2026 HCC Breast Cancer Program Research Retreat
Please join us for the 2026 HCC Breast Cancer Program Research Retreat, which will focus on ctDNA.
The retreat will be held on Friday, October 9 from 11:15AM to 6:00PM at Massachusetts General Hospital, O'Keeffe Auditorium (Blake 160). We invite interested researchers from all HCC institutions, including fellows, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty, to attend. Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendees.
We also invite early-stage cancer investigators (postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and instructors) to submit abstracts highlighting breast cancer-related research focused on liquid biopsy. Selected abstracts will be featured as in-person mini oral presentations during the Research Retreat on Friday, October 9 from 2:40 to 3:40PM. Selected presenters will also receive $500 HCC Pathfinder Program Travel Awards.
We have prepared an exciting agenda, and we look forward to your participation!
Best Regards,
Arielle Medford, MD | Stefania Morganti, MD | Ilana Schlam, MD, MPH | Seth Wander, MD, PhD
2026 HCC Breast Cancer Program Research Retreat Co-Chairs
| Welcome | |
| 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | HCC Pathfinder Trainee Session (Separate Registration Required) |
| 12:00 – 12:25 PM | Lunch |
| 12:25 – 12:30 PM | Welcome and Introductions |
| Session I | |
| 12:30 – 12:45 PM Q&A 12:45 – 12:55 PM | New technologies for ultrasensitive ctDNA detection Viktor Adalsteinsson, PhD Director, Gerstner Center for Cancer Diagnostics, Broad Institute |
| 12:55 – 1:25 PM Q&A 1:25 – 1:40 PM | Keynote Lecture: Advancing Precision Oncology with ctDNA in Breast Cancer Pedram Razavi, MD, PhD Assistant Attending, Department of Medicine Director, Breast Translational Program and Breast Molecular Tumor Board Director, Liquid Biopsy and Cancer Genomics, Biomarker Development Program Director, Translational Oncology Partnership Program Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
| 1:40 – 2:10 PM Q&A 2:10 – 2:20 PM | Applications of epigenomic liquid biopsy in breast oncology and beyond Sylvan Baca, MD, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine Harvard Medical School Dana-Farber Cancer Institute |
| 2:20 – 2:35 PM | Break |
| Session II | |
| 2:35 – 2:40 PM | Introduction from Lee Nadler, MD |
| 2:40 – 3:40 PM | Mini Oral Presentations from Fellows/Junior Faculty Members (Selected from Abstract Submissions) |
| Session III | |
| 3:40 – 4:10 PM Q&A 4:10 – 4:25 PM | Keynote Lecture: Pursuing Cure in Early Stage Disease Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil Professor of Medicine Co-Leader, Genetics, Genomics and Epigenetic Program Yale Cancer Center Yale School of Medicine |
| 4:25 – 5:10 PM | Molecular Tumor Board Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil Arielle Medford, MD Stefania Morganti, MD Ilana Schlam, MD, MPH Seth Wander, MD, PhD |
| Conclusion | |
| 5:10 – 5:15 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 5:15 – 6:00 PM | Social Hour |