5th Annual Robert Steel Symposium in Developmental Oncology

The MSK Tow Center for Developmental Oncology proudly presents the Robert Steel Symposium in Developmental Oncology. Now in its fifth year, this symposium convenes leading scientists from across the country to examine the latest discoveries in the molecular mechanisms underlying cancers in children and young adults, as well as the development of innovative approaches for their treatment and control. This two-day, in-person symposium offers a unique forum to explore the genetic and epigenetic regulation of developmental processes, the molecular characterization of pediatric and young adult cancers, and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Despite significant advances, many fundamental questions remain unanswered in childhood and young adult oncology, including:

• How do normal developmental and genetic processes protect against cancer in children and young adults?

• What drives cancer development in the absence of inherited cancer-predisposing mutations or known environmental exposures, and how do genetic susceptibility and environmental factors contribute?

• Which developmental processes become dysregulated, leading to mutation and malignant transformation in otherwise healthy tissues?

• How do alterations in developmental pathways — particularly those involving transcription factors and epigenetic signaling — initiate and sustain cancer?

• How can effective therapeutics be designed to block, activate, or modulate protein interactions that regulate transcription factors and other key developmental regulators?

• How can novel targets for immunotherapy be identified in developmental tumors that harbor relatively few mutations?

This symposium provides an intimate and dynamic setting for sharing new insights that address these critical questions. The program also fosters meaningful dialogue between established investigators and early-career researchers, encouraging interdisciplinary perspectives and the generation of new research directions relevant to the biology of cancers arising in children and young adults.

Networking Reception (RSVP Required): Participants are invited to a complimentary networking reception on Monday evening at Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel (145 East 50th Street), a rooftop venue offering sweeping views of New York City. Please confirm your attendance during registration.

Target Audience: This symposium is intended for scientists, physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals interested in advances in the biology and treatment of childhood cancers. Complimentary registration is available for students, trainees, and participants residing and practicing in low- and lower-middle-income countries. Please see registration details below for more information.

1. Explain biologic and developmental causes of childhood cancers
2. Review recently developed therapies for patients with childhood and young-onset cancers
3. Discuss new biologic questions in order to accelerate the development of definitive therapies for patients

Please note that this program will be held in person only; a virtual streaming option is not available.

Registration Fees:

• Physicians (MDs, PhDs, DOs): $225

• Other Healthcare Physicians: $40*

• Industry Professionals**: $400

• Students, Trainees, and Registrants in Low-and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: Complimentary (view our policy on Registration Discounts)

• MSK Employees: Complimentary

Registration Discounts: Discounted registration is available for specific groups. If eligible, you will receive further instructions and a promotion code to use during registration. View our policy on Registration Discounts for more information.

Cancellation Policy: For details on our cancellation terms, please review our Cancellation Policy.

*Certain registration rates are non-refundable. Please review the cancellation policy above for additional information.
**An industry professional is defined as any individual, irrespective of their provider type (such as MDs, PhDs, APPs, RNs, etc.) that is employed by an ineligible company. Please review our Registration Policy for Industry Professionals for more information.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC).

Symposium Director

Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD
Member, Molecular Pharmacology Program; 
Director, Tow Center for Developmental Oncology
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Symposium Co-Directors 

Andrew Kung, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lisa Roth, MD
Director of Pediatric Oncology
Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Weill Cornell Medicine
Attending Pediatrician
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Guest Faculty 

Kathrin Bernt, MD
Attending Physician, Division of Pediatric Oncology
Member, Abramson Cancer Center
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Jamie Blundell, PhD
Ursula Zoellner Professor of Cancer Research
Early Cancer Institute
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom

Kelly Goldsmith, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Co-Leader, Discovery & Developmental Therapeutics Program
Winship Cancer Center, Emory University
Atlanta, GA, USA

Rosandra Kaplan, MD
Senior Investigator, Pediatric Oncology Branch
Head, Tumor Microenvironment Section
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda, MD, USA

Markus Müschen, MD, PhD
Arthur H. and Isabel Bunker Professor of Hematology
Director, Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology
Chief, Division of Basic Science
Yale Cancer Center
New Haven, CT, USA

Elvin Wagenblast, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Oncological Sciences
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY, USA

Jinghui Zhang, PhD
Chair, Department of Computational Biology
Endowed Chair of Bioinformatics
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN, USA

Symposium Peer Reviewer 

Oriana Miltiadous, MD
Assistant Attending, Department of Pediatrics
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Symposium Planning and Support

Gabriella Casalena, PhD
Scientific Research Manager

Colleen Maher
Senior Program Manager 

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.