Program

Steering Committee

pawel-kalinski
Paweł Kaliński, MD, PhD

Professor Paweł Kaliński is a distinguished immunologist specializing in cancer therapy. He currently serves as the Director of the Vaccine and Dendritic Cell Therapy Program at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, USA. His research focuses on developing novel cancer immunotherapy strategies and therapeutic vaccines.

piotr-rutkowski
Piotr Rutkowski, MD, PhD

Professor Piotr Rutkowski is a renowned oncologist and surgical oncologist. He works at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, where he leads the Department of Soft Tissue, Bone Sarcoma, and Melanoma. His primary scientific interests include the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas.

iwona-lugowska
Iwona Ługowska, MD, PhD

Professor Iwona Ługowska is an experienced clinical oncologist. She serves as the Head of the Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw. She specializes in conducting clinical trials and targeted therapies in cancer treatment.

michal-mikula
Prof. Michał Mikula, PhD

Prof. Michał Mikula leads the Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Genetics at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Poland. His research encompasses molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression, with a focus on identifying biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic targets.

The 5th Edition of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Symposium on Cancer Research and Care (MSCI MSCS-2025) will bring together leading experts in cancer research, healthcare, and policy from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the United States and Canada. The OECI involved is specially with integration of OECI Members in CEE. The symposium aims to foster international collaboration, share cutting-edge research, and drive innovation in cancer prevention, treatment, and care.

This year’s theme, „Innovating Together to Conquer Cancer Globally”, will explore emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in oncology, with a particular focus on policy innovation, global health initiatives, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and biotech-academia partnerships. (OECI and ONCOTRANSFER)

Day 1 – September 3, 2025

Public Health & AI Innovations in Oncology
  • Innovative Public Health Policies for Cancer Prevention and Screening
  • Global Health Initiatives: Bridging Cancer Care Gaps Worldwide
  • AI in Oncology: The RCMC Project and the Future of Personalized Medicine

Day 2 – September 4, 2025

Breakthroughs in (clinical) Oncology
  • Advances in Immunotherapy: Clinical Innovations and Challenges
  • Precision Medicine in Action: Translating Molecular Science into Treatment
  • HealthCare–Biotech Collaboration: Accelerating Innovation in Clinical Cancer Research

Day 3 – September 5, 2025

Emerging Innovations in Cancer (Basic) Research
  • Functional Precision Oncology: Next-Gen Strategies for Cancer Treatment
  • Tumor Immune Microenvironment: Frontiers in Immuno-Oncology
  • Academia–Biotech Collaboration: Bridging Science, Policy, and Industry

Program of the Symposium

Please expand section below to find general program of the conference. We will share more details at a later time.

 

Innovative Public Health Policies

Developing and implementing new policies to enhance cancer prevention, and screening accessibility.

Session Chairs: Pawel Koczkodaj (Poland), Anda Vlad or Phillip Castle (USA/NCCN)

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

Global Health Initiatives

Addressing cancer disparities worldwide, improving healthcare access in underserved population by fostering global collaborations.

Session Chairs: Iwona Lugowska (Poland), Thierry Philip / Claudio Lombardo (OECI WORLD), USA Representative

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  1. OECI – Ensuring Quality Through Accreditation
  2. CCI4EU – How to Build Capacity
  3. Use Cases and Our Deep Dives: Three Countries – Croatia, Piedmont, and Poland
  4. Discussions
RCMC Project & Artificial Intelligence in Oncology

Utilizing AI for early detection, personalized treatment, and enhanced patient outcomes.

Session Chairs: Magdalena Rosinska (Poland), with USA and CEE Representative

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

 

Immunotherapy

Advancements in immunotherapy and clinical trials.

Session Chairs: Piotr Rutkowski (Poland), USA Representative: Tom Gajewski

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

Precision Medicine

Advancements in targeted cancer therapies through clinical trials.

Session Chairs: Iwona Lugowska (Poland), USA Representative

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Molecular and immunological classification of chondrosarcoma. Piotr Rutkowski
HealthCare & Biotech Collaboration

Overcoming challenges in research partnerships, accelerating the development of novel cancer treatments.

Session Chairs: Wojciech Fendler (Poland), Paweł Kalinski (USA Representative) and INFARMA

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

 

Functional Precision Oncology

Keynote addresses and panel discussions on future directions in oncology.

Session Chairs: Michal Mikula (MSCI), Alana Welm (University of Utah, USA)

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Keynote US / Alana Welm, PhD – “Modeling metastatic breast cancer to advance therapeutic strategies”, University of Utah
  • PL / Marcin Duleba, PhD – “XX”, Ryvu Therapeutics
  • PL / Dawid Walerych – “XX”, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute PAS
Tumor Immuno MicroEnvironment

Session Chairs: Elżbieta Sarnowska

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Olga Karaman – “CAR-T – title pending”, Lithuania
  • Natalia Khranowska – title pending, Ukraine
  • Alfonso Urbanucci – “Prostate cancer immune microenvironment”, Oslo, Norway
  • Leszek Kotula – “ABI1 in T cell function – pending”, Upstate US
  • Andreas Pearl – Upstate, USA
Academia–Biotech Collaboration: Bridging Science, Policy, and Industry

Facilitated discussions between policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to drive actionable collaborations.

Session Chairs: Piotr Widłak, MSCI (USA, CEE)

⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

Program of the Symposium

Please expand section below to find general program of the conference. We will share more details at a later time.

🔹 Innovative Public Health Policies Developing and implementing new policies to enhance cancer prevention, and screening accessibility. Session Chairs: Pawel Koczkodaj (Poland), Anda Vlad or Phillip Castle from USA/NCCN ⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours 🔹 Global Health Initiatives Addressing cancer disparities worldwide, improving healthcare access in underserved population by fostering global collaborations. Session Chairs: Iwona Lugowska (Poland), Thierry Philip/Claudio Lombardo (OECI WORLD), USA Representative ⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours
  1. OECI – Ensuring Quality Through Accreditation
  2. CCI4EU – How to Build Capacity
  3. Use Cases and Our Deep Dives: Three Countries – Croatia, Piedmont, and Poland
  4. Discussions
🔹 RCMC Project & Artificial Intelligence in Oncology Utilizing AI for early detection, personalized treatment, and enhanced patient outcomes. Session Chairs: Magdalena Rosinska (Poland) with USA nad CEE Representative ⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours  

🔹 Immunotherapy
Advancements in immunotherapy and  clinical trials.
Session Chairs: Piotr Rutkowski (Poland), USA Representative: Tom Gajewski
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

🔹 Precision Medicine
Advancements in targeted cancer therapies through clinical trials.
Session Chairs: Iwona Lugowska (Poland), USA Representative
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Molecular and immunological classification of chondrosarcoma. Piotr Rutkowski

🔹 HeathCare & Biotech Collaboration
Overcoming challenges in research partnerships, accelerating the development of novel cancer treatments.
Session Chairs: Wojciech Fendler (Poland), Paweł Kalinski USA Representative and INFARMA
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Gala dinner

 

🔹 Functional precision oncology
Keynote addresses and panel discussions on future directions in oncology.
Session Chairs: Michal Mikula (MSCI), Alana Welm (Univeristy of Utah, USA)
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Keynote US / Alana Welm, PhD “Modeling metastatic breast cancer to advance therapeutic strategies” University of Utah
  • PL / Marcin Duleba, PhD“XX” Ryvu Therepeutics
  • PL / Dawid Walerych “XX” Mossakowski Medical Research Institute PAS

🔹 Tumor Immuno MicroEnvironment
Session Chairs: Elżbieta Sarnowska
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

  • Olga Karaman “CAR-T – title pending” Lithuania
  • Natalia Khranowska title pending Ukraine
  • Alfonso Urbanucci Oslo “Prostate cancer immune microenvironment” Norway
  • Leszek Kotula Upstate “ABI1 in T cell function – pending” US
  • Andreas Pearl Upstate USA

🔹Academia–Biotech Collaboration: Bridging Science, Policy, and Industry
Facilitated discussions between policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to drive actionable collaborations.
Session Chairs: Piotr Widłak, MSCI, (USA, CEE)
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

Program of the Symposium

Please expand section below to find general program of the conference. We will share more details at a later time.

🔹 Innovative Public Health Policies
Developing and implementing new policies to enhance cancer prevention, screening, and treatment accessibility.
Session Chairs: Pawel Koczkodaj (Poland), Keld (Denmark), USA/NCCN Representative
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

🔹 Global Health Initiatives
Addressing cancer disparities worldwide, improving healthcare access in underserved populations, and fostering global collaborations.
Session Chairs: Beata Jagielska (Poland), Maja Camazar (Slovenia), Phierry Philip (OEACI WORLD), USA Representative
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

🔹 RCMC Project & Artificial Intelligence in Oncology
Utilizing AI for early detection, personalized treatment, and enhanced patient outcomes.
Session Chairs: Magdalena Rosinska (Poland) with USA Representative
⏳ Duration: 2.5 hours

🔹 Immunotherapy & Precision Medicine
Advancements in targeted cancer therapies, clinical trials, and personalized medicine approaches.
Session Chairs: Piotr Rutkowski (Poland), Iwona Lugowska (Poland), USA Representative

🔹 Academia & Biotech Collaboration Overcoming challenges in research partnerships, accelerating the development of novel cancer treatments.
Session Chairs: Wojciech Fendler (Poland), INFARMA Representative, USA Representative

🔹 Emerging Innovations in Cancer Research and Care
Keynote addresses and panel discussions on future directions in oncology.
Session Chairs: To be announced
⏳ Duration: Full-day session

🔹 Networking & Collaborative Opportunities
Session Chairs: Facilitated discussions between policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to drive actionable collborations.

🔹 Students’ Oncology Forum
Engaging young researchers and students in cancer research discussions and mentorship opportunities.

🔹 Grant Opportunities in the USA
Presentation on available research funding, scholarships, and exchange programs for students and early-career scientists.

Learn about the speakers