Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 5th Annual
EMERGING TARGETS FOR ONCOLOGY & BEYOND
Hitting the Bullseye
May 12-13, 2026
Cambridge Healthtech Institute's 5th annual Emerging Targets for Oncology & Beyond conference highlights the discovery and validation of promising new targets, as well as previously "undruggable” targets, showcasing advances in AI-driven discovery, target validation and degrader technologies. Discussions will cover innovative approaches for intracellular, excellular and glyco-epitope targeting. By bridging oncology with opportunities in autoimmune disease, inflammation and CNS disorders etc., this program offers a broad perspective on how target innovation is reshaping therapeutic pipelines across multiple indications.
Coverage will include, but is not limited to:
NOVEL TARGETS LANDSCAPE—SCREENING AND VALIDATION
- B7H3, ROR1, SEZ6, CD123, IGSF8, CCR8 as emerging therapeutic targets
- CLDN18.2, Nectin-4, PSMA, HER2 for solid tumors
- Moving from CD8 to CD4 T cells, or NK cells
- Latest targets beyond PD-1/PD-L1: LAG3 and others
TARGET DISCOVERY PLATFORMS USING AI AND OTHERS
- Identify novel epitopes through post-translational modifications and glycotopes, misfolding etc.
- AI/ML applications in target identification and patient stratification
- Angiogenesis targeting for tumors
INTRACELLULAR TARGETING—INTERNALIZATION AND MECHANISMS
- How to develop better internalization molecules
- Cell-penetrating antibodies reaching cytoplasmic and nuclear targets
- Antibody-based delivery of gene editing tools
- Targeting previously "undruggable" intracellular proteins
PROTEIN DEGRADERS—INNOVATIVE APPROACH FOR UNDRUGGABLE TARGETS
- Degraders as new payloads for ADCs with distinct MoAs and potential (e.g., PROTACs)
- Degraders as intracellular biodegrader platforms via fusion to E3 ligases
- Degraders as extracellular biodegraders through targeting of membrane-anchored E3 ligases.
- Antibody-mediated protein degraders eg: LYTACs and AbTACs
TARGETS FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, INFLAMMATION, CNS, OTHER INDICATIONS
The deadline for priority consideration is October 31, 2025.
All proposals are subject to review by session chairpersons and/or the Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure the overall quality of the conference program. Additionally, as per Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s policy, a select number of vendors and consultants who provide products and services will be offered opportunities for podium presentation slots based on a variety of Corporate Sponsorships.
Opportunities for Participation: