Newswise — The 2016 joint annual meeting of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) and the Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) will feature three panel discussions focused on precision medicine, along with an update on AACI’s Academic Difference Initiative, led by AACI President George J. Weiner, MD. The meeting will run from October 23-25, in Chicago.

The precision medicine presentations will highlight the creation and management of molecular tumor boards, efforts to facilitate precision medicine collaboration, and in-house versus outsourced molecular testing.

A session entitled, "Academic Difference Initiative: Cancer Centers’ Impact on Patient Care, Research, Education, and the Local Economy", will explore how accelerating progress in cancer medicine depends on the success of academic cancer centers and the development of new models of collaboration between these centers and community oncology. As part of the first phase of the initiative, AACI has gathered evidence that demonstrates the value of academic cancer centers. The second phase of the effort will involve disseminating the gathered information.

The annual meeting program also includes a report from NCI Acting Director Douglas R. Lowy, MD, and panel discussions about operational challenges in cell therapy trials, and new and emerging genomic technologies for early detection and prevention of cancer.In addition, the 2016 AACI Distinguished Scientist awardee, James P. Allison, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, will deliver a talk entitled, “Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Therapy: New Insights, Opportunities and Prospects for a Cure”. AACI and the Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) jointly formulated the program for the 2016 AACI/CCAF Annual Meeting. More information about the meeting, including the program and electronic registration, is available on the AACI website.

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The Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) comprises 95 premier academic and freestanding cancer research centers in the U.S. and Canada. AACI is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer by enhancing the impact of the leading academic cancer centers.

The Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) provides a network for administrative professionals to exchange knowledge, expertise and share best administrative practices in National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers.