In this exclusive, JEM editor Xin Sun interviews field leader Dr. Georgina Long about the latest advances in immunotherapy approaches against melanoma. In this discussion, Dr. Long provides insight into the greatest challenges in tackling melanoma, both molecularly and clinically, and new strategies to defeat the disease. She also shares how lessons learned in this context might extend to many other cancer types, with the potential to guide successful treatment of a wide variety of cancers that prove resistant to current drug regimens.

Professor Georgina Long is Co-Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), and Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research at MIA and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney. She is a medical oncologist and clinician-researcher, and leads an extensive clinical trials team and laboratory at MIA, with a focus on targeted therapies and immuno-oncology in melanoma. Her translational research focus is on the molecular biology of melanoma, with a particular interest in mechanisms of drug therapy sensitivity and resistance. With an H-index of 92, she continues to publish her research in high-impact journals such as Science, Nature, New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Lancet Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Discovery.

Dr. Sun received her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Johns Hopkins University, studying the roles of RNA-binding proteins in DNA damage responses, NF-kB signaling and tumorigenesis. She then pursued her postdoctoral research in the lab of Robert Darnell at The Rockefeller University, where she studied RNA genomics in neurological disease and cancer. She joined the Journal of Experimental Medicine as a Scientific Editor in 2018.

Event Date/Time: Monday, August 17, 2:00–3:00PM ET

As part of our commitment to support and train the next generation of scientific leaders from all backgrounds, Keystone Symposia hosts Career Roundtables at selected in-person and virtual conferences. These workshops create a forum for field leaders to provide their unique perspectives on career development, professional pitfalls and the breadth of scientific opportunities available to support trainee scientists. Established researchers are chosen from a broad range of backgrounds (i.e., diverse demographics, career stages and career paths) to reflect a myriad of career paths and experiences. A panel discussion is followed by break out group sessions to enable trainees to interact with each senior scientist in a comfortable small group setting, to address specific questions, allow for mentorship and networking.