Allison, chair of Immunology and executive director of the Immunotherapy Platform at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, was awarded the Nobel Prize for establishing that our immune systems can be stimulated to launch an effective attack against tumor cells. He helped develop the drug ipilimumab (Yerevoy®), which is proven to improve survival in many cancers including kidney, melanoma, lung, bladder and colorectal.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Allison to IKCS 2021,” said Dr. Christopher G. Wood, Chair of the KCA’s Board of Directors and a surgeon and professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Jim’s discoveries over his career are foundational to how we treat kidney cancer today and how the field will advance in the future. It is fitting that we hear from him now as we’re poised again on the verge of a whole new wave of possibilities for the kidney cancer community and I’m very excited he will be sharing his perspectives with us.”IKCS 2021 will take place in Austin, Texas on November 5-6 as a hybrid event to accommodate attendees both in-person and virtually.
“After a year of holding virtual events, we’re excited at the prospect of gathering safely once again to learn, share, and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy each other’s company,” said Gretchen E. Vaughan, KCA’s President and CEO. “We’re truly grateful for Dr. Allison to bring his excellence in the basics of cancer science to bear on the broad translational focus of the IKCS 2021 program, which should illuminate the significant impacts researchers are making on how people with kidney cancer are treated.”
In addition to his research accolades, Allison is a talented musician. He and his band the CheckMates – a group of MD Anderson-based musicians – will perform at IKCS 2021 to commemorate and celebrate the return to in-person meetings.
Source: "Nobel Winner Dr. James P. “Jim” Allison To Give Keynote Address At IKCS 2021 - Kidney Cancer Association". 2021. Kidney Cancer Association.