Continuing Medical Education
Accreditation Statement
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education activities for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
AACR has designated this live activity for a maximum of 18.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Credit certification for individual sessions may vary, dependent upon compliance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria. The final number of credits may vary from the maximum number indicated above.
Claiming CME Credit
Physicians and other health care professionals seeking AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM for this live continuing medical education activity must complete the online CME Request for Credit Survey by November 16, 2023. Certificates will only be issued to those who complete the survey. Your CME certificate will be sent to you via email after the completion of the activity.
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 18.25 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
Through an agreement between the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, medical practitioners participating in the Royal College MOC Program may record completion of accredited activities registered under the ACCME’s “CME in Support of MOC” program in Section 3 of the Royal College’s MOC Program.
To receive ABIM MOC, participants must request MOC in the CME Request for Credit Survey and complete all questions. Once these steps are completed, AACR will submit your completion information via the ACCME’s Program and Activity Reporting System for the purpose of granting MOC points.
Statement of Educational Need, Target Audience, and Learning Objectives
The immune system can identify and eliminate cancer cells the way it does disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. The immune system, which is made up of many different types of cells, detects foreign objects by using protein sensors on the cell surface. While the immune system is extremely effective in eliminating threats, cancer cells often develop mechanisms to hide from immune cells, escape death, and grow into a tumor. Immunotherapies utilize what we know about the immune system to fight cancer.
While there has been tremendous progress in this area, immunotherapies do not work for all patients nor are all cancers approved for treatment with specific immunotherapies. In addition, cell-based immunotherapy production is not robust, with long waiting lists for treatment access. Additional knowledge in basic immunology and the translation of that knowledge to develop new targets and therapeutics is needed to continue advancing this exciting field.
This conference will feature some of the world’s premier physician-scientists and immunologists at the leading edge of immunologic breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Bridging the gap between the advances that are underway in the lab and their application to clinical practice is a key driver behind the selection of the sessions and speakers.
Only through a thorough understanding of the basic immunological science behind these new technologies and collaboration between basic scientists, translational researchers, and practicing oncologists can new treatments be developed. For physicians to best aid patients, they must have a solid and current understanding of the complexities of basic immunology. This conference will be of interest to practicing oncologists across all disease subspecialties, as immunotherapeutic agents are currently in clinical trials or approved for many cancer types, and many of these agents treat multiple cancer types.
Physician-scientists and practicing oncologists will leave this conference with knowledge of cancer immunology and pending therapeutic advancements for patient benefit. The hallmark of this series is also to encourage the effective exchange of ideas between basic cancer immunologists, non-immunologists, and clinical oncologists in order to develop approaches that translate to outcomes.
After participating in this CME activity, physicians should be able to:
- Explain the impact of tumor evolution and tumor microenvironment on the immune system and current immunotherapies.
- Compare the roles of different inhibitory cells and their potential for clinical impact.
- Assess the impact of metabolic modulation on innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Identify recent advances in immune cell engineering.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
It is the policy of the AACR that the information presented at AACR CME activities will be unbiased and based on scientific evidence. To help participants make judgments about the presence of bias, AACR will provide information that Scientific Program Committee members and speakers have disclosed all financial relationships they have with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products or services used by or on patients. All of the relevant financial relationships for these individuals have been mitigated.
Acknowledgment of Financial or Other Support
The AACR gratefully acknowledges the following commercial supporters for their Professional Educational Grants:
- Novartis
- Pfizer
- Gilead
Questions about CME?
Please read our frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, contact the Office of CME at (215) 440-9300 or [email protected].