ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Epigenetic Mechanisms and the Treatment
of Cancer, organized by Drs. Tony Kouzarides, Rab Prinjha and Marisa Bartolomei. The conference will be
held in Santa Fe, New Mexico from February 4 - 7, 2024.
This Keystone Symposia Epigenetics conference will highlight the latest advances in the understanding of
epigenetic drivers in cancer and relate this to the current epigenetic treatments of the disease. One unique
and compelling aspect of this conference will be the intersection of academia and industry. Academic
presenters will highlight basic research into epigenetic pathways of cancer (i.e., what are the drivers; how they
work; how does diet or the environment affect inheritance, susceptibility and mutation accumulation; what are
epigenetic mechanism of cancer resistance, metastasis, and tumor plasticity). Industry speakers will relate
their latest efforts to target cancer in a personalized manner, and report on emerging developments in anti-
cancer therapies currently heading to or in the clinic. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on examples
where academics/clinicians have taken their research towards the clinic, through collaborations with
pharmaceutical and biotech companies. It is anticipated that this conference will provide an opportunity for
academic, clinical and industry scientists to meet and collaborate. In addition, young investigators will have the
opportunity to learn how basic research is converted into concrete treatments for cancer patients, reinforcing
the advantage of thinking about patient benefit and industrial partnering in their research. Finally, in order to
help facilitate their career choices, there will be workshops with panelists from academia and industry reflecting
on their choices and experiences, as well as a panel on women in science.