Conferences and Seminars | Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Events Calendar

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Sylvester Annual Retreat

Each year, Sylvester’s Annual Retreat gathers over 100 faculty members from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, along with numerous affiliated faculty and staff.

This year’s retreat featured various activities to encourage scientific discussions, spark new collaborations, and support strategic planning across the Cancer Center.

More than 200 Trainees participated alone during the poster session, and over 400 attended the reception and dinner.

View the event page.

Miami Leukemia Symposium

The 4th Biennial Miami Leukemia Symposium is proud to present an exciting group of world-renowned clinicians and researchers to discuss the modern management of patients with acute and chronic leukemia and the role of stem cell transplantation for these patients. This venue will provide clinicians with a forum to discuss a wide range of topics, including the genetic/epigenetic landscape of myeloid neoplasms, the clinical management of acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as the indications for transplantation in each of these diseases. The 2025 MLS will take place next April 25-27, 2025, at the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove. More information is coming soon!

Distinguished Collaboration Series

The Distinguished Collaboration Series (DCS) is a new lecture format from a team of distinguished internal speakers. The lectures focus on different aspects of the same scientific/clinical problem and explores the interrelationships between basic cancer research and clinical medicine.

Distinguished Lecture Series

Sylvester’s Distinguished Guest Lecture Series provides a forum for outstanding clinical and translational researcher guest lecturers to interact and ultimately collaborate with Sylvester faculty. The focus of the series is to bring basic science and clinical researchers together to discuss recent advances in the understanding and treatment of human cancer – a realization of the “bench to bedside” ideal. The audience is typically a mix of clinicians, clinical researchers, basic scientists, and physician scientists.

For UM faculty, staff and students who would like to view the video of these lectures, please click on the ones with (*) next to the name of the presenter.

Zubrod Memorial Lecture

The Annual Zubrod Memorial Lecture is held to honor Charles Gordon Zubrod, M.D., a devoted physician-scientist, extraordinary leader and a valued colleague who set high standards in order to create a center of excellence at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

For more information contact the Sylvester Office of Education & Training at 305-243-2287.

Eckhard Podack Memorial Symposium & Yearly Keynote Speaker Lectures

The Podack Memorial Symposium and Yearly Keynote Guest Speaker Lectures honor an extraordinary individual who was Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Eckhard Podack, MD, PhD made several seminal discoveries in the fields of immunology and cancer.

For more information contact Silvia Arguelles at sarguelles@med.miami.edu or 305-243-6694.

Junior Faculty Lecture Series

This lecture series showcases the exceptional work being done by Sylvester junior faculty members and provides a unique opportunity for informal critique and scientific discussion amongst junior and senior faculty members. Several productive collaborations have resulted from these lectures.

Learn more about this and other Faculty Development Program initiatives »

Technology Transfer and Commercialization Seminar Series

The Technology Transfer and Commercialization Seminar Series is designed to equip researchers and faculty with practical knowledge on how to protect, patent, and translate innovative ideas into real-world applications. Through expert-led sessions, the series explores intellectual property, patents, licensing, startup development, and federal funding opportunities. Our goal is to bridge the gap between academic research and industry, providing the tools and insights needed to move discoveries from the lab to the marketplace.

Precision Medicine 2026: The Best of Technology, Science and Oncology Practice

Join experts from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and leading cancer institutions for Precision Medicine 2026, a two-day symposium dedicated to advancing the integration of precision medicine into routine cancer care. Held on April 11–12, 2026 at 7:00 AM-10:00 PM, at the Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this event will bring together clinicians, researchers, patients, and advocates to explore the latest developments in cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship.
The symposium features two concurrent sessions tailored to different audiences:

The Provider Session - Advancing Precision Medicine

Session will focus on the integration of precision medicine into routine cancer care. Topics to include germline and genomic testing, multi-omics, molecular pathways, novel treatment and AI.

The Patient Session - Empowering Survivors: Living Longer, Living Better

Designed for patients and advocates, this session will highlight the role of germline and genomic testing, survivorship, clinical trials and more. Topics will include cancer prevention and treatment, lifestyle medicine and survivorship care. This unique event offers a comprehensive look at how cutting-edge science and technology are transforming cancer care—for both providers and the people they serve.

Learn more about Precision Medicine 2026 »

3rd Miami Translational and Clinical Oncology Symposium

The Translational and Clinical Oncology Program (TCO) was established in July 2022 to drive breakthrough research from laboratory discoveries to novel interventions with direct patient impact. TCO fosters collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange among investigators and projects spanning basic science to translational and clinical applications. The program serves as a platform for meaningful interactions between scientists and physicians, working at the interface of basic and clinical research to develop translational applications. Its focus is to identify biomarkers, druggable targets, and novel therapies to improve cancer outcomes—advancing the “bench to bedside” mission through integrated team science.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 3rd Miami Translational and Clinical Oncology Symposium brings this mission to life. Experience the forefront of cancer research as world-renowned scientists gather to share the latest advancements in Translational and Clinical Oncology. As South Florida's only NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sylvester is proud to host this important event on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at the Lakeside Village Expo Center – University of Miami (1280 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146). We invite clinicians, physician-scientists, basic and translational researchers, and trainees to join us for a day of knowledge exchange and collaborative opportunity. Register now to be part of this impactful symposium.

Sylvester Inter-programmatic Retreat

The Tumor Biology (TB) Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the complex biological mechanisms that drive cancer initiation, progression, and treatment resistance. With a mission to improve patient care, the program harnesses cutting-edge technologies and innovative model systems to uncover critical insights into tumor behavior and therapeutic response. The TB Program promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across Sylvester, the Miller School of Medicine, and the University of Miami. By supporting transformative research from basic discovery to clinical application, the program addresses major challenges such as therapeutic resistance and treatment failure—ultimately aiming to revolutionize cancer care and improve outcomes for patients both locally and globally. To further this mission, the Tumor Biology Program will host the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Inter-programmatic Retreat on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Room SCCC 1301.

This retreat provides a forum for Sylvester researchers to share discoveries, explore collaborative opportunities, and accelerate progress at the intersection of tumor biology and clinical impact.

The 4th Annual Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium

The 4th Annual Sylvester Cancer Survivorship Symposium, taking place October 29–30, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove in Miami, FL. This two-day event brings together survivors, healthcare providers, researchers, and stakeholders to explore the latest advances in survivorship care and science. Supportive Care Sessions on Wednesday, October 29 will focus on wellness and quality of life, with topics including advanced care planning, managing late effects of treatment, nutrition myths, music therapy, caregiving, mentorship, and expert panels designed for survivors and those who support them. On Thursday, October 30, Scientific Sessions will highlight novel research and care models in survivorship, covering areas such as rehabilitation and palliative care, frailty and aging, caregiving dynamics, stress management, technology-enabled interventions, lifestyle medicine, pediatric and AYA survivorship, AI/ML applications, and primary care integration. Join us for this impactful symposium as we work together to advance survivorship research and enhance long-term outcomes for all individuals affected by cancer.

Miami Epigenetics & Cancer Symposium

The 6th Biennial Miami Epigenetics and Cancer Symposium will take place at the Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove, on November 16 and 17, 2024.

This two-day event, organized by Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, will bring together renowned epigenetics experts who are helping to advance knowledge and new cancer therapies.

The symposium is designed for scientists at all career stages. We welcome fellows and medical students to join us. Explore various vital topics, including RNA biology, chromatin structure transcriptional regulation, and the interface between cancer and alterations in gene expression. Speakers represent prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the California Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, the University of Oxford, the Max Planck Institute, and the University of Cambridge. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with top scientists and stay at the forefront of cancer epigenetics research while immersing yourself in Miami’s vibrant culture.

For more information, visit the event page.

Global Oncology and International Programs videos

ASCO Review – 2017 University of Miami

Updates on Head & Neck Cancers – Dr. Ikpeazu
Updates on GU Cancers – Dr. Merchan
GI Tumor Update – Dr. Pimentel (in Spanish)
Lung Cancer Update – Dr. Mudad
Lymphoma/Hem Malignancies Update – Dr. Alencar
Update on Breast Cancer – Dr. Mahtani
Update on Melanoma – Dr. Feun
Update on Sarcoma – Dr. Wilky
Expert Opinions in Prostate Cancer Brazil 2017 – Dr. Lopes

ASCO 2017 Highlights

Sarcoma Update - Dr. Trent (ASCO)
GU Highlights - Dr. Merchan
Melanoma Highlights - Dr. Acquavella
Gynecology Updates - Dr. Slomovitz
Heme Malignancies and Ongoing Research at Sylvester – Dr. Nimer (ASCO)

ASH 2017 Highlights

Lymphoma Review - Dr. Alencar (ASH 2017)
ASH 2017 Highlights - Dr. Nimer (ASH 2017)
ESMO 2017 Presidential
Presidential Symposium on Lung Cancer, ESMO 2017 – Dr. Jahanzeb
Webinar with Dr. Lopes, Dr. Mudad, and Dr. Villamizar on updates in lung cancer: (this one even includes a video recording of a surgery!)
International Tumor Board on sarcoma - Dr. Trent and Dr. Wilky and Instituto Oncologico Heriberto Pieter in the Dominican Republic plus Hospital de Clinicas Porto Alegre in Brazil
Closing the Cancer Divide: Lessons from Women’s Health - Dr Felicia Knaul

Tumor Biology Symposium

The Tumor Biology Program is excited to announce its 6th Annual Tumor Biology Program Symposium. This event will bring together world-renowned “Immunity and Cancer” experts to share their knowledge and offer their insights on immunotherapy in cancer patients. More information will be available soon. Save the date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025.