RAS Initiative Symposium 2026
Mechanisms, Resistance, and New Frontiers
October 7–9, 2026
Advanced Technology Research Facility, Frederick, MD
Day 1 – Wednesday, October 7
Theme: Discovery and Therapeutic Innovation
Welcome (9:00–9:40 AM)
• Welcome and Meeting Logistics
• Symposium Overview — Frank McCormick
• Patient Advocate Perspective — Beth Stronach (RASopathies Network)
Session 1: RAS Therapeutics and Resistance Mechanisms (9:40 AM–12:15 PM)
Session Chair: Frank McCormick
9:40–10:05 — Andy Aguirre: Biological insights from targeting RAS in pancreatic cancer
10:05–10:30 — Mallika Singh: Targeting the oncogenic state of RAS with tri-complex inhibitors
10:30–10:45 — Short Talk — Jonathan A. Pachter: Preclinical rationale for combinations of the on/off KRAS G12D inhibitor VS-7375 with pan-RAS, EGFR, PRMT5 or FAK inhibitors (Abstract #85)
10:45–11:10 — Coffee break
11:10–11:35 — David Hong: RAS inhibition in the clinic: What have we learned, What are we learning, What do we need to learn?
11:35–12:00 — Karen Cichowski: Strategies for enhancing responses to RAS pathway inhibitors
12:00–12:15 — Short Talk — Matthew Whitley: Structural mechanisms underlying resistance to switch-II pocket inhibitors in KRAS (Abstract #16)
Lunch and Poster Session 1 (12:15–2:30 PM)
1:45–2:30 — RASopathies Therapeutic Roadmap Workshop (Auditorium)
Session 2: RAS Regulation and Biochemistry (2:30–5:00 PM)
Session Chair: Sophie Krahnke
2:30–3:10 — Matthew Sale: How do receptors activate RAS signaling?
3:10–3:35 — Xosé Bustelo: R-RAS2: a genetic and pharmacological view on cancer
3:35–3:50 — Short Talk — Toshiyuki Araki: SHP2 activates RAS by conformation-gated binding to SOS (Abstract #38)
3:50–4:05 — Break
4:05–4:30 — Dhirendra Simanshu: A non-catalytic mode of RasGAP regulation of RAS signaling
4:30–4:45 — Short Talk — Vinh Ton: Isoform-selective targeting of the RAF RAS-binding domain with monobodies to block oncogenic RAS signaling (Abstract #56)
4:45–5:00 — Introduction to the Proposed European RAS Initiative — Colin Lindsay
Day 2 – Thursday, October 8
Theme: Integration and Collaboration
9:00–9:10 — NCI Director Remarks — Anthony Letai
Session 3: Prevention and Immunotherapy (9:10–11:05 AM)
Session Chair: Christopher Kane
9:10–9:35 — Julian Downward: Targeting the interplay between oncogenic RAS signaling and tumor immune evasion in lung cancer
9:35–10:00 — Tyler Jacks: Lessons from pre-clinical models on response, resistance, and combination therapies with KRAS inhibitors
10:00–10:10 — Coffee/stretch break
10:10–10:35 — Laura Wood: The promise of RAS targeting for pancreatic cancer interception
10:35–10:50 — Short Talk — Rachel Lew: NRAS allele-specific differences in RAF affinity reveal a need for durable MAPK pathway suppression (Abstract #104)
10:50–11:05 — Short Talk — Ren-Wang Peng: Acquired KRAS inhibitor resistance exposes a cholesterol-dependent ferroptosis vulnerability (Abstract #23)
11:05–11:15 — Break/transition
Session 4: RAS and Other Small GTPase Signaling in Cellular and Disease Contexts (11:15 AM–1:00 PM)
Session Chair: Tommy Turbyville
11:15–11:40 — Martin McMahon: Analysis of RAS and its effector pathways in melanoma and lung cancer
11:40–12:05 — Channing Der: Unlocking RAS: combinations are the key
12:05–12:30 — David Tuveson: Targeting the resistance to RAS antagonists in PDAC
12:30–12:45 — Short Talk — Eric Seidel: Oncogenic KRAS dosage drives allele-specific selection and rapid pancreatic cancer development in vivo (Abstract #46)
12:45–1:00 — Short Talk — Erik Larsen: KRAS GTP level predicts transforming potential of oncogenic mutants (Abstract #74)
Lunch (1:00–2:00 PM)
Poster Session 2 (1:45–4:00 PM)
3:15–4:00 — European RAS Initiative Workshop
Session 5: RAS–RAF Signaling and Pathway Integration (4:00–6:00 PM)
Session Chair: Andy Stephen
4:00–4:25 — Mariano Barbacid: Therapeutic strategies against KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer
4:25–4:50 — Piro Lito: Targeting RAS: From Biochemical Mechanisms to Tumor Adaptation
4:50–5:05 — Coffee/stretch break
5:05–5:30 — Allan Balmain: Coordinated control of tumor-immune interactions by Hras and the minor Kras4A isoform
5:30–5:45 — Short Talk — Silvia Palladino: RNR selective inhibitor BBI-825 combined with RAS inhibitors prevents ecDNA-driven resistance to RAS-targeted therapies in CRC (Abstract #44)
5:45–6:00 — Short Talk — Julius Pampel: Mutant-selective covalent targeting of oncogenic KRAS(Q61H) (Abstract #58)
6:00 PM — Networking Reception
Day 3 – Friday, October 9
Theme: Future Directions
Session 6: Early Intervention Views and New Horizons in RAS Drug Discovery (9:00–10:45 AM)
Session Chair: Caroline Dehart
9:00–9:25 — Neeha Zaidi: Vaccines targeting RAS in pancreatic cancer: From treatment to cancer interception
9:25–9:40 — Short Talk — Matthew Holderfield: Discovery of a new class of mutant-targeted catalytic RAS(ON) inhibitors with retained antitumor activity in setting of emergent resistance due to elevated RAS flux (Abstract #62)
9:40–10:05 — Dwight Nissley: AI-driven simulations across multiple scales, combined with experimental validation, reveal the mechanisms underlying RAF activation
10:05–10:20 — Short Talk — David Santamaria: Mevalonate pathway inhibition potentiates targeted KRAS degradation in lung adenocarcinoma (Abstract #72)
10:20–10:45 — Kevan Shokat: Chemical strategies for targeting KRAS mutant tumors
10:45–11:15 — Break
Closing Session: Scientific Integration and Community Priorities (11:15 AM–12:15 PM)
11:15–11:25 — Summary from European RAS Initiative Workshop
11:25–11:35 — Summary from RASopathies Therapeutic Roadmap Workshop
11:35–12:05 — Future Directions for RAS Pathway 3.0
12:05–12:15 — Closing Remarks — Frank McCormick
12:15 PM — Adjourn