European Cancer Summit 2024

United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers

 

The European Cancer Summit 2024 united the cancer community like never before to accelerate efforts against this relentless disease. Experts, patients and policymakers explored new innovative solutions to pressing challenges faced by healthcare systems across Europe and proposed new opportunities in cancer research. 

 

This year’s European Cancer Summit took place on 20 & 21 November, in Brussels & online.  

 

The European Cancer Summit was followed by an exclusive Showcase Event for the smartCARE and PROTECT-EUROPE projects on 22 November, at the same venue. Find out more.

20 November 2024 9:00 - 18:00 CET 21 November 2024 8:45 - 18:25 CET

Radisson Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels (and Virtual)
Rue du Fossé aux Loups 47, Brussels 1000, Belgium

At a pivotal moment for the cancer community, the Summit reviewed Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and explored new opportunities for progress. This year’s theme, United Against Cancer: Forging New Frontiers, resonated throughout the discussions.

  • United Against Cancer: Over two days, we reaffirmed our commitment to standing together, transcending medical disciplines and professions, tumour types and treatments, politics, and nationalities.
  • Forging New Frontiers: With renewed confidence and creativity, we joined forces to push the boundaries of cancer care.

Summit best moments collage

This year's European Cancer Summit was co-chaired by:

  • Isabel Rubio, ECO President-Elect & Co-Chair of the ECO's Prevention, Early Detection and Screening Network
  • Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard, Co-Chair of ECO’s Patient Advisory Committee and Patient Advocate, Melanoma Patients Network Europe.

Keep the discussion going!

The 2024 Summit report will be published in the New Year. Until then, discover the useful new publications unveiled at the Summit.  

 

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)
  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety Read Bio
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Read Bio
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Kateřina Konečná MEP Member, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
  • Tilly Metz MEP Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health & Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Adam Jarubas MEP Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Tomislav Sokol MEP Rapporteur for EU law on the European Health Data Space
  • Acko Ankarberg Johansson Swedish Minister for Health Care
  • Konrad Korbiński Head of Department for coordinated Care, Polish Ministry of Health
  • Liesbet Van Eycken Director, Belgian Cancer Registry Read Bio
  • André Ilbawi Cancer Control Officer, World Health Organization Read Bio
  • Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Population Fund Read Bio
  • Walter Ricciardi Chair, EU Cancer Mission Board Read Bio
  • Christine Chomienne Vice Chair, EU Cancer Mission Board & Co-Chair, Research Policy Network
  • Jeliazko Arabadjiev Member, EU Cancer Mission Board
  • Benedikt Westphalen Member, EU Cancer Mission Board Read Bio
  • David Collingridge Editor-in-Chief, Lancet Oncology Read Bio
  • Csaba Dégi President, European Cancer Organisation Read Bio
  • Robin Zon President, American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • Ulrika Årehed Kågström President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Read Bio
  • Isabel Rubio Summit Co-Chair & Prevention, Early Detection and Screening Network Co-Chair Read Bio
  • Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard Summit Co-Chair & ECO Patient Advisory Committee Co-Chair Read Bio
  • Ajay Aggarwal Co-Chair, Health Systems and Quality Cancer Care Network & ECO Board Member Read Bio
  • Anna Uzlova Co-Founder & CEO, Charity Foundation Inspiration Family, Ukraine Read Bio
  • Claudia Allemani Professor of Global Public Health, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Read Bio
  • Alan White Professor of Men's Health, Leeds Beckett University Read Bio
  • Maria Butí Ferret Professor of Medicine, Hospital Universitario Valle Hebron
  • Andreas Charalambous Founder & Chair, European Cancer Community Foundation & Past-President, European Cancer Organisation Read Bio
  • Winette van der Graaf President, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) & ECO Board Member Read Bio
  • Kathy Oliver Co-Chair, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Chair and Co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance Read Bio
  • Ramon Reyes President, Association of European Cancer Leagues Read Bio
  • Klaus Meier President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy
  • Paola Anna Erba President-Elect, European Association of Nuclear Medicine Read Bio
  • Matthias Löhr President, United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Read Bio
  • Filippos Filippidis Chair of the Tobacco Control Committee, European Respiratory Society Read Bio
  • Nikolina Dodlek Board Member, European Cancer Organisation Read Bio
  • Matti Aapro President of SPCC & All.Can, ECO Past President, UICC Board Member Read Bio
  • Patrice Forget Chair, Advocacy and Liaison, European Pain Federation Read Bio
  • Richard Sullivan Director, Institute of Cancer Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Conflict & Health Research Read Bio
  • Ricardo Ferreira Chair, EULAR Committee of Health Professionals in Rheumatology Read Bio
  • Torsten Blum Co-Chair, Prevention, Early Detection and Screening Network
  • Wendy Oldenmenger Co-Chair, Workforce Network
  • Mirjam Crul Co-Chair, Workforce Network Read Bio
  • Wim Ceelen Co-Chair, Workforce Network Read Bio
  • Andrew Davies Co-Chair, Survivorship and Quality of Life Network
  • Luzia Travado Co-Chair, Survivorship and Quality of Life Network
  • Wim Oyen Co-Chair, Digital Health Network Read Bio
  • Annemiek Snoeckx Co-Chair, Digital Health Network
  • Alex Eniu Co-Chair, Digital Health Network Read Bio
  • Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti Co-Chair, Inequalities Network & ECO Board Member Read Bio
  • Sarah Collen Co-Chair, Inequalities Network Read Bio
  • Mark Lawler Co-Chair, Emergencies and Crises Network Read Bio
  • Jacek Jassem Co-Chair, Emergencies and Crises Network
  • Yolande Lievens Co-Chair, Health Systems and Quality Cancer Care Network
  • Alina Comănescu HPV Romania Consultant, ECO
  • Marko Gangur HPV Croatia Consultant, ECO
  • Miet Vandemaele Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent Univeristy
  • Guillemette Jacob Founder, Les Seintinelles
  • Fernando Aguirregomezcorta Consultant in Pediatric Oncology, Central University Hospital of Asturias Read Bio
  • Nela Hasić President, Think Pink Europe Read Bio
  • Sofiat Akinola Director, Health Policy and External Affairs, Roche Read Bio
  • Marcus Höglund Director, Accelerator Strategy Lead, Human Health International, MSD
  • Josephine Hegarty Lead Applicant, Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care Read Bio
  • Fatima Cardoso President, ABC Global Alliance & Director of Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center Read Bio
  • Kim Hulscher Co-Chair, European Network of Gynaecological Cancer Advocacy Groups Read Bio
  • Hilary Hansen Global Public Affairs Head, Oncology, Sanofi Read Bio
  • Jan Geissler Member, ECO Patient Advisory Committee Read Bio
  • Alexandra Smith Advocacy and Engagement Manager, World Hepatitis Alliance
  • Erik Briers Member, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Vice Chairman, Europa Uomo Read Bio
  • Magda Chlebus Executive Director Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations Read Bio
  • Ben Newton General Manager of Oncology, GE Healthcare Read Bio
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Vice-Chair, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe Read Bio
  • Zsuzsanna Devecseri Global Head, Medical Affairs Oncology, Novartis Read Bio
  • David Winterflood Director, NOMAN is an Island Read Bio
  • David Ritchie Project Officer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology, International Agency for Research on Cancer Read Bio
  • Anita Kienesberger Member, Patient Advisory Committee, European Cancer Organisation Read Bio
  • Maria Inês Clara Clinical Psychologist and PhD candidate in Health Psychology, University of Coimbra Read Bio
  • Victoria Leclercq Scientist, Sciensano & eCAN Joint Action Representative Read Bio
  • Andrew Whitehead Vice President, Head of Health Equity, BMS
  • Maria Babak Member, Board of Directors, Institute of Cancer & Crisis, Armenia Read Bio
  • Joanna Dodkins National Prostate Cancer Audit Clinical Research Fellow, The Royal College of Surgeons of England Read Bio
  • Paul Efthymiou Ambassador, Doctors in Distress Read Bio
  • Yuqin Liang Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+ Read Bio
  • Ethan Basch Physician-in-Chief, North Carolina Cancer Hospital & Chief of Oncology, University of North Carolina Read Bio
  • Michael Zaiac Head of Medical Affairs Oncology Europe and Canada, Daiichi Sankyo Europe
  • Marilys Corbex Cancer Team Lead, WHO Europe
  • Kim Benstead Chair, Accreditation Council of Oncology in Europe (ACOE) Read Bio
  • Tomi Mäkelä Flagship Executive Officer, iCAN

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)
Registration closed

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

European Cancer Summit 2024 Programme

 

Wednesday 20 November

Please find below the list of sessions in the main Summit room. In addition, we have some special extra sessions in the Forum room, which are also included in the programme below.

08:30-09:00
Registration & Welcome Breakfast
 

This year, registration and badge printing were located on the ground floor, to the right as you entered the hotel. Afterwards, attendees headed upstairs to enjoy a coffee and continental breakfast before the event kicked off.
09:00-09:15
Opening Session
  programme opening
 

With:

  • Csaba Dégi, President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Isabel Rubio, Summit Co-Chair & Prevention, Early Detection and Screening Network Co-Chair
  • Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard, Summit Co-Chair & ECO Patient Advisory Committee Co-Chair

The session recording is now available here.
09:15-10:30
United Against Cancer Inequalities: Forging Fair Cancer Outcomes for All
  programme inequalities
 

During this session, co-chaired by Nicolò Battisti and Sarah Collen, we presented new ECO initiatives on Women and Cancer and LGBTIQ, while also addressing other inequalities in cancer prevention and care highlighted by the European Cancer Pulse. To learn more about these initiatives, attendees had the opportunity to join the Spotlight presentations on Men and Cancer, Women and Cancer, the LGBTIQ and Cancer Survey, as well as the European Cancer Pulse & Country Reports. Speakers included:

  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP, Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Claudia Allemani, Professor of Global Public Health, Cancer Survival Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Alan White, Professor of Men’s Health, Leeds Beckett University
  • Paola Anna Erba, President-Elect, European Association of Nuclear Medicine
  • Nela Hasic, President, Think Pink Europe
  • Andrew Whitehead, Vice President, Head of Health Equity, BMS

The session recording is now available here.

Read more about the Women and Cancer Report.

Read more about the LGBTIQ Survey. 
10:00-10:30
Luxembourg room: Spotlight on INTERACT-EUROPE 100 
 

The session features a presentation of the EU co-funded project on the Inter-Specialty Cancer Training Programme being rolled out across Europe.
10:30-11:00
Networking Coffee Break
11:00-12:00
Delivering a bright future in oncology – our Young Cancer Professionals session 
  programme ycp
 

In this session, co-chaired by Nikolina Dodlek and Andreas Charalambous, the best three of this year’s selected abstracts were presented by Young Cancer Professionals, with all other selected abstracts showcased during the Poster Presentations in the lunch break immediately following the session. Attendees also heard about the  INTERACT-EUROPE 100 project on inter-disciplinary cancer training and had the opportunity to meet a new MEP who is himself a surgeon. For more on young cancer professionals and training opportunities, attendees could join the Spotlight on INTERACT-EUROPE 100 and the Special Meeting of the Young Cancer Professionals on Wednesday. Speakers included:

  • András Kulja MEP & MD, Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Fernando Aguirregomezcorta García, Consultant in Pediatric Oncology, Central University Hospital of Asturias 
  • Maria Inês Clara, Clinical Psychologist and PhD candidate in Health Psychology, University of Coimbra
  • Joanna Dodkins, National Prostate Cancer Audit Clinical Research Fellow, The Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • Yuqin Liang, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+

The session recording is now available here.

Discover the 2024 Selected Abstracts. 
11:30-12:00
Luxembourg room: Spotlight on the European Cancer Pulse & Country Reports
12:00-13:15
Networking Lunch (Luxembourg room, Brussels/Stockholm/Copenhagen/Oslo room & Foyer)
Poster Presentations (Luxembourg room)
13:15-14:30
Going Further on Prevention, Early Detection and Screening
  programme prevention
 

Co-Chairs Isabel Rubio and Torsten Blum explored initiatives in both primary prevention and screening as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with speakers:

  • Tilly Metz MEP, Vice-Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health & Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Ulrika Årehed Kågström, President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
  • Filippos Filippidis, Chair of the Tobacco Control Committee, European Respiratory Society
  • Erik Briers, Member, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Vice-Chairman, Europa Uomo
  • Marcus Höglund, Director, Accelerator Strategy Lead, Human Health International, MSD
  • David Ritchie, Project Officer, Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology, International Agency for Research on Cancer

The session recording is now available here.

Read more about the European Cancer Screening Policy Index.
13:30-14:15
Madrid room: Young Cancer Professionals Special Meeting
 

The meeting is open to all Young Cancer Professionals aged 40 and under.
13:45-14:30
Luxembourg room: Launch of the LGBTIQ and Cancer Survey
14:30-14:45
Transition Break
14:45-16:00
Stocktaking on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: where have we come from, what have we achieved, what are the next frontiers?
  programme stocktaking
 

As the handover at the European Commission approaches, this session reviewed the progress of implementing Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – what has gone well and what needs to be accelerated.  We also asked how individual countries are delivering the plan and looked at ECO’s work across Europe over the past 12 months. It was also a chance to acknowledge the leadership of Stella Kyriakides over the past five years. With ECO President Csaba Dégi and Summit Co-Chair Isabel Rubio including speakers:

  • Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner for Health & Food Safety
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP, Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Walter Ricciardi, Chair of the EU Cancer Mission Board
  • Matti Aapro, President of SPCC & All.Can, ECO Past President, UICC Board Member
  • Ramon Reyes, President, Association of European Cancer Leagues
  • Gilliosa Spurrier-Bernard, Co-Chair, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Summit Co-Chair

The session recording is now available here.
16:00-16:30 
Networking Coffee Break
16:30-17:45
Under Pressure: Safeguarding the health of Europe's oncology workforce from our Workforce Network 
  programme workforce
 

The Workforce Crisis in oncology and beyond has been a major area of focus for our Workforce Network over the past 12 months and in this session, we presented the results of our comprehensive survey and presented our report and recommendations. Our speakers have been asked to share their experiences and what their organisations are doing to address this crucial issue. With Chair Wim Ceelen, including speakers:

  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP, Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
  • David Collingridge, Editor-in-Chief, Lancet Oncology
  • André Ilbawi, Cancer Control Officer, World Health Organization
  • Robin Zon, President, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Wendy Oldenmenger, Co-Chair, Workforce Network
  • Mirjam Crul, Co-Chair, Workforce Network
  • Kathy Oliver, Co-Chair, ECO Patient Advisory Committee; Chair & Founding Co-Director, International Brain Tumour Alliance
  • Paul Efthymiou, Ambassador, Doctors in Distress
  • Hilary Hansen, Global Public Affairs Head, Oncology, Sanofi
  • Ethan Basch, ASCO Representative & Chief of Oncology, University of North Carolina

The session recording is now available here.

Read more about the European Cancer Workforce Report.
17:45-18:00
18:00-20:00
Networking Reception at the Summit venue

 

Thursday 21 November

This is World Pancreatic Cancer Day and to mark the occasion, we have speakers in two sessions who are experts in Pancreatic Cancer. You can find out more about World Pancreatic Cancer Day here.

Please find below the list of sessions in the main Summit room. In addition, we have some special extra sessions in the Forum room, which are also included in the programme below.

08:15-08:45 
  
Registration & Welcome Breakfast
   

This year, registration and badge printing were located on the ground floor, to the right as you entered the hotel. Afterwards, attendees headed upstairs to enjoy a coffee and continental breakfast before the sessions of the day started.
08:45-10:00
 
Quality backed by evidence and systems: a review from our Health Systems & Quality Cancer Care Network
    programme hsqcc
   

With Co-Chairs Yolande Lievens and Ajay Aggarwal, including speakers:

  • Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Swedish Minister for Health Care
  • Liesbet van Eycken, Director, Belgian Cancer Registry
  • Jeliazko Arabadjiev, Member, EU Cancer Mission Board
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska, Vice-Chair, ECO Patient Advisory Committee & Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe 
  • Miet Vandemaele, Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University
  • Marilys Corbex, Cancer Team Lead, WHO Europe

The session recording is now available here.
09:15-10:00
  
Luxembourg room: Spotlight on Men and Cancer
10:00-10:20
  
Networking Coffee Break
10:20-11:35
 
Together Against Cancer in a Time of Crisis
Organised by the Emergencies and Crises Network
     programme emergencies
   

Recently, crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East have significantly impacted cancer patients, emphasising the importance of global collaboration within the cancer community to respond to these crises. Through our new Focused Topic Network on Emergencies and Crises, which draws on our experience on Covid-19 and the invasion of Ukraine, we developed a topical session which seeks to address the current and future challenges to cancer patients in conflict, crises and emergency situations. We highlighted the challenges through an intelligence-informed approach, built on our collective Manifesto on Improving Cancer Care in Conflict-Impacted Populations, recently published in The Lancet, and emphasised the urgency of the situation by issuing a Call to Action to deliver pragmatic solutions that best serve the health and wellbeing of cancer patients in crisis situations. With Co-Chairs Mark Lawler and Jacek Jassem, including speakers:

  • Adam Jarubas MEP, Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Anna Uzlova, Co-Founder & CEO, Charity Foundation Inspiration Family, Ukraine
  • Richard Sullivan, Director, Institute of Cancer Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Conflict & Health Research
  • Maria Babak, Member, Board of Directors, Institute of Cancer & Crisis, Armenia
  • Klaus Meier, President, European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP)
  • Magda Chlebus, Executive Director of Science Policy & Regulatory Affairs, EFPIA

The session recording is now available here.
11:00-11:45
  
Luxembourg room: Spotlight on Women and Cancer
11:35-11:45 
  
Transition Break
11:45-13:00
 
Pioneers of Change in Cancer Research: Networks and Initiatives that made the difference (from our Research Policy Network)
    programme research
   

During this session from our new Research Policy Network, we explored inspiring case studies and initiatives that our whole community should hear about. The focus was on clinical research, with experts sharing their positive experiences where networks came together to deliver meaningful change. With Chair Christine Chomienne, including speakers:

  • Vlad Voiculescu MEP, Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Benedikt Westphalen, Member, EU Cancer Mission Board
  • Winette van der Graaf, President, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) & ECO Board Member
  • Matthias Löhr, President, United European Gastroenterology (UEG)
  • Ricardo Ferreira, Chair, EULAR Committee of Health Professionals in Rheumatology
  • Guillemette Jacob, Founder, Les Seintinelles
  • Zsuzsanna Devecseri, Global Head, Medical Affairs Oncology, Novartis

The session recording is now available here.
12:00-13:00
  
Madrid room: HPV Action Now: Special Balkans Meeting
   

ECO has been leading a special project on HPV vaccination and screening in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania and plans to run a special HPV Balkans Conference in Sofia, Bulgaria in January 2025.  In addition, we recently supported a number of Patient Organisations in the Balkans and beyond who wish to collaborate to improve cancer prevention and care in the Balkans. Find out more about our plans for a new initiative in the Balkans, including on HPV, by joining this special meeting in the Madrid room. 
12:30-13:00
  
Luxembourg room: Spotlight on the European Cancer Community Foundation
13:00-14:00
  
Networking Lunch
14:00-15:15
 
Building the Digital Future: from Legislation to Implementation from the Digital Health Network
    programme digital
   

With Co-Chairs Wim Oyen, Annemiek Snoeckx, and Alex Eniu, including speakers:

  • Tomislav Sokol MEP, Rapporteur for EU law on the European Health Data Space
  • Konrad Korbiński, Head of Department for Co-ordinated Care, Polish Ministry of Health
  • Victoria Leclercq, Scientist, Sciensano & eCAN Joint Action Representative
  • Anita Kienesberger, Member, ECO Patient Advisory Committee
  • Tomi Mäkelä, Flagship Executive Officer, iCAN 
  • Ben Newton, General Manager of Oncology, GE Healthcare
  • Tomi Mäkelä, Flagship Executive Officer, iCAN

The session recording is now available here.
15:15-15:25
  
Transition Break
15:25-16:40
 
Going Global: Eliminating HPV and Hep B in Europe and beyond
    programme hpv
   

Given the EU Council recommendations on Vaccine Preventable Cancers, we brought together experts on HPV and Hepatitis B to discuss vaccination and highlight the importance of cervical cancer screening. Our HPV and Hep B Action Network has been at the forefront of this work with special projects in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania as well as ECO’s coordination of the PROTECT-EUROPE project. To hear more about the HPV Action Now campaign and our planned work in Balkan Countries, attendees joined the special meeting in the Madrid room on Thursday at 12:00. With moderators Alina Comănescu and Marko Gangur, ECO HPV Consultants and including speakers:

  • Antonio Parenti, Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
  • Tamar Khomasuridze, Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Population Fund
  • Kim Hulscher, Co-Chair, European Network of Gynaecological Cancer Advocacy Groups (ENGAGe)
  • Maria Butí Ferret, Professor of Medicine, Hospital Universitario Valle Hebron
  • David Winterflood, Director, NOMAN is an Island
  • Alexandra Smith, Advocacy and Engagement Manager, World Hepatitis Alliance
  • Sofiat Akinola, Director, Health Policy and External Affairs, Roche

The session recording is now available here.
16:40-17:00
  
Networking Coffee Break
17:00-18:15
 
Quality of Life – the pre-eminent outcome measure from our Survivorship and Quality of Life Network
    programme survivorship
   

With Co-Chairs Andrew Davies and Luzia Travado, including speakers:

  • Kateřina Konečná MEP, Member, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
  • Patrice Forget, Chair, Advocacy and Liaison, European Pain Federation
  • Josephine Hegarty, Lead Applicant, Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care
  • Fatima Cardoso, President, ABC Global Alliance & Director of Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Center 
  • Jan Geissler, Member, ECO Patient Advisory Committee
  • Michael Zaiac, Head of Medical Affairs Oncology Europe and Canada, Daiichi Sankyo

The session recording is now available here.
18:15-18:25
 
Closing Session
   

programme closing

The session recording is now available here.
18:50-19:00
  
Short walk to the Evening Function venue
   

Maison Grand-Place - Grand Place 19, 1000 Brussels

Please note that your badge is required to join this dinner (either Summit or Showcase Event badge).
19:00-21:30
  
smartCARE & PROTECT-EUROPE Networking Cocktail Dinner 
   

To close the 2024 edition of the European Cancer Summit and welcome the delegates of the joint smartCARE & PROTECT-EUROPE Showcase Event, attendees will be invited to take a short stroll through the Royal Galleries to reach the renowned Grand Place for a networking cocktail dinner at the heart of Brussels at Maison Grand-Place, Grand Place 19. Please note that your badge is required (either Summit or Showcase Event badge).  



Friday 22 November

Showcase event for smartCARE & PROTECT-EUROPE EU co-funded projects

On Friday 22 November at the Summit venue, we invite you to discover smartCARE and PROTECT-EUROPE: two dynamic, flagship projects under the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027, led by the European Cancer Organisation. For more information on the programme, please visit the dedicated event webpage.

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

Summit venue

The European Cancer Summit 2024 will take place at 
RADISSON COLLECTION HOTEL 
47 Rue du Fossé Aux Loups – 1000 Brussels  
Tel: +32 2 219 28 28 
More information available on their website.  

  • Closest train station: Central Station (550m / 7 min by foot) 
  • Closest metro stations: Central Station (550m / 7 min by foot), De Brouckère (350 / 5 min by foot) 
  • Parking: A secure underground parking lot is directly accessible from the hotel at level -2. The rates are EUR 4 per hour or EUR 35 per 24 hours. 

 

Accommodation at the Summit Hotel

The Summit hotel - Radisson Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels – is fully booked on the dates of the Summit.

We advise you email groups.brussels@radissonhotels.com or phone +32 2 227 30 00 to check on any possible availability.

 

Prepare your stay in Brussels 

Public transportation 

Find out more about Brussels public transport network with the Metro/Tram/Bus map. Tip: Not a frequent Brussels traveller? Then contactless payment is the most convenient solution. Just hold your contactless bank card, smartphone or smartwatch directly against the grey bus, tram or metro validator, and "beep": your journey can begin. Fast and easy. Fare for 1 journey: EUR 2.10. 

Taxis 

Taxis verts: +32 2 349 49 49 
Uber is also available and widely used in Brussels 

Accessible taxis 

Taxis verts PRM: +32 2 349 49 49 

Taxis Verts has vehicles specially equipped with ramps and elevators for persons with reduced mobility (PRM). This service is available 24/7 in and around Brussels. The price is identical to that of a conventional taxi. The waiting time usually varies between 15 to 30 minutes during off-peak hours. During rush hours, please add 30 minutes to the usual waiting time. It’s also possible to pre-book a taxi for later.  

Dial +32 2 349 49 49 to order your PRM taxi or request a PRM ride with your mobile phone via by selecting 'PRM' from the vehicle options (in service level eCab+). Download the app for free via the AppStore or Google Play.  More information is available on their website.

Insurance 

The Summit Organisers do not assume any liability for personal injuries sustained or loss of, or damage to, property belonging to Summit delegates (or their accompanying persons), either during or as result of the Summit. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance. 

Dress code 

The dress code for the Summit sessions and networking receptions will be Business Formal. 

 

Security

Delegates are advised not leave any device, bags or belongings unattended throughout the meeting spaces. 

The Organisers cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, or theft of personal belongings that may occur during the event.

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

2024 Selected Abstracts

selected abstracts poster

Discover the abstracts

Following the success of two consecutive years of abstract submissions, and as part of our Young Cancer Professionals (YCP) group, the European Cancer Organisation is pleased to announce the 2024 selected abstracts.

Visit the dedicated page to discover the 16 outstanding posters and their authors.

Summit delegates will have the chance to exchange with the authors and find out more about their research during the Networking & Poster Presentations Lunch in the Luxembourg room on Wednesday, 20 November, from 12:00 to 13:15 CET.

After the Summit, the abstracts will be published in the Journal of Cancer Policy.

But there's more! Three authors have been selected to present their work during a special Young Cancer Professionals session featuring András Kulja, MEP & MD on Wednesday, 20 November, from 11:00 to 12:00 CET. The presenters are:

  • Maria Inês Clara, Clinical Psychologist and PhD candidate in Health Psychology, University of Coimbra
  • Joanna Dodkins, National Prostate Cancer Audit Clinical Research Fellow, The Royal College of Surgeons of England
  • Yuqin Liang, Department of Radiation Oncology, GROW-Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+

General Information on abstract submissions

Abstract submissions are open to lead authors aged 40 or younger, (and therefore eligible to join the ECO Young Cancer Professionals group). We particularly encourage lead author submissions from junior clinicians and academics. The successful abstracts are presented during the annual European Cancer Summit.

ECO is committed to delivering equitable and effective cancer care globally, translating the best evidence to policy and practice. Research abstracts must fit within our key Focused Topic Networks which reflect the priorities of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU Cancer Mission.  

Due to space availability, 16 abstracts were selected and displayed in the poster room during the Summit. Abstracts are chosen based on representation across all ECO Focused Topic Networks and the lead authors receive free registration to the Summit. The best selected authors are invited to make a presentation during a special session to be held on Wednesday 20 November. The accepted abstracts will also be published on the ECO website and, after the Summit, in the Journal of Cancer Policy.  

You can find the abstracts selected from the European Cancer Summit 2023 here.   

Review process

Each abstract was reviewed blindly by the Co-Chairs of the relevant Focused Topic Network and responsible ECO Board Members. The submitted abstracts were evaluated according to an abstract scoring grid. The evaluators used the scoring grid as a reference framework during the evaluation.  

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

smartCARE & PROTECT-EUROPE Showcase Event 

smartCare Protect Europe combined

Both smartCARE and PROTECT-EUROPE are dynamic, flagship projects under the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 and led by the European Cancer Organisation.

  • smartCARE is developing a cancer survivor smart card - in the form of a mobile app - to improve the health and wellbeing of cancer patients and survivors.
  • PROTECT-EUROPE is focused on preventing cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) by championing the adoption of gender-neutral vaccination in EU member states. 

On 22 November we celebrated the results of these two initiatives, reflected on the biggest lessons learned, and explored new opportunities for the future. Leaders in oncology, patient advocacy and policymakers met for a series of lively panel discussions and in-depth exchanges about these successful projects with significant potential.

Read more about the programme, speakers and outcomes here. 

 

EN Co funded by the EU POS

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)

Supporters of the European Cancer Summit

  • Member Societies of the European Cancer Organisation
  • Patient Advocacy Groups of the European Cancer Organisation
  • Community 365 of the European Cancer Organisation
  • Journal of Cancer Policy
  • touchONCOLOGY
  • Cancer World
  • ecancer
  • OncoDaily
  • Floq

Speakers

  • Stella Kyriakides European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
  • Antonio Parenti Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
  • András Kulja MEP & MD Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Member, Subcommittee on Public Health
  • Veronika Ostrihonova MEP Member, Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
  • Alessandra Moretti MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Vytenis Andriukaitis MEP Member, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety & Subcommittee on Public Health
show all speakers (92)