2026 Agenda
7:45AM
Registration & networking
8:40AM
Welcome & opening remarks from the Chair
8:50AM
OPENING ADDRESS
9:00AM
Translating Political Commitment into Practice: Evidence-based Recommendations for Ireland
With Ireland’s next national cancer plan in development, Bardh provides the evidence of where we stand as a country when it comes to cancer care. Opening and closing remarks by Samantha.
9:20AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Working Together for Better Cancer Outcomes: Lessons Learned and Future Planning
- Review of Ireland’s cancer control strategy 2017 -2026
- Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy 2022-2032 & Cancer Research Strategic Framework
- Priorities for the next 10 years and all-island collaboration
- Key synergies between cancer control and life sciences strategies
- Ensuring the patient voice is used to shape cancer control plans
Speakers:
9:55AM
COUNTRY CASE STUDY: How Oncology Clusters Accelerate Innovation: The Oslo Cancer Cluster
The Oslo Cancer Cluster brings together research institutions, startups, industry, and investors to accelerate cancer diagnostics and treatment development.
We’ll hear about:
- The role of the Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator and Innovation Park
- How start-ups benefit from membership, co-location, and community
- Real examples of oncology innovations supported by the cluster
- The importance of building a connected ecosystem
- Challenges and opportunities in the European cancer innovation landscape
10:15AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Advancing Oncology Innovation in Ireland
• Building an all-island oncology innovation cluster - insights, recommendations and focus
• Examples of successful collaboration between industry and academia to drive innovation
• How digital innovation can enhance care from early detection through to survivorship
• Bridging research, clinical practice and innovation
• Linking with other national and EU programmes
Speakers:
10:50AM
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS: Fairness and Transparency for Cancer Survivors: The Right to be Forgotten
11:00AM
With response from The Irish Cancer Society and Mark Lawler
11:10AM
Morning networking break & exhibition viewing
11:40AM
We break into 3 conference streams:
Stream 1 : Screening & Diagnostics
Stream 2 : Driving Innovation in Oncology
Stream 3 : Clinical Trials 2.0
11:45AM
Welcome from the Chair
11:50AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: The Future of Cancer Screening & Rethinking Early Detection Pathways
- The next frontier in screening technologies - emerging tools for early detection
- Opportunities to apply new screening approaches beyond traditional cancer types, and global evidence on which cancers may be next for populationlevel screening
- Harnessing data, AI, and digital tools
Identifying today’s biggest gaps across primary care, diagnostics, and referral pathways.
- The role of GPs: improving access to guidance, digital decisionsupport tools, and direct access to diagnostic tests to accelerate early detection
- Removing bottlenecks that lead to delayed patient presentation or diagnostic delays
Equity, accessibility, and public engagement
- Collaboration and systemwide innovation - tackling challenges in crossborder diagnostic pathways, shared infrastructure, and workforce capacity
Speakers:
12:25PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Developing Advanced Cancer Therapies in Ireland
Our panel discusses how we shape our healthcare system for a precision-based approach to cancer care. As Ireland advances its CAR-T programme and explores expanding access to RLT, we’ll discuss policy, infrastructure, affordability, manufacturing challenges, and patient impact.
Speakers:
Martin O'Connell
Consultant Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine Physician, Mater University Hospital, Mater Private Hospital & UCD
11:45AM
Welcome from the Chair
Speaker:
11:50AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: What Areas of Oncology are most Ripe for Innovation?
- What are the most exciting opportunities in the oncology landscape?
- Uniting universities, charities and industry to deliver next-generation cancer care
- Overcoming barriers to innovation
- How do we bring the patient voice into the innovation process in a meaningful way?
- Priorities for accelerating oncology innovation over the next 5 years.
- Optimising EU investment across the full cancer pathway—from prevention and early detection to innovation
Speakers:
12:25PM
INNOVATORS PANEL: Tales from the Coal-face
Our panel of entrepreneurs share their experiences on barriers to, challenges and opportunities in getting to market and scaling their business. Each innovator gives a quick-fire presentation before they discuss:
- What industry needs from the health system—and vice versa
- Supporting indigenous cancer-oriented spin-outs and SMEs
- Bridging the valley of death: IP, procurement, scale-up barriers
11:45AM
Welcome from the Chair
11:50AM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Strategy, Policy & System Alignment
- Are current clinical trial models still fit for purpose?
- Implementing Ireland’s National Clinical Trials Framework (2025–2027)
- Opportunities for North–South, UK–Ireland, and EU partnerships
- Industry–academic partnerships for smarter trial delivery
- One system level change that would most improve trial delivery in Ireland
12:25PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Delivering the Future: Innovation, Integration & Skills in Oncology Trials
We discuss operational transformation, innovation, and workforce readiness for next generation oncology trials.
- Integrating clinical trials into routine cancer care
- Decentralised and digitally enabled cancer trials: Opportunities for home based, decentralised, digital and adaptive trial designs
- Skills for the future oncology trials workforce
- What change could be implemented within 12–18 months to future proof oncology trials in Ireland?
1:00PM
Networking Lunch & Exhibition Viewing
1:55PM
Welcome back from the Chair
Audrey introduces Marie Angeline of Spring into Life gives us a brief taster of Laughter Yoga...a short energising session to boost connection, wellbeing, and positive energy
2:05PM
Launch of Cancer Policy Dialogue Report: Inequity in Cancer Care for Patients with Significant Mental Health Difficulties
2:25PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: No patient left behind: Improving access and equity across care pathways
Cancer does not affect all people equally. In this panel we focused on how certain groups in society often face unique barriers in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment—barriers rooted in social, economic, and structural inequalities.
- Measuring equity—metrics, accountability, and action
- Tackling structural inequality (gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, rurality, disability)
- Regional and cross-border inequality in diagnostics, trials, and QoL supports
- Designing services with communities, not for them
Speakers:
3:00PM
PANEL DISCUSSION: Patients as Partners
- Embedding PPI across discovery, trials, regulation, evaluation
- Measuring patient-centred impact
- What patients actually want from precision oncology
- Personalisation beyond genomics (communication, decisions, outcomes)
3:35PM
FIRESIDE CHAT: Global Data, Local Impact: International Insights for Transforming Cancer Care on the island of Ireland
Countries around the world are leveraging data to detect cancer earlier, personalise treatment, streamline care pathways and improve long-term survivorship. For the island of Ireland with two jurisdictions, shared patient needs and a rapidly evolving cancer burden, the opportunity to harness data is uniquely powerful. Our closing panel explores how global best practice can accelerate progress across Ireland North and South. This discussion is moderated by Brian O'Connor.
Speakers:
4:00PM