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.
This year's European Cancer Summit was co-chaired by:
The 2024 Summit report will be published in the New Year. Until then, discover the useful new publications unveiled at the Summit.
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 will be located on the ground floor, to the right as you enter the hotel. Afterwards, head upstairs to enjoy a coffee and continental breakfast before the event kicks off. |
|
09:00-09:15 |
Opening Session |
With:
|
|
09:15-10:30 |
United Against Cancer Inequalities: Forging Fair Cancer Outcomes for All |
During this session co-chaired by Nicolò Battisti and Sarah Collen, we will be presenting new ECO initiatives on Women and Cancer and LGBTIQ, as well as considering other inequalities in cancer prevention and care highlighted by the European Cancer Pulse. To learn more about these initiatives, do not miss the Spotlight presentations on Men and Cancer (Thursday at 09:15 in the Forum room), Women and Cancer (Thursday at 11:00 in the Forum room), the LGBTIQ and Cancer Survey (Wednesday at 13:45 in Forum room) as well as the European Cancer Pulse & Country Reports (Wednesday at 11:30 in Madrid room). Including speakers:
|
|
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 |
In this session, co-chaired by Nikolina Dodlek and Andreas Charalambous, the best three of this year’s selected abstracts will be presented by Young Cancer Professionals (with all other selected abstracts being presented during the Poster Presentations in the lunch break immediately following this session). We will also be hearing about the INTERACT-EUROPE 100 project on inter-disciplinary cancer training and meeting a new MEP who is himself a surgeon. For more on young cancer professionals and training opportunities, check out the Spotlight on INTERACT-EUROPE 100 on Wednesday at 10:00 in the Forum room and the Special Meeting of the Young Cancer Professionals on Wednesday at 13:30 in the Madrid room. With speakers:
Meet all the selected abstract authors during the Networking Lunch & Poster Presentations. |
|
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 |
Co-Chairs Isabel Rubio and Torsten Blum will be exploring initiatives in both primary prevention and screening as part of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with speakers:
|
|
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? |
As the handover at the European Commission approaches, this session will review the progress of implementing Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – what has gone well and what needs to be accelerated. We will also be asking how individual countries are delivering the plan and looking at ECO’s work across Europe over the past 12 months. It will also be 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:
|
|
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 |
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 will be presenting the results of our comprehensive survey and presenting 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:
|
|
17:45-18:00 |
|
18:00-20:00 |
Networking Reception at the Summit venue |
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 will be located on the ground floor, to the right as you enter the hotel. Afterwards, head upstairs to enjoy a coffee and continental breakfast before the sessions of the day start. |
||
08:45-10:00 |
|
Quality backed by evidence and systems: a review from our Health Systems & Quality Cancer Care Network |
With Co-Chairs Yolande Lievens and Ajay Aggarwal, including speakers:
|
||
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
|
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 have developed a topical session that seeks to address the current and future challenges to cancer patients in conflict, crises and emergency situations. We will highlight the challenges through an intelligence-informed approach, build on our collective Manifesto on Improving Cancer Care in Conflict-Impacted Populations, recently published in The Lancet, and emphasise 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:
|
||
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) |
During this session from our new Research Policy Network, we will explore inspiring case studies and Initiatives that our whole community should hear about. We will be focusing on clinical research and hearing from experts on their positive experiences where networks came together to deliver meaningful change. With Chair Christine Chomienne, including speakers:
|
||
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 |
With Co-Chairs Wim Oyen, Annemiek Snoeckx, and Alex Eniu, including speakers:
|
||
15:15-15:25 |
Transition Break |
|
15:25-16:40 |
|
Going Global: Eliminating HPV and Hep B in Europe and beyond |
Given the EU Council recommendations on Vaccine Preventable Cancers, we are bringing together experts on HPV and Hepatitis B to discuss vaccination, as well as look at 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, please join 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:
|
||
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 |
With Co-Chairs Andrew Davies and Luzia Travado, including speakers:
|
||
18:15-18:25 |
|
Closing Session |
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). |
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.
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.
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.
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 verts: +32 2 349 49 49
Uber is also available and widely used in Brussels
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.
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.
The dress code for the Summit sessions and networking receptions will be Business Formal.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Both smartCARE and PROTECT-EUROPE are dynamic, flagship projects under the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 and led by the European Cancer Organisation.
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.