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Annual Scientific Retreat Agenda

Case Western Reserve University Case Comprehensive Cancer Center invites you to the Annual Scientific Retreat 2026: From Cancer Prevention to Survivorship Through High-Impact Research. When: September 29, 2:00-5:30 pm and September 30, 7:30 am-5:00 pm. Where: Tinkham Veale University Center.

Day 1: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026
2–5:30 p.m. ET

Tinkham Veale University Center

2-2:05 p.m.

INTRODUCTION
Rebecca Obeng, MD, PhD and Monica Wagner, PhD, RN
Co-Chairs, Annual Scientific Retreat Organizing Committee, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC)

2:05–2:25 p.m.YEAR OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Gary Schwartz, MD
Director, Case CCC
2:30 p.m.TED TALK SESSIONS
2:30–2:50 p.m.

Waverly Willis
Owner/Operator Urban Kutz Barbershop and Member of Case CCC Community Advisory Board

2:50–3:10 p.m.Gregory Hall, MD
Founder & Board Chairman, National Institute for African American Health, Medical Director, Cutler Center for Men – University Hospitals of Cleveland
3:10–3:30 p.m.Honey Bell Bey 
Cuyahoga County Poet Laureate, Poet/Activist and Founder of The Distinguished Gentleman of the Spoken Word
3:30–3:40 p.m.

POSTER TRANSITION

3:40-5:30 POSTER SESSION AND RECEPTION

Day 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2025
7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET

Tinkham Veale University Center

7:30 a.m.BREAKFAST
8–8:10 a.m.WELCOME REMARKS
Rebecca Obeng, MD, PhD and Monica Wagner, PhD, RN
8:10–8:30 a.m.INTRODUCTION, VISION, AND STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Gary Schwartz, MD
Director, Case CCC
8:30–8:45 a.m.SESSION I: Tumor Host Interactions
MODERATORS: Daniel McGrail, PhD and Kristen VanHeyst, DO
8:45–9:05 a.m.Li Lilly Wang, PhD
Member, Immune Oncology Program
Cleveland Clinic 
9:05–9:25 a.m.Chris Hubert, PhD
Member, Molecular Oncology Program 
Case Western Reserve University
9:25–9:45 a.m.Evi Stavrou, MD 
Member, Molecular Oncology Program 
Case Western Reserve University
9:45–9:55 a.m.HER3 inhibition sensitizes metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer to immunotherapy
Chao Wei, PhD 
Postdoctoral Scholar
Wang Lab 
Case Western Reserve University
9:55–10:05 a.m.PANEL DISCUSSION/QUESTIONS
10:05–10:20 a.m.BREAK
10:20–10:25 a.m.SESSION II: Novel Therapeutics 
MODERATORS: Melissa Lumish, MD and Drew Adams, PhD 
10:25–10:45 a.m.Agata Exner, PhD
Program Leader, Cander Imaging Program
Case Western Reserve University
10:45–11:05 a.m.Shawn Stauffer, PhD
Member, Developmental Therapeutics Program 
Cleveland Clinic 
11:05–11:25 a.m.Rui Wang, PhD
Member, Molecular Oncology
Case Western Reserve University
11:25–11:35 a.m.Structure-Guided Development of Selective SLC1A1/EAAT3 Inhibitors Targeting Renal Cancer Metabolism
Pooneh Koochaki, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow 
Chakraborty Lab
Cleveland Clinic 
11:35–11:45 a.m.PANEL DISCUSSION/QUESTIONS
11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.

LUNCH/PROGRAM BREAKOUT ROOMS

  • Developmental Therapeutics (DT) Rm: TBA
  • Molecular Oncology (MO) Rm: TBA
  • Population & Cancer Prevention (PCP) Rm: TBA
  • Immune Oncology (IO) Rm: TBA
  • Cancer Genomics (CG) Rm: TBA
  • Cancer Imaging (CI) Rm: TBA
  • Trainees/Keynote Rm: Ballroom A
1-1:15 p.m.BREAK
1:15–1:20 p.m.INTRODUCTION TO KEYNOTE ADDRESS
1:20–2:20 p.m.KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Deciphering and targeting clonal evolution
Ross Levine, MD
Chief Scientific Officer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2:20–2:30 p.m.BREAK
2:30–2:35 p.m.SESSION III: Genetics and Clinical Outcomes
MODERATOR: Jacob Miller, MD and Madelyn Stevens, MD
2:35–2:55 p.m.Richa Sharma, MD
Member, Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Program
Cleveland Clinic
2:55–3:15 p.m.Jonathan Shoag, MD
Member, Population and Cancer Prevention Program
Case Western Reserve University
3:15–3:35 p.m.Seth Rotz, MD
Member, Population and Cancer Prevention Program
Cleveland Clinic
3:35–3:45 p.m.Radiation-Induced HER2 Upregulation Sensitizes HER2-Low Breast Cancer Brain Metastases to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan
Qing Li, MD, PhD
Resident 
Miller Lab
University Hospitals 
3:45–3:55 p.m.PANEL DISCUSSION/QUESTIONS
3:55–4:10 p.m.

POSTER AWARDS 
Damian Junk, PhD and Gary Schwartz, MD

CONCLUDING REMARKS
Rebecca Obeng, MD, PhD and Monica Wagner, PhD, RN

4:10–4:30 p.m.PROGRAM LEADERS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (CLOSED SESSION)