Advancing IO therapeutics: The convergence of novel biomarkers and combination strategies

Dr. Natalie Vokes is an Assistant Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Her research focuses on clinical cancer genomics to identify predictors of response and resistance to therapies, with a clinical focus in lung cancer.

Doug is devoted to innovating and translating novel immunotherapies to treat metastatic cancer. In his two decades at the NCI with Steve Rosenberg and Nick Restifo, his work helped to uncover the mechanisms of immune maturation, T cell-host interactions, cancer targeting, and T cell exhaustion. He was fortunate to translate this work into the clinic where he led one of the first CRISPR gene editing clinical trials in the US in neoantigen-specific TIL. Now as the Executive Director of Immuno-Oncology at AstraZeneca, he leads efforts to improve our clinical line of sight, drive back translation, and enhance data access and centricity.

Dr. Timothy Taxter is a molecular pathologist and entrepreneur with comprehensive experience in early phase technology development to drive precision medicine. He received his medical degree from University of Florida College of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years.

Dr. Calvin Chao is the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Tempus.  Previously, Dr. Chao spent thirteen years leading studies and education for the Oncotype DX Breast, Prostate, and Colon Cancer assays at Genomic Health, later acquired by Exact Sciences.  Prior to that role, he worked in various bio-pharmaceutical medical director positions at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, PDL BioPharma, TAP Pharmaceuticals, and SmithKline Beecham. In his early career, Dr. Chao practicedas a board-certified internist and hospitalist at Kaiser Permanente in California for ten years. He earned his MD from the University of Texas Medical Branch, completed his medical residency at Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, received his MBA from St. Mary’s College, California, and his BS in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley.