Speaker Profile
PMWC PIONEER AWARD
Led foundational PD-1/PD-L1 clinical research
M.D., Professor, Johns Hopkins U.
Biography
Dr. Topalian is a physician scientist whose studies of programmed death 1 (PD 1) blockade established immune checkpoint inhibition as a new pillar of oncology. Her work demonstrated durable tumor regressions across multiple malignancies and laid the clinical foundation for todays PD 1PD L1 inhibitors, now approved in more than 20 cancer types. She also co-led the development of the PD-L1 IHC and MSI-high biomarkers. An author of over 180 peer reviewed publications and one of the most highly cited biomedical researchers, she continues to lead trials of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade and biomarker driven treatment combinations. Recognition for her contributions includes Natures 10 (2014), ASCOs David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award (2015), the Taubman Prize (2016), the NCI Rosalind E. Franklin Award (2018), and the AAMC Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences (2021). Dr. Topalian was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2017 and to the AACR and SITC Academies in 2022.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair: Ira Mellman, Medici Therapeutics
PMWC Award Ceremony
• Jedd D. Wolchok, Weill Cornell Medicine
• Suzanne Topalian, Johns Hopkins
• Levi Garraway, Roche
Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) in Practice: Biomarkers & Combos
• Chair: Ira Mellman, Medici Therapeutics
• Dmitry Gabrilovich, AstraZeneca
Immunotherapy with Personalized Cancer Vaccines: Who, When, How Fast?
• Chair: Suzanne Topalian, Johns Hopkins
• Tal Zaks, Orbimed
• Lelia Delamarre, Genentech
ADCs in the Checkpoint Era: Who Benefits, What to Combine, What to Avoid
• Chair: Shreya Badhrinarayanan, Pfizer
• S. Peter Kang, Daiichi Sankyo
Strategic IP Management in Cell and Gene Therapy: Navigating Legal and Practical Challenges
• Janet Xiao, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Checkpoint 2.0 in Practice: PD-1+VEGF Wins, Resistance Salvage & Biomarker Gates
• Chair: Jedd D. Wolchok, Weill Cornell Medicine
Future Breakthroughs in Immuno-Oncology: New Targets, Modalities & Biomarker Decision Gates
• Chair: Levi Garraway, Roche
