The 11th Annual Midwest Tumor Microenvironment Conference 05/18/2026-05/20/2026

We request partial funding to support the 11th Annual Midwest Tumor Microenvironment conference to be held at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee, WI on May 18-20, 2026. The 11th annual meeting will be the first time the conference will be held at MCW, a leading R1-level academic medical center and biomedical research institution serving southeastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Inaugurated in 2015, the Midwest Tumor Microenvironment conference remains the only tumor microenvironment focused research conference in the Midwest region. Over the years this specialized gathering has established a reputation as a highly valued forum for advancing and disseminating multidisciplinary scientific research in the tumor microenvironment field. The 2026 meeting will continue to emphasize the cellular and acellular stromal and immune components that comprise the tumor microenvironment and the mechanisms by which those components influence cancer growth, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response or resistance. The program format features an equal mix of invited speakers and presenters selected from submitted abstracts, with an emphasis on broad representation of speakers across institutions, disciplines, and career stages. A virtual Zoom Webinar option will be available. Approximately 160 participants are expected to attend. The meeting provides a robust forum for trainees and early-career scientists to present their research, network with their peers, and engage in meaningful collaborations. The confirmed keynote speaker is a national leader in understanding how normal breast development contributes to breast cancer risk and patient outcomes, focusing on the influence of physiology and life choices on mammary epithelial-stromal interactions in tumor progression. An interactive career development panel discussion, including a presentation on F-, K-, and R- award mechanisms by NCI program officials, rounds out the scientific program. All responsive abstracts will be accepted, and trainees and early-career investigators not selected as scientific session podium presenters will have the opportunity to present their work in one of the two poster blitz oral presentation sessions. Each of the scientific topics for the conference, as well as the career-development workshops and educational training opportunities, are of direct relevance to and firmly align with the NCI mission. Funding is requested to help defray the cost of participation by trainees and early-career investigators. We anticipate that attendees will cultivate new collaborations and that trainees will identify new mentors and collaborative partners as a result of the networking opportunities presented by the 2026 Midwest Tumor Microenvironment conference. Project Number: 1R13CA310752-01A1 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Principal Investigator: Michael Dwinell | Institution: MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN, MILWAUKEE, WI | Award Amount: $15,000 | Activity Code: R13 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 SCIL-T (80)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11388968