The Learning Institute

Overview

The BioCanRx-Cancer Stakeholder Alliance Learning Institute brings together leaders from oncology patient communities and academic scholars from the immunotherapy research community to engage in interactive and collaborative knowledge exchange activities at the annual Summit for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Academic and Patient Scholars use their unique perspectives and knowledge in discussions about advances in immuno-oncology research and the importance of the engagement of patients and the public. Scholars will build networks with each other and the larger community to deepen their understanding of knowledge translation and the importance of strong patient-researcher partnerships and dialogue.

Academic and Patient Scholars engage with one another and the broader BioCanRx network through pre-summit virtual webinars, attendance at the Summit4CI conference, and the co-creation of the Learning Institute Dissemination report.

The Learning Institute objectives are:

  • To create a model of learning that encourages, supports and creates the integration of patient leaders into the scientific conference,
  • To highlight the patient/caregiver perspective to ensure cancer research is well informed by the patient voice and lived experience, and
  • To ensure that scientific research presented at the conference is translated to patient participants in an understandable way so that it can be shared with interested partners.

The Learning Institute consists of five main components:

  • Pre-Summit training to learn about basic cancer biology and immunotherapy, as well as strategies in science communication
  • A “buddy system”, where Patient Scholars are paired with Academic Scholars for the duration of the program
  • A series of high-energy knowledge exchange sessions where groups discuss and present key takeaways from the day’s talks
  • A patient-researcher roundtable where LI participants engage with BioCanRx funded investigators about ongoing research projects
  • The creation of a community dissemination report, co-authored by LI participants

Participants are given a workbook and assigned notetaking for the various plenaries, talks and events at the Summit for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Learning Institute 2025

Applications are now closed for the 2025 program.

All applicants will be informed of their application status in the coming weeks.

If you have additional questions regarding this year’s program, please contact Mackenzie Huckvale ([email protected])

Learning Institute Glossary

Academic Scholar

– a highly qualified personnel (HQP) working or studying in the cancer immunotherapy field, which includes students, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and others engaged in research.

Dissemination report

– a report co-authored by Learning Institute Patient and Academic scholars that aims to provide the key take-aways from the talks and topics of the conference to the wider community.

Knowledge Exchange Sessions

– a session in which Patient and Academic scholar buddies work together to summarize and present the contents of a plenary to the other Learning Institute participants.

Patient Scholar

– anyone who has lived experience with cancer, either as a patient, caregiver, or support person and has interest in becoming involved in using the patient perspective for the betterment of research.

Plenary

– a session attended by the conference goers that contains various talks and presentations from speakers all based around a common theme or concept.

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