Cancer Research Institute Hosts Fifth Annual Cancer Immunotherapy Month™ in June to Celebrate Progress in Cancer Research and Patient Treatment

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to advancing scientific efforts to develop new and effective immunotherapies for all forms of cancer, announced today that it is hosting its fifth annual Cancer Immunotherapy Month™ in June. The multimedia campaign featuring videos, webinars, and other programming aims to reach more than 5 million people to increase awareness of cancer immunotherapy, clinical trials, and the need for more research funding.

“Advances in immunotherapy research have brought us to a tipping point in the transformation of cancer treatment,” said Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, CEO and director of scientific affairs at the Cancer Research Institute. “But these advances have created an urgent need to equip cancer patients and their caregivers with knowledge about immunotherapy so that they can make the most informed decisions when discussing their treatment options with their oncologists.”

The FDA has approved cancer immunotherapies for a growing number of cancer types, and more approvals are on the horizon. CRI experts believe that immunotherapy is poised to become a central part of the standard-of-care for most, if not all, cancers.

Important highlights of Cancer Immunotherapy Month include:

Educational Videos about Immunotherapy

• Immunotherapy Patient Stories. Meet patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, glioblastoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, and prostate cancer, who share their experiences with immunotherapy and clinical trials.
• Ask a Scientist. In this series of five short videos, Michael A. Postow, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will answer questions patients frequently ask about cancer immunotherapy clinical trials.

Webinar: Patient Perspectives on Immunotherapy Clinical Trials

• Cancer Immunotherapy and You is a free webinar series designed to help patients learn more about the groundbreaking research in immunotherapy. On June 21, CRI will host a panel of three patients who will share their experiences in immunotherapy clinical trials and answer questions submitted by live viewers. Register this free webinar at cancerresearch.org/webinars.

Immunotherapy Fact of the Day

• Each day in June, CRI will publish one new fact about cancer immunotherapy research and progress in treatment. The shareable social media content aims to introduce the public to key concepts of cancer immunotherapy.

Answer to Cancer Event

• On June 10, 2017, the Cancer Research Institute will host the second annual Answer to Cancer sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The awareness and fundraising event offers cyclists multiple distance options through scenic and hilly terrain in New York’s Lower Hudson Valley, and features a 5K run/walk through the historic U.S. Military Academy at West Point. To ride, walk, run, volunteer, or donate, go to a2c.org.

#WearWhite Day

• On Friday, June 16, #WearWhite Day participants world over will wear white and express their support of cancer immunotherapy research on social media using the hashtag #WearWhite.

The Cancer Research Institute would like to thank the following generous sponsors of Cancer Immunotherapy Month:

• Gold Sponsors: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech; Silver Sponsors: Abbvie, Advaxis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; Bronze Sponsors: Juno Therapeutics, Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), PPD, Inc.  

The Cancer Research Institute would also like to thank the following generous sponsors of CRI’s Answer to Cancer cycling event:

• Sponsored by: Bristol-Myers Squibb; Supporting Sponsors: Agenus Inc, Basin Holdings, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP, Mitsubishi UFG Securities, PIMCO Foundation, Remedy Partners
• Special thanks to: Andy’s Diner, Brooklyn Brewery, The Center of Highland Falls, Inc., Ermirio’s Italian Restaurant, Hudson Valley Barbeque, Hudson Valley Harvest, Marriott Marquis New York, Pied Piper Pies, Rotary Club of West Point-Highland Falls, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, Target, USA Cycling, VBT Bicycling, Walking Vacations

About the Cancer Research Institute
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), established in 1953, is the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to transforming cancer patient care by advancing scientific efforts to develop new and effective immune system-based strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat, and eventually cure all cancers. Guided by a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Council that includes three Nobel laureates and 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, CRI has invested $344 million in support of research conducted by immunologists and tumor immunologists at the world’s leading medical centers and universities, and has contributed to many of the key scientific advances that demonstrate the potential for immunotherapy to change the face of cancer treatment. To learn more, go to cancerresearch.org or to see the full roster of Cancer Immunotherapy Month programs, go to cancerresearch.org/june.