Program

The topic of the 46th Annual Symposium on June 27–30, 2027 in Denver, CO, is “The Pathobiology of Neoplasia from Cause to Cure.” Themes encompass cancer biology and mechanisms, cancer therapeutics and their safety assessment, as well as carcinogenicity risk assessment. Sessions will provide an overview of the latest scientific understanding of mechanisms of neoplasia as well as practical content for the toxicologic pathologists involved in risk assessment to include weight of evidence assessments and regulatory perspectives.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Heide Ford, PhD to deliver the Keynote address. Dr. Ford is Professor and Colorado University Medicine Endowed Chair in Pharmacology with considerable experience in the field of drug discovery and cancer research using innovative gene therapy to minimize drug-related toxicity with pathology assessment in animal models. This will set the stage for sessions addressing novel cancer therapeutics and toxicity, as well as new methods for addressing carcinogenicity assessment.

The first scientific session co-chaired by Drs. Dinesh Bangari BVSc, MVSc, MS, PhD, DACVP and Anoop Kavirayani BVSc, DACVP will focus on cancer biology and mechanisms, including talks on novel targets, translational cancer biology, and case studies in anatomic and clinical pathology. In the afternoon session chaired by Drs. Elizabeth Clark, DVM, PhD, DACVP and Famke Aeffner DVM, PhD, DACVP, DABT, IATP speakers will share talks on various novel cancer therapeutics ranging from novel antibody-drug payloads to in vivo animal models and leveraging ‘omics in drug discovery. The session on Tuesday will be chaired by Drs. Aaron Sargeant DVM, PhD, DACVP and Daher Ibrahim Aibo DVM, PhD, DACVP and discuss safety assessment of oncology therapeutics such as CAR-T, B-cell depleters, targeted protein degraders, and radioligands.

The Wednesday morning session chaired by Drs. Arun Pandiri BVSc & AH, MS, PhD and Thomas Nolte DVM, PhD will focus on new approaches for carcinogenicity risk assessment and include topics such as integration of molecular data for hazard identification, and experience with weight-of-evidence approaches from the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries and government. The afternoon session chaired by Drs. David Garcia-Tapia DVM, MS, PhD, DABT, DACVP and Marie Bockenstedt DVM, PhD, DACVP, DABT will discuss the role of rodent carcinogenicity studies include study designs, rodent strains, as well as recommendations for carcinogenicity strategies across different therapeutic modalities.

The 2027 STP Annual Symposium will provide discussions on exciting new discoveries in the study of cancer and development of therapeutics while equipping the toxicologist pathologist with practical tools for carcinogenicity assessment. In addition to the scientific sessions, there will be opportunities to obtain continuing education, browse poster presentations, attend a mystery slide session, and more. Hoping you join us in Denver!