3rd Modeling Cancer Conference

Memo

For this Modeling Cancer conference, our focus converges on three key areas, each representing a crucial facet of the cancer research landscape. The first is the development and application of new approaches for the precise manipulation of genetic elements in mice and other animal and organoid models. The second key area is a focus on the fundamental mechanisms governing cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. This includes deciphering the elusive cell type(s)-of-origin of tumors to unravel the intricacies of tumor evolution, metabolism, and the dynamic interplay with the immune system. Deepening our understanding of the multifaceted nature of cancer also means exploring differences linked to sex or aging. The final area relates to the use of animal and organoid models in evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches, as well as the mechanisms underpinning therapeutic resistance. This conference will discuss how modeling cancer drives our fundamental understanding of the disease and how discoveries can be leveraged to chart new frontiers in medicine.