BRCA1, BRCA2 and Beyond: An Update on Hereditary Cancer
TUESDAY, APRIL 22 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025
Located at the Smilow Center for Translational Research Auditorium/Commons at Penn Medicine (enter through Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine).
This hybrid symposium is designed to educate researchers, scientists, and health care providers in cancer genetics by presenting cutting-edge data from renowned researchers and clinicians. This symposium will provide new information on progress in cancer screening and prevention, as well as ongoing work in targeted therapy for BRCA1, BRCA2 and other mutation carriers through a series of lectures and panel discussions.
Program Objective
At the completion of this symposium, attendees should be able to:
- Discuss new research on the genetic epidemiology of BRCA1/2 and other homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) genes.
- Describe current ethical, legal and social issues associated with carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation.
- Review new approaches to screening and prevention of hereditary breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancer.
- Discuss new advances in treatment for mutation
Who Should Attend
Healthcare providers including medical oncology, surgical oncology, gynecology oncology, OB-GYN, genetic counselors, primary care physicians, physician assistants and nurses/nurse practitioners who are interested in the genetics of BRCA1/2 related cancers.
Co-Organizers
- 2025 Scientific Symposium
- Ronald Drapkin, MD, PhD
Franklin Payne Associate Professor of Pathology in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Director, Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center
Director of Gynecologic Cancer Research, Basser Center for BRCA - Dana Farengo Clark, MS, MS, LCGC
Senior Genetic Counselor
Mariann & Robert MacDonald Cancer Risk Evaluation Center
Basser Center for BRCA - Adam Fredo, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Medical Oncology
Penn Medicine - Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD
J. Samuel Staub, MD, Professor, Department of Cancer Biology
Director, Penn Center for Genome Integrity (PCGI)
Director of Basic Science, Basser Center for BRCA - Mosetta Harris, CRNP
Nurse Practitioner
Rena Rowan Breast Center
Penn Medicine - Katherine Nathanson, MD
Pearl Basser Professor of BRCA-Related Research
Deputy Director, Abramson Cancer Center
Director of Genetics, Basser Center for BRCA
Penn Medicine Faculty
- 2025 Scientific Symposium
- Irfan Asangani, PhD
Associate Professor of Cancer Biology
Associate Investigator, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Core Member, Penn Epigenetics Institute - Jacqueline Cappadocia, MS, LCGC
Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor
University of Pennsylvania
Cancer Risk Evaluation Program - Bryson Katona, MD, PhD, AGAF, CGAF
Jeffery and Cynthia King Assistant Professor of Lynch Syndrome Research
Director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Program
President, CGA-IGC
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Kara Maxwell, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine and Genetics
Men & BRCA Program Director
Staff Physician, Corporal Michael Crescenz VA Medical Center - Jacquelyn Powers, MS, LCGC
Associate Director of Genetic Counseling
Cancer Service Line
Guest Speakers
- 2025 Scientific Symposium
- Professor Rob Bristow, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FMedSci
Director, Manchester Cancer Research Centre
Director, CRUK Manchester Centre
Senior Group Leader, Translational Oncogenomics, CRUK Manchester Institute
Chief Academic Officer & Honorary Consultant, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
University Professor of Cancer Studies, The University of Manchester - Gareth Evans, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCOG
BRCA Impact Award Recipient
Professor of Medical Genetics
Manchester Breast Centre - Maria Jasin, PhD
Professor and Member, Developmental Biology Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Professor, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University - Salma Kaochar, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine - Titia de Lange, PhD
Leon Hess Professor
American Cancer Society Professor
Head of Laboratory Cell Biology & Genetics
Director, Anderson Center for Cancer Research
The Rockefeller University - Constance Lehman, MD, PhD
Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School,
Chief of Breast Imaging and Co-Director AVON Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
Massachusetts General Hospital - Alvaro N. Monteiro, PhD
Senior Member
Cancer Epidemiology Program
Division of Population Sciences
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute - Maggie Mullen, MD
Assistant Professor Gynecologic Oncology
Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Tissue Bank
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Trevor Pugh, PhD, FACMG
Canada Research Chair in Translational Genomics
Senior Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Director, Genomics Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto - Sonja A. Rasmussen, MD, MS
Professor of Genetic Medicine
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - Mark Robson, MD
Chief, Breast Medicine Service
Clinic Director, Clinical Genetics Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Douglas Stewart, MD
Senior Investigator
National Cancer Institute - Patrick Sung, DPhil
Director, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio - Victor Velculescu, MD, PhD
Co-Director of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
Professor of Oncology, Pathology, Medicine, and Genetic Medicine
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Heather Zierhut, PhD, MS, CGC
Director of Genetic Counseling Program
Associate Professor
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
University of Minnesota
Registration Information
This conference is FREE but we strongly recommend registration. Registration is required for continuing education credits.
Visitor Information
Abstract Submissions
Submit an abstract for the 2025 Scientific Symposium Poster Session.
The Poster Session will take place on Day 1 of the Scientific Symposium on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Case Study Submissions
If you have an interesting or challenging case for review during our case panel discussion, please submit a de-identified pedigree in PDF format by Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (instructions below). We will contact you for more information as needed if the case is selected for review. The Case Panel will take place on Day 1 of the Scientific Symposium on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Submission Instructions:
- Send an email to basserinfo@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with the automatic subject line: Symposium Case Review.
- Please include your name, title, and institution in your email.
- Submit you case study by attaching a de-identified pedigree in PDF format.
Contact Us
We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
If you have any questions or comments, please use this form to contact us directly or call 215.662.4348.