The 10th Immuno-Oncology Symposium will bring together researchers and clinicians to discuss innovations shaping the future of immuno-oncology. Topics include treatment concepts such as immune engagers, cellular therapies, immune checkpoint inhibition and cutting-edge basic science approaches to understand mechanisms of action, resistance and side effects of cancer immunotherapies.
Date
6 Mar 2026
Time
08:30 - 16:50
Type
Hybrid
Location
Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich
Lecture hall
Grosser Hörsaal NORD
Program
8.30 a.m.
Welcome
Markus G. Manz, University Hospital Zurich / Tobias Weiss, University Hospital Zurich
Session 1: Immune Engagers
Markus G. Manz / Melanie Greter
8.35 a.m.
State of the art of T cell engagers and emerging next-generation cell therapies
Dario Vernetz, Principal Scientist at Roche
9.00 a.m.
Next-Generation enineering of T cell immunity
Mirco Julian Friedrich, Dr. , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
9.25 a.m.
Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages
Peter Ellmark, Professor at Lund University, CSO at Alligator Bioscience, Sweden
9.50 a.m.
Bifunctional molecule Paghocytic Synapse Enhancers (PSEs)
Goncalo J.L. Bernardes, Cambridge, United Kingdom
10.15 a.m.
Flash Talk Immune Engagers
10.20 a.m.
Coffee Break
Session 2: Mechanisms, Profiling and Basic Science Aspects of Cancer Immunotherapies
Burkhard Becher / Stefanie Kreutmair
10.40 a.m.
The Double-Edged Sword of Cancer Immunity: Escape Mechanisms and Therapy-Induced Side Effects
Robert Zeiser, Uniklinik Freiburg, Germany
11.05 a.m.
Lymphocyte Networks Orchestrating Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Sonia Tugues, PhD, Prof., Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), University of Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich
11.30 a.m.
Modeling and modulating antitumor immunity in human cancer tissues
Dr. Daniela Thommen, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
11.55 a.m.
The tumor microenvironment from a T-cell-centered view
Enrico Lugli, PhD, Humanitas Research Hospital Pieve Emanuele, Italy
12.20 p.m.
Flash Talk Mechanisms, Profiling and Basic Science Aspects
12.25 p.m.
Lunch Break
Session 3: Cellular Therapies
Tobias Weiss / Chiara Magnani
1.15 p.m.
iPSC-CAR immune cells as a novel concept for cell therapy
Maria Themeli, Amsterdam (TiPSC), The Netherlands
1.40 p.m.
Optimising CAR-T cells for improved efficacy and reduced toxicity
Prof. Magnus Essand, PhD, Uppsala University, Dept. Immunology, Genetics, Pathology, Uppsala Sweden
2.05 p.m.
Immunotherapy for brain tumors – from vaccines to TCR T cell therapy
Michael Platten, MD CCU Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany
2.30 p.m.
Current and future concepts of in vivo engineered CAR immune cells
Christian Buchholz, Prof. Dr., Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen, Germany
2.55 p.m.
Flash Talk Cellular Therapies
3.00 p.m.
Coffee Break
Session 4: Immune Checkpoint Inhibition
Andreas Wicki / Anne Müller
3.20 p.m.
Identification of a novel checkpoint for tumour immunogenicity
Sergio Quezada, University College London Cancer Institute, United Kingdom
3.45 p.m.
When self-reactivity becomes protective: autoimmunity and tumor control under checkpoint inhibitiors
Lukas Flatz, Prof. Dr. med., University Hospital Tübingen, Germany
4.10 p.m.
Current and future immune checkpoint inhibitor strategies: Combinations and novel targets
Caroline Robert, MD, PhD, Gustave Roussy and Paris Saclay University, France
4.35 p.m.
Flash Talk Immune Checkpoint Inhibition
4.40 p.m.
Wrap-Up
Markus G. Manz, University Hospital Zurich Tobias Weiss, University Hospital Zurich
Contact
CCCZ Event Management