Abstract: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (CII) The overarching mission of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (CII) Program is to discover, validate and implement new molecular and cellular immune agents and novel combination immunotherapies for the immune-based treatment and prevention of human cancers. CII members work to realize the program mission through three specific aims: (a) define the basic regulatory mechanisms that promote anti-tumor immunity or facilitate tumor immune evasion; (b) dissect the epigenetic, transcriptional and cellular geography of the tumor immune microenvironment to discover new immunotherapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers; and (c) develop and translate novel laboratory research findings into more effective immunotherapies for cancer treatment and prevention. Three themes holistically integrate research conducted under the these aims, and include (1) immunoregulatory mechanisms in cancer, (2) modulators of the tumor immune microenvironment, and (3) cancer immunotherapies. CII prioritizes translating immuno-oncology science developed at Hillman Cancer Center (HCC) in early proof-of-concept trials, and works with the Cancer Therapeutics Program (CT) to collaborate with the NCI-CTEP, CITN, other NCI cancer centers, cooperative groups, and biotech/industry partners for clinical validation and late-stage testing. Under the leadership of Leisha Emens, MD, PhD, Dario Vignali, PhD and Hassane Zarour, MD, CII has 43 members representing 10 academic departments and 1 school within the University of Pittsburgh. CII members conduct cancer-focused research supported by $17.0M in total annual direct funding, of which $4.9M is NCI funding (including R01, R21, P30, and T32 grants), $4.0M is other peer-reviewed and $8.1M is non-peer- reviewed. From 2015-August 2019, CII members published 848 cancer-related publications representing 14% intra-programmatic, 46% inter-programmatic, and 65% inter-institutional collaborations. HCC support greatly facilitates and enhances CII research through the extensive use of HCC SR. CII research in immune checkpoints for head and neck, lung, and breast cancer as well as melanoma directly addresses the burden of cancer in the HCC catchment area related to tobacco use, obesity and sun exposure and have positively changed clinical practice across the U.S. and the world. CII investigators have also developed a prophylactic colon cancer vaccine that addresses unmet cancer control needs in the HCC catchment area. Together, these efforts will ensure the translation of novel research findings in cancer immunology and immunotherapy to the bedside, with the goal of improving clinical outcomes.