AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology
By Darshil Jhaveri
As a fifth year Pharmacology graduate student in Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee’s lab, I had the privilege of attending my first scientific conference this past December. The Jaffee lab focuses on developing immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer. My participation in the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology would not have been possible without the financial support of Dr. Jaffee, the Department of Pharmacology, and the Graduate Student Association. Participating in a formal conference for the first time, as well as traveling to Miami, made me greatly enthusiastic for the trip.
The special conference was devoted to the topic of scientific advances in translational tumor immunology. The conference was comprehensive in the discussion of tumor immunology, ranging from basic science to detailed clinical sessions. As a chairperson for the conference, Dr. Jaffee, and her colleagues, had successfully invited several renowned scientists to give informative lectures. Personally, I liked the intimate nature of the conference, as it was limited to about 300 attendees. It provided me with excellent opportunities to meet and network with various academic and industry researchers in the field. By attending engaging and informative talks and poster sessions, I learned about the various advances in scientific techniques and research that were relevant to my thesis project. Additionally, I was able to discuss my data with esteemed and knowledgeable scientists. I greatly appreciate the advice and constructive criticism I received, both of which will help refine my future experiments.
The presence of my labmates at this conference also contributed to my great experience in Miami. Over lunches and dinners, we discussed, debated and joked about a wide variety of scientific and non-scientific topics, most of which were enjoyable and entertaining. We also visited a nearby outdoor food court that held a variety of restaurants and margarita bars and tasted a bit of Miami’s cuisine. The convenience and accessibility of staying in the same hotel that hosted the conference sessions provided us with ample opportunities to venture on short trips to explore the neighborhood or even grab a power nap during the session breaks. Overall, our hotel was very relaxing and its waterfront views very breathtaking.
Listening to anecdotes of a Venezuelan student braving deep sea diving to gather natural therapeutic weeds and observing passionate scientists engage in intense discussions - these memories will always remind me of the adventurous and educational experience I had in Miami.
The special conference was devoted to the topic of scientific advances in translational tumor immunology. The conference was comprehensive in the discussion of tumor immunology, ranging from basic science to detailed clinical sessions. As a chairperson for the conference, Dr. Jaffee, and her colleagues, had successfully invited several renowned scientists to give informative lectures. Personally, I liked the intimate nature of the conference, as it was limited to about 300 attendees. It provided me with excellent opportunities to meet and network with various academic and industry researchers in the field. By attending engaging and informative talks and poster sessions, I learned about the various advances in scientific techniques and research that were relevant to my thesis project. Additionally, I was able to discuss my data with esteemed and knowledgeable scientists. I greatly appreciate the advice and constructive criticism I received, both of which will help refine my future experiments.
The presence of my labmates at this conference also contributed to my great experience in Miami. Over lunches and dinners, we discussed, debated and joked about a wide variety of scientific and non-scientific topics, most of which were enjoyable and entertaining. We also visited a nearby outdoor food court that held a variety of restaurants and margarita bars and tasted a bit of Miami’s cuisine. The convenience and accessibility of staying in the same hotel that hosted the conference sessions provided us with ample opportunities to venture on short trips to explore the neighborhood or even grab a power nap during the session breaks. Overall, our hotel was very relaxing and its waterfront views very breathtaking.
Listening to anecdotes of a Venezuelan student braving deep sea diving to gather natural therapeutic weeds and observing passionate scientists engage in intense discussions - these memories will always remind me of the adventurous and educational experience I had in Miami.