The 36th Fondazione Pezcoller Symposium took place earlier this year, and together with the American Association for Cancer Research and The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research we were pleased to award 7 Travel Grants to EACR and AACR members who had submitted an abstract and needed financial assistance to attend the event.
Read about their experiences at the conference.
Beatriz Ocaña Tienda
Beatriz Ocaña TiendaPostdoctoral Researcher, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Spain
This symposium stood out as one of the best she has attended, bringing together top specialists whose work she has long admired and even considered joining for postdoctoral research.
“This symposium featured several excellent talks on the topic by leading researchers in the field,” Beatriz says, “I acquired many ideas and inspiration, and I am looking forward to returning to work and applying what I learned.”
Beyond the scientific programme, she enjoyed immersing herself in Italian culture, from tasting authentic pizza upon arrival in Trento to sharing traditional dishes at the symposium dinner. The event not only sparked new directions for her research but also provided valuable career insights, especially during a discussion led by Nobel Prize winner William G. Kaelin, where senior researchers shared experiences and advice highly relevant to early-career scientists.
Cinzia Benetti
Cinzia BenettiPostgraduate student, Candiolo Cancer Institute, Italy
The symposium was a uniquely enriching experience for Cinzia, marked by high-quality talks, meaningful discussions, and invaluable career insights. She felt that the smaller scale of the event fostered direct engagement with speakers, journal editors, and peers, making it easier to ask questions, build connections, and gain advice on publishing and communicating research effectively.
Beyond the sessions, visiting the Science Museum of Trento provided a cultural and scientific perspective that tied beautifully into the symposium’s theme of treating cancer in the digital era. “Walking through the exhibitions on the origin and evolution of life made me reflect on how far science has come and how the challenges that humankind faces have evolved,” she says, “Today, cancer is one of the most pressing issues, with one in five people developing it in their lifetime, and there is still so much to
explore.”
Filippo Pederzoli
Filippo PederzoliPostdoctoral Associate, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, US
Filippo was one of the two EACR members who received a Best Abstract Award. He described the session on artificial intelligence in pathology as “absolutely the standout, with groundbreaking presentations on cancer detection algorithms and the use of generative AI to interpret pathological slides.” What struck him most was the collaborative spirit between pathologists and data scientists, creating an environment where traditional diagnostics and cutting-edge technology could come together to improve patient care.
Outside the scientific programme, he explored Trento through geocaching, which led him to landmarks like the Cattedrale and the Castello del Buonconsiglio, while also uncovering quirky local stories such as the so-called “Devil’s Palace.” The experience left a lasting impression on his research, inspiring him to integrate AI interpretability into his tumour microenvironment studies to make complex data more clinically accessible.
Mariachiara Grieco
Mariachiara GriecoPhD Student, University of Milan, Italy
Mariachiara described Madan Babu’s presentation on GPCR manipulation and Christina Curtis’s work on modelling tumour evolution as intellectual highlights, while also noting the thrill of meeting Nobel Laureate Dr. William Kaelin. “The quality of speakers was exceptional,” she says, “There was no talk that I didn’t appreciate fully.” What stood out most was the symposium’s unique atmosphere, which allowed time for in-depth discussions and meaningful exchanges during poster sessions and coffee breaks.
The experience reinforced her belief in the importance of interdisciplinarity and inspired her to explore how computational approaches can directly impact patient care. She found the Career Development Panel particularly motivating, recalling Prof. Chiara Ambrogio’s reminder that “effortless is a myth,” she says, “and I really believe in the power of these words to guide my next steps.” Networking was another highlight, from receiving valuable feedback on her project to reconnecting with a former colleague, making the symposium both scientifically and personally enriching.
Martina Troiani
Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Bellinzona, Switzerland
Martina was one of the two EACR members who received a Best Abstract Award. One of her personal highlights was the career development session, where she heard inspiring stories from leading scientists about their journeys. “As I’m now at a stage in my career where I need to make important decisions,” she says, “listening to their experiences helped me reflect and ask myself the right questions.” She also valued the symposium’s unique focus on the digital era in research, particularly the sessions on machine learning and digital pathology, which gave her new insights highly relevant to her work as a bioinformatician.
Networking proved equally valuable, as she presented her poster and had excellent discussions that led to two new collaborations, while also strengthening existing ones. She returned home eager to share the ideas and feedback she received, holding a two-hour meeting with her group to discuss next steps.
Mattia Colucci
Mattia ColucciPostdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Stem-cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, Italy
Mattia described receiving the Begnudelli Award for his poster as his absolute highlight. “The opportunity to present our scientific data orally and discuss it directly with the scientific community was a unique and invaluable experience,” he says, “And sharing the stage with the other awardees and Nobel laureate Professor William Kaelin was a true honour.” He also found inspiration in talks by Professor Ido Amit on single-cell technologies and Dr. Jan Korbel on large-scale genetic changes in cancer, which offered innovative approaches directly relevant to his T-cell leukemia research.
Beyond the scientific programme, he enjoyed the cultural atmosphere of Trento, taking walks along the Adige River, exploring Piazza del Duomo, and attending the Feste Vigiliane, including the vibrant costume parades and the Palio dell’Oca raft challenge. He expressed gratitude to the EACR, AACR, and The Mark Foundation for the Travel Grant, noting that the symposium’s informal and collaborative environment provided both knowledge and professional connections that will have a lasting impact on his research and career.
Rafaela Miranda Barbosa
Rafaela Miranda BarbosaPhD Candidate, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Rafaela was particularly inspired by seeing how oncology research is increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence. “Even though I work directly with AI-based models, it’s impressive to see how rapidly this field evolves and how many possibilities exist that I had not yet imagined,” she says, “This brought me several new ideas for my projects and perspectives I had not previously considered.”
She also valued the exceptional quality of the lectures and the skill with which complex concepts were made accessible, prompting her to reflect on how to improve her own presentations and teaching abilities. The Career Development Panel, and especially Dr. William G. Kaelin Jr.’s advice to “love what you do so that your research becomes the thing that motivates you most in the world,” she says, “reinforced my passion for research and gave me a clearer perspective on how to build a solid career.”
Interested in EACR Conferences and further Travel Grants?
We organise a variety of excellent cancer research conferences, both in person and virtual, where the latest research topics and interaction for participants are the very highest priorities.
To assist researchers who need financial assistance to attend our in-person conferences, we offer EACR-Worldwide Cancer Research Travel Grants. Recipients also get the opportunity to present their work as an oral or poster presentation. Each Travel Grant includes a free registration and funds to support travel and accommodation costs.
Make sure you add the dates of upcoming EACR Conferences to your diary now. Don’t forget we offer EACR member discounts on all of our registration fees!
