09-03-2023
Call for abstracts for Danish Cancer Research Days 2023 is now open. Ulrik Lassen, who is one of the researchers who will judge the submitted abstracts, believes that this particular Call is worth paying special attention to. A point of view he shares with one of the researchers who submitted his abstract last year.
- I think that the Danish Cancer Research Days are a great success, which has created a national space that looks at cancer research across the board. Something that was missing before.
This is the assessment from Ulrik Lassen. He is chief physician and professor in clinical oncology and personalised medicine at Rigshospitalet and a member of DCCC's Professional Committee. And he is also chairman of the interdisciplinary committee that will assess all submitted abstracts for this year's largest national conference in the field of cancer, Danish Cancer Research Days 2023.
Specifically, the possibility to submit an abstract is something that Ulrik Lassen hopes many will accept.
- I believe that submitting an abstract to this particular conference is a unique opportunity. It is not only a good place to share what you do. It also strengthens the national community when we become aware of what others are working with, in other places, and how we best can cooperate and thus raise the quality together.
And the opportunity is right here. Because the Call for Abstracts is open until April 20th at 12 noon. After that, the submitted abstracts will be judged by an interdisciplinary evaluation committee.
A pat on the shoulder for the exceptional
In addition to selecting which abstracts will be converted into a physical poster for the conference, it is also Ulrik Lassen and the rest of the interdisciplinary evaluation committee, who appoint the researchers, to select who will have the opportunity to present on stage. Either via a flash talk on a smaller stage or on the main stage in the session 'Current Danish Cancer Research in the Spotlight', where the 'Exceptional Young Scientist Abstract' prize is also awarded to seven younger researchers.
- It always gives you an extra boost when you have to go on stage. Partly you get more exposure, and partly you have been selected, which is a big pat on the shoulder. I find that most people are very proud of it, and with good reason: if you are on stage, it is because your abstract has been assessed as one of the absolute best, says Ulrik Lassen.
A wild but noble experience
Kim Hochreuter can recognise the extra deep breath that Ulrik Lassen describes. He is a PhD student at the Danish Center for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University - and was one of those who submitted an abstract to the Danish Cancer Research Days last year. His focus was on his PhD project, where he uses machine learning to optimise cancer treatment.
And his abstract didn't just make it to Danish Cancer Research Days 2022 - it was selected as one of seven that got time on the big stage.
- It was absolutely crazy to have to stand in front of so many people, so early in my career. But it was a really good experience. Because, before I stood on stage, I went through a communication course which prepared me well for it, says Kim Hochreuter.
He refers to the process that the 7 winners of the "Exceptional Young Scientist Abstract" award are offered before they have to present their research on stage. The course is with a professional coach in research communication. The intention is that they can deliver razor-sharp interdisciplinary communication for the conference to the delight of both sender and receiver.
- Perhaps as a result of that process, I also feel that many listeners got something out of what I came up with. And I myself have gained a lot from being in that situation. Once you have tried it, it also takes the edge off the tenseness, when I have to make a presentation.
At the same time, he points out that it was rewarding for him in general to be at the Danish Cancer Research Days and hear about the many other, and very diverse, projects that were presented in, among other things, the poster session.
- If you have the opportunity to send your abstract and participate in the conference, I would encourage you to do so. Because it is a unique opportunity. Other conferences, typically abroad, are usually much more specific within a single field. But at the Danish Cancer Research Days you have the opportunity to gain a broader insight into what is going on in the cancer field and not least a national perspective.
If you wish to submit your abstract, you can read more about requirements and formalities, as well as see the Call itself, in Danish here and English here.
Danish Cancer Research Days runs from 31 August to 1 September in Odense. Registration for the conference itself opens in May.