for consideration for oral and poster presentations at the University of Colorado Cancer Center’s Scientific Retreat on November 20, 2026.
This event brings together investigators, trainees, clinicians, and research staff to highlight scientific advances, spark new collaborations, and align our collective work with the Cancer Center’s strategic priorities.
Retreat Theme: Advancing Our Strategic Vision
This year’s retreat is structured around the latest scientific advances made by Cancer Center members and how the Center’s strategic plan aligns with research being conducted in members’ labs.
The Cancer Center’s strategic plan emphasizes five core scientific foci:
1. Structural, Molecular, and Cellular Biology
Investigate chromatin biology, epigenetic regulation, and genome stability | Define mechanisms governing telomer function and genome integrity | Develop RNA-based approaches for understanding and treating cancer
2. Cancer Evolution from Initiation through Metastatic Spread
Characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer initiation and cell fate decisions | Identify pathways driving tumor progression and metastatic spread | Determine how aging, obesity, hormones, and other host factors influence cancer evolution
3. Therapeutic Resistance
Identify mechanisms of resistance to cancer therapies | Develop novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or overcome treatment resistance | Translate discoveries into improved therapies or catchment area priority cancers
4. Immunotherapy
Define how the tumor microenvironment and host factors regulate anti-tumor immunity | Harness immunomodulators and the microbiome to enhance immune responses | Engineer next-generation cellular immunotherapies
5. Cancer Interception and Survivorship
Develop and investigate new interception targets | Design behavioral, supportive and palliative care interventions to improve survivorship | Leverage health services and implementation science approaches to improve equitable cancer care delivery
Abstracts should reflect one or more of these strategic areas, with priority given to work that demonstrates:
Recent new scientific impact or innovation
Cross program collaborations
Advances in translational potential
Innovation in efforts to address unmet clinical or population needs
Leverage of Cancer Center supported shared resources and emerging technologies
Submitted abstracts will be considered for main‑room oral presentations, concurrent targeted discussion sessions, and the poster session.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Abstract length: 30 line maximum (based on an 8.5x11 page with ½ margins)
Format: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions (or equivalent for early‑stage projects).
Eligibility: Full, Mentored, Affiliate, and Clinical Cancer Center members along with the trainees, fellows, and research staff working in Cancer Center member labs/research programs.
Abstract Submission
Important Dates
Abstract submission deadline: September 14, 2026, 5:00 pm
Notification of acceptance: October 21, 2026
Retreat date: November 20, 2026
New This Year: Keynote Panel Discussion – Future of Cancer Clinical Trials
Our Keynote Speaker is Razelle Kurzrock, MD, FACP
Google Scholar | N-of-1 Patient Centric Clinical Trials
Following the keynote address, we will host an expanded panel discussion featuring Dr. Kurzrock, clinical trial leaders, and others engaged in driving laboratory research into human applications through investigator-initiated clinical trials.
To enrich this session and ensure it reflects the interests of our research community, we invite retreat participants to submit questions for the panel.
Questions should be limited to the panel discussion topic: Future of Cancer Clinical Trials.
Some topic areas to consider:
Barriers and opportunities in clinical trial design or accrual
Translational pathways from discovery to implementation
Emerging technologies or methodologies
Broader issues in cancer research strategy and collaboration
More info to come
Conference Location
The conference will held be at the University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado, in the Don Elliman Conference Center, located on the 2nd floor of Anschutz Health Science Building (AHSB).
Conference Parking
Parking will be available for all attendees in the Vail, Breckenridge, Snowmass or Aspen lots.
Conference Entrance
Enter the building through the west entrance. From past the security desk, you will make a left to take the elevator to the second floor. If you want to take the stairs, after the security desk, make a right and use the main staircase.