2025 FALL SCHOLAR RETREAT
ALEJANDRO SWEET-CORDERO, MD • CHIEF, DIVISION OF PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY AT UCSF SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
The Forbeck Foundation gathered its community of junior scientists, mentors, and cancer research leaders for the annual Fall Scholar Retreat, held October 2–5 at The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The retreat, a cornerstone of the Foundation’s Scholar Program, brought together an outstanding interdisciplinary group of investigators from institutions across the United States, Europe, and Asia — united by a shared commitment to accelerating progress against cancer. The retreat featured research presentations from sixteen Scholars, each offering a window into their latest work across a wide range of cancer biology topics. Presentations were designed to spark discussion rather than simply report results, with participants encouraged to engage in real-time dialogue — a hallmark of the Forbeck meeting format. Mentors for this year’s retreat included Kristina Cole, MD, PhD (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), Scott L. Coven, DO, MPH (Indiana University),
Lucy A. Godley, MD, PhD (Northwestern University), Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD (The Ohio State University), Alejandro Sweet- Cordero, MD (University of California, San Francisco), and Andrei Thomas-Tikhonenko, PhD (University of Pennsylvania).
Beyond the science, a rich slate of discussions addressed the broader landscape of a career in cancer research. Participants and mentors engaged in candid conversations about the role of basic versus translational biomedical research, and how both remain essential to meaningful progress in treating the disease. Collaboration — a foundational value of the Forbeck Foundation since its inception — was a recurring theme, with attendees sharing examples of how cross- disciplinary partnerships have reshaped their own research . Equally emphasized was the importance of asking the right questions and learning to identify and pursue problems that can genuinely move the cancer field forward.
Scholars also explored the human dimensions of a research career. Discussions on resilience reminded attendees that setbacks are an inevitable part of scientific research and that perseverance is as important as talent. Mentors encouraged scholars to embrace the idea that there is no single road to success, and that diverse career paths can each lead to meaningful contributions. The value of mentorship — both receiving it and eventually providing it to the next generation — emerged as a theme that resonated deeply across sessions. The group also tackled timely challenges facing the scientific community: how to adapt to the rapid pace of change in both science and academia, how to counter anti-science thinking and engage the public as effective communicators and educators, and how to thoughtfully approach the emergence of artificial intelligence as both a research tool and a force reshaping the scientific enterprise. Advocacy and public engagement were highlighted as responsibilities that scientists at all career stages are increasingly called upon to embrace.
AS ALWAYS, THE RETREAT CONCLUDED WITH THE FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL BLUE JEAN BALL, GIVING SCHOLARS A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CANCER — A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE HUMAN STAKES BEHIND EVERY DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM.
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