Dispatch from Seerave Retreat 2024

Earlier this month, we had the great pleasure of welcoming the Seerave network to Cascais, Portugal for the 2024 Seerave Retreat. This year’s gathering was particularly special as it brought together representatives from all parts of the Seerave network, including our fellows, principal investigators, innovators, and nonprofit leaders. 

Building on the 2023 Retreat in Amsterdam, we dedicated significant attention to how the Foundation’s work could help mitigating the impacts of antibiotics and other microbiome modifiers on cancer patients’ outcomes. Of particular significance were the discussions around the emerging evidence that antibiotic use prior to treatment might reduce overall survival rates of certain cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy by nearly fifty percent. There was consensus that these are findings with potentially staggering implications for current treatment patterns and that if addressed with updated recommendations and novel tools, offer the potential to transform patient outcomes. 

Over three dynamic days, we explored both cutting edge science and practical ways to turn new discoveries into solutions for patients. Our program included an interactive poster session showcasing Seerave Fellows’ projects, a brainstorming around Seerave’s Strategic Pillars (Data Integration, Policy & Practice, and Novel Tools), and a Principal Investigator Session where the network was updated by key opinion leaders on the latest scientific developments within the field. A dedicated session on translating the science towards patients brought everyone up to speed on some of the innovative projects that Seerave is involved in, including the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI), the Cancer Platform, the Microbiota Vault, Biomesense and Florey Biosciences. 

Beyond the formal sessions, we enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together, be it by exploring the beautiful coastal town of Cascais during morning walks along the seaside cliffs or by sharing the joys of traditional Portuguese food. 

This gathering reinforced our commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients by accelerating the development of solutions that target the microbiome and its role in immune system modulation to improve cancer outcome. The Retreat not only generated numerous opportunities for collaboration and deepened both personal and professional ties within our growing network, but most importantly, clarified the path ahead on how the Seerave network can achieve tangible impact on cancer patients in the upcoming 5 years: Beginning with antibiotics, Seerave aims to clarify how their use impacts patient outcomes, inform practical advice for clinicians and patients, and propel the development of new tools and technologies with the potential to significantly improve patients’ lives fairly soon.