Translational Cancer Research – Integration of Basic and Clinical perspectives

We are excited to announce the return of this conference — an excellent opportunity to connect with a vibrant community of scientists from both basic and clinical perspectives and to engage in meaningful discussions.

The main purpose of the conference is to increase visibility across the various local research environments while exploring how the connection and integration between basic and clinical cancer research can be strengthened. We hope that the conference can contribute to a more distinct national dimension in translational cancer research and ultimately generate more translational studies.

The conference is open to all researchers working within the field of translational cancer research. As the working language in this field in Denmark is English, the conference will be conducted in English.

We hope to see you on 2 March 2027 at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Copenhagen.

Registration is required to attend the Translational Cancer Research Conference 2027. Participation is free of charge.

Arrival and breakfast 09:30

Session 1: Cellular therapies

Opening keynote speech:

In vivo cellular therapies – William A. Nyberg, Assistant Professor, SciLifeLab Fellow. Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institute 

CRISPRs & cellular therapies – Özcan Met, Group Leader, Head, Cell Therapy Unit, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy, Department of Oncology, University Hospital Herlev

Bispecific antibodies and resistance – Simon Husby, MD, Ph.D., Department of Hematology, Translational lead, Phase 1 Unit, Rigshospitalet

Presentation 1 selected from submitted abstracts – tbd

Presentation 2 selected from submitted abstracts – tbd

Session 2: Translational cooperation models

Colorectal cancer – Kåre Andersson Gotschalck, Consultant, Head of Research, Associate Professor, PhD, Regionshospitalet Horsens & Claus Lindbjerg Andersen, Professor at Department of Clinical Medicine - Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA) at Aarhus University

Title TBD – Martin Roelsgaard, Professor, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University & Henrik Hager, Clinical Associate Professor, Consultant Pathologist at Department of Clinical Medicine - Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA) at Aarhus University

Regionernes Bio- og Genombank (RBGB) and translationel cancer research – Estrid V. S. Høgdall, Head of the Regionernes Bio- og GenomBank (RBGB), Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Pathology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital

Lunch and networking

Session 3: Precision drugs

Resistance mechanisms – Ferran Fece de la Cruz, PhD, Associate Professor, Group Leader, Solid Tumor Therapeutics & Resistance Lab, Finsen Laboratory/Rigshospitalet, BRIC - University of Copenhagen

Unmodified T-cell therapies – Inge Marie Svane, Professor in Clinical Cancer Immune Therapy, University of Copenhagen, Chief Psysician, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Director of National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK)

KRAS inhibitors – speaker TBD

Award Ceremony: Gårdejer Ingemann Petersen og Hustrus Fond

Session 4: Flash Talks – based on submitted abstracts

Networking and dinner (Provisional finishing time 19:30)

Researchers from all disciplines are invited to submit abstracts on research projects, clinical trials or other activities within translational cancer research.

Submitted abstracts may be selected for oral or poster presentation at the conference.

Abstracts can be submitted within the following scientific categories:

• Epigenetics in cancer
• Biomarkers
• Spatial biology and tumour microenvironment
• Cellular therapies
• Improving and predicting drug response in cancer
• Clinical trials and novel treatment strategies
• AI tools in protein research
• Unmet clinical needs

Abstracts must be maximum 300 words and should include background, purpose, methods and results. A complete author list with full names, titles and affiliations for all contributers must also be included.

The organizing committee will evaluate all submissions based on relevance, scientific quality, and clarity.

Deadline: 3 January 2027 at 12:00 noon. You will also find the full requirements in the submission form.

Claus Lindbjerg Andersen,
Professor, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Molecular Medicine

Karen Dybkær Sørensen,
Professor, Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Haematology, Hematology research laboratory

Kristoffer Staal Rohrberg,
Phd, Associate Professor, Head of Phase 1 Unit, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen

Lars Engelholm,
Associate Professor, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Finsen Laboratory/BRIC and Chair of the Danish Association for Cancer Research

Mike Barnkob,
Assistant Professor, Odense University Hospital, Department of Clinical Immunology

Niels Fristrup,
Associate Professor, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Oncology