EACR 2023 Annual Congress: A Participant’s View

Postdoctoral Researcher, VIB-KULeuven, Belgium

Job title: Postdoctoral Researcher
Home institution: VIB-KULeuven, Belgium
Research: Melanoma constitutes a heterogenous mixture of cancer cells in which each cell may display different biological features and behaviour. Surrounding tissues (stroma) support growth and progression of tumour by creating the niche protecting cancer cells from the hostile signals from the environment. Our lab has recently identified a population of malignant cells with stemness properties which fuel tumour growth and maintain tumour heterogeneity. These melanoma stem-like cells locate around blood vessels and interact with perivascular stromal populations. My aim is to understand how perivascular cells interact with melanoma cells and promote melanoma stemness.

What was a personal highlight of the conference for you?

I was happy to participate in the Mentoring and Gender Actions in Cancer Research sessions and to learn about actions that can be taken to ensure equal training opportunities in academia for everyone. While the gender gap is still omnipresent in academic research, recent years brought some positive changes to help female scientists with the career development. This session was inspirational and gave me hope for the better future. I have understood that it is in our hands to make labs a better place where everyone stand equal changes and is feeling equally appreciated. This is the future I would like to see for myself and future generations and is worth to fight for it.

Were there any social/networking highlights you want to tell us about?

During my poster presentation, I had an amazing discussion with Dr. Giovanni Ciriello from the University of Lausanne and a postdoctoral fellow from his lab, Daniele. I got to present my work in detail to them and also received valuable feedback. We also discussed some follow up collaboration opportunities which would be an important addition to my work.

Have your brough back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

In addition to great talks and meetings with PIs (please see above), I was happy to participate in the industrial sessions to explore new technologies and possibilities to implement in my research. I had chance to talk with experts about advances in spatial technologies and sequencing, which I am exploring for my postdoctoral research. I am also in contact with the company developing organ on chip to better recapitulate tumour microenvironment in vitro.

How has the conference inspired you in your research?

I was impressed by many speakers at the congress. As I am working on tumour microenvironment myself, I definitely took many hints from Johanna A. Joyce, Douglas Hannah and Andreas Trumpp. I also have a chance to meet some of our collaborators in person for a first time (like Yaara Oren with who I am collaborating for barcoding technology).

When you got home, was there anything from the conference that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

I attended many fantastic talks which were not fully related to my research topics but I was happy to take notes and share these research with my colleagues from the lab/institute. Especially, tumour dissemination and metastasis field was very well explored at the conference with Nicola Aceto giving the plenary session about circulating tumour cells and Christoph Klein exploring the concept of metastatic initiating cells. Furthermore, I truly enjoyed therapeutic talks where Anna Obenauf, Mark Dawson and Yaara Oren presented how barcoding technology may improve cancer treatment and our understanding of tumour progression. Finally, I appreciated the presentations of speakers explaining how to overcome immune evasion and resistance to chemotherapy such as Marisol Soengas.

PhD Student, University of Wollongong, Australia

Job title: PhD Student
Home institution: University of Wollongong, Australia
Research: Skin cancers are a very common disease in Australia. Our research focusses on finding new treatments and understanding existing ones. Recently, our focus has shifted to the body’s immune system to fight skin cancer. Cancer can highjack “breaks” that stop the body from clearing cancerous cells. We have treated people with otherwise untreatable cancers using antibodies that help release those breaks. Ultimately, we re-activate the immune system and help it to clear the cancer. We have observed some good responses and we are trying to understand why some people respond to the treatment better than others.

What was a personal highlight of the conference for you? 

My personal highlight of the congress was the keynote lecture presented by Prof. Hanahan. As a cancer researcher one has almost certainly at least once read the hallmarks of cancer papers. It was great to see how such an icon conducts their research and the successes they were able to achieve.

Were there any social/networking highlights you want to tell us about? 

The EACR 2023 Annual Congress provided an excellent opportunity to connect with peers from other institutions. I enjoyed talking to other PhD students and post-doctoral fellows about their career paths and learn more about how they work. On that note, it was a great opportunity to identify laboratories to engage in collaborations with or for future employment.

How was this conference different from others you have attended? 

The EACR 2023 Annual Congress in Torino was the first international conference I attended. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the congress. It was great to see many researchers from different countries and the quality of the work presented. As a researcher from Australia that has previously only attended local conferences, it was valuable to explore the different topics that are researched around the world and see the breadth of different experimental setups.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities in your free time outside of the conference?  

Outside the congress, I got to explore the city centre of Torino with all its marvellous architecture and historic significance. Aside from the sightseeing, there were many smaller local shops that provided a breadth of culinary specialities such as cheeses, prosciutto and wines. Of course, we also indulge in the obligatory visit at a local pizza restaurant. Finally, I quite enjoyed the authentic food and the musical accompaniment during the congress celebration.

How has the conference inspired you in your research? 

The quality of your research the research was inspiring and motivated me to improve and hone my own skills. The design of studies addressing larger questions such as the influence of the tumor microenvironment on the response to immunotherapy was fascinating and sparked ideas for projects of my own. Finally, the successful completion of projects and the resulting clinical successes were encouraging and re-affirming.

When you got home, is there anything from the conference that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about? 

I couldn’t even wait to share some of the new ideas until I got home. During the conference, I sent multiple avenues we haven’t explored yet to colleagues working on these projects. These ranged from study designs to new drug combinations to test. I am sure, we will at least follow up with some of those.

PhD Student, INSERM U1189 Oncothai, France

Job title: PhD Student
Home institution: INSERM U1189 Oncothai, France
Research: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an upper aerodigestive tract cancer characterized by an immunosuppressive immune response leading to tumor cell growth. This effect could be mediated by exosomes, which are cargo vesicles secreted by tumor cells and essential for intercellular communication. Indeed, we have shown in the laboratory that these vesicles have a direct impact on immune cells (dendritic cells and Treg lymphocytes), accentuating this immunosuppressive microenvironment. In this context, our main objective is to identify a molecule carried by exosomes that could explain their suppressive function, and to propose a new therapeutic strategy targeting this molecule.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities?

This trip was, for me, my first opportunity to visit Italy. And I particularly enjoyed the few countries I saw through Torino. During the congress, I was very lucky to visit the beautiful city of Torino, and to be able to stroll around the city. In addition, I take full advantage of the country’s gastronomy, in particular by eating delicious pizzas under the guidance of locals.

How has the conference inspired you in your research?

The congress was packed with a lot of inspiring presentations. I particularly enjoyed scientific work of Nicola Aceto about the circulating tumour cells. I also had the chance to discuss and exchange ideas with people working on extracellular vesicles, the subject of my studies, which was very enriching for my future work. In addition to the scientific aspects, I particularly appreciated the end of Johanna A. Joyce’s presentation, which reminded us of the place of women in the world of research, a place that is not sufficiently present in high responsibility position.

Have you brough back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

We work in the laboratory on extracellular vesicles. This congress allows me to talk to various people working on the subject and see the markers they were using, particularly in Western blots, to characterize these vesicles, as to date there is no consensus on which ones to use. I was also able to talk to some of the companies present at the stand, who were able to show me products that would be of great benefit to me as I pursue my research.

When you got home, is there anything from the Congress that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

The EACR congress was the first international congress I’d ever attended, and it was also my first abroad. So for me, it was a very impressive experience. And one of the things that particularly impressed me was the size of the congress which was impressive. There were an impressive number of posters as well as attendees at the congress. If I may say so, I think there were too many posters, and even if the sessions allowed us to go to the posters we wanted and talked with others, it was difficult to look at them all.  

PhD Student, IQUIBICEN – University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Job title: PhD Student 
Home institution: IQUIBICEN – University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Research: Almost 90% of prostate cancer metastases occur in bone. The arrival of tumor cells to the homing organ requires a metabolic adaptation to different nutrients and oxygen availability in the new microenvironment to fulfill sustained growth and proliferation rates. My research focuses on characterizing the alterations in tumor metabolism occurring in human prostate cancer cells when they interact with the bone microenvironment. Elucidating how these cells obtain their energy and “building blocks”, and identifying key determinants underlying this phenomenon, could be promising strategies to halt disease progression. 

Were there any networking highlights you want to tell us about? 

I had the chance to meet and talk to Dr. Joaquin Mateo, a leader scientist in prostate cancer research, who shared his career journey and the challenges he faced along the way, which resonated with me as a young researcher. It was encouraging to hear how perseverance and passion can lead to significant breakthroughs in scientific research, and in the translation from the bench to the bedside. As a basic scientist, it was a motivational talk for me, to keep working on fundamental discoveries with a focus on patients’ needs. Overall, the career discovery session was a valuable experience that fueled my enthusiasm for my work and motivated me to continue striving for impactful discoveries. I am excited to further enhance my networking with clinicians, as I believe that collaboration and knowledge exchange are key to advancing medical research and improving patient outcomes.

Have you brough back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

During EACR 2023, I learnt something absolutely fascinating about the metastatic process, my field of expertise. Nicola Aceto, recipient of The Pezcoller Foundation – EACR Translational Cancer Researcher Award, presented mind-blowing findings that shed new light on the behavior and dynamics of metastatic breast cancer cells during sleep. Aceto’s study revealed a remarkable phenomenon: during the rest phase, cancer circulating tumor cells (CTCs) intravasate the bloodstream at higher levels than during the active phase in both, mouse models and humans, which is also accompanied by an enhanced ability to establish secondary tumors. These results showcase the paramount importance of chronobiology, not just during patient treatment or biopsy collection, but also in lab experiments. By unraveling these intricate mechanisms, we gain invaluable insights into the complex nature of cancer progression and even pave the way for time-controlled treatments.

How has the conference inspired you in your research?

“How will your research change the field of cancer?” “What is your motivation?” “Do you already have a plan?”. The Meet the Directors session provided valuable insights and inspiration for those early career scientists thinking in running their own lab. It was highlighted the evolving role of basic scientists in the translation of discoveries to clinical applications and the importance of collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and public engagement in advancing basic science. The idea that combining different perspectives and expertise can lead to innovative solutions and advancements was emphasized by the directors of prestigious research institutes, referents in the cancer field, and I got many “take-home messages” to set my middle and long-term goals.

When you got home, is there anything from the Congress that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

Yes! The EACR is a truly inspirational organisation to get involved with, particularly for individuals from countries in Latin America. The warm and welcoming environment creates a sense of genuine comfort and confidence. As a global organization, members are pioneering scientists from various corners of the World who are readily available to answer any questions, engage in conversations, and discuss posters and new projects. Upon returning home, my immediate instinct was to encourage my colleagues to become members. The EACR offers a myriad of opportunities for students and early career scientists, allowing them to expand their professional network on a global scale.

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Turin, Italy

Job title: Postdoctoral Researcher
Home institute: University of Turin, Italy
Research focus: My current research project focuses on the role of the CD39/CD73 adenosinergic pathway in patients with Sèzary Syndrome (SS), a very rare and aggressive type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Recently, we reported abnormal expression of CD39 and/or CD73 proteins in SS cells circulating in the blood and infiltrating the skin. CD39 and CD73 are involved in adenosine production leading to immunosuppression. Accordingly, we hypothesized that adenosinergic networks orchestrated by malignant T cells and the tumor microenvironment contribute to tumor immune evasion. Hence, my research will investigate the role of CD39 and CD73 in SS immunosuppression in order to develop new therapeutic strategies for patients with SS.

What was a personal highlight of the conference for you?

Personally, I think the EACR Congress was very well organised and successful. Several sessions were very informative and insightful on their respective topics. Besides the Educational Sessions, I also found some Industry Symposiums (e.g., Miltenyi Biotec Symposium) to be very valuable since they covered areas of interest and research that I am interested in. On the first day of congress when there was a Single Cell Technology Session, I enjoyed the presentation by Dr. Massimiliano Pagani from the University of Milan. He talked about the tumor microenvironment, which was of great interest to my research. Meanwhile, when there was a session on advanced T-cell therapy, I found all the presentations very informative and useful.

Were there any networking highlights you want to tell us about?

During the Poster Section, I had the opportunity to present my own poster, but also I had the chance to discuss with other junior researchers and scientists their work, exchange ideas with them and extend my professional network. After the presentation, I had a very pleasant private conversation with Dr. Javier León from University of Cantabria, who was interested in my research on cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and we soon found that there might be some chances to work together.

How was this conference different from others you have attended?

This year’s meeting under the theme “Innovative Cancer Science” explored the very best in basic, preclinical and translational cancer research. The EACR Travel Grant offered me the opportunity to interact with national and international scientists involved in the cancer research and discuss the results of my project with them. Also, this year’s congress was held in Torino, my hometown, and offered me the chance to share my experience and expertise with other participants from Torino and adopt a different perspective on how to benefit from exchange of ideas, socialising with experts in different fiends of cancer research, as well as examine the potential collaborations that could enhance the level of my research.

How has the conference inspired you in your research?

I found that there were many interesting sessions regarding Spatial Transcriptomics and Single-Cell Technologies (which I personally do not utilize in my research yet), but on the other hand, it inspired me to learn how they can be applied in my research. Single cell analysis used in several presentations was also the theme I immediately discussed with my supervisor. As a result of our discussions both in private and in lab meetings, we are now writing an original research project, in which single cell RNA sequencing can be used in our tumour model.

MPhil Student, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR China

Job title: MPhil Student
Home institute: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR China
Research focus: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an emerging malignancy in the developed countries. We hypothesize that adipocytes, one of the key cellular factors within the tumor microenvironment of NAFLD-induced HCC, may play a critical role in HCC development via regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Our previous studies using a co-culture system in which differentiated adipocytes were grown with HCC cells confirmed adipocytes to enhance liver CSC properties including self-renewal, invasiveness, and chemo-resistance. We then identified FABP4 as a key regulator secreted by adipocytes to promotes liver CSC function and is currently working on the downstream pathways.

What was a personal highlight of the congress for you?

It will be the poster presentation session. It is my first time participating in a poster session as a presenter. I enjoyed this valuable platform to showcase my research findings and scientific work to a wide audience of experts and young researchers. I have some meaningful interactions with fellow researchers and by sharing my research methodology and results with several postgraduate students, I got some inspirational ideas for future study. I also receive some constructive feedback that can enhance my research and its impact. I also discovered novel methodologies by exploring other posters.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities in your free time outside of the congress?

The moment I arrived Torino, I was immediately captivated by the charm and grandeur of this historic place. My most unforgettable activity outside the conference will be visiting the Royal Palace of Torino. As I stepped through the entrance, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the magnificence that surrounded me. One of my favourites was the Royal Armory, where a vast collection of arms and armour was on display. The craftsmanship and attention to detail were so remarkable, and I marvelled at the intricacy of each piece. I will definitely revisit this place!

When you got home, is there anything from the congress that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

I have joined some industry talk sessions about the spatial imaging. This technique has revolutionised our ability to study cancer by providing detailed information about the spatial organization of tissues. It allows us to visualize the spatial distribution of gene expression patterns and cellular interactions within complex biological samples. Precisely map the location of specific molecules within cells and tissues is crucial for understanding cellular function and disease processes. What’s more, by combining spatial imaging with single-cell RNA sequencing, we can simultaneously capture the gene expression profiles and spatial context of individual cells, providing a comprehensive understanding of cellular behavior.

Have you brought back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

I have discovered several interesting single cell analysis projects during the poster presentation session. The researchers applied the ligand-receptor interaction analysis in their single-cell RNA sequencing for understanding cellular communication and signaling networks at a single-cell resolution. Briefly, ligand-receptor interactions can be inferred by identifying the expression profiles of ligands and receptors across different cell types within a sample. By examining the co-expression patterns, we can gain insights into potential cell-cell communication and signaling pathways. I have asked for detailed bioinformatic methodology for such analysis and is currently trying with my previous control and treatment single cell sequencing samples.

PhD Student and Assistant Lecturer, Institute of Translational Medicine, Hungary

Job title: PhD Student and Assistant Lecturer
Home institute: Institute of Translational Medicine, Hungary
Research focus: I’m working in the Immunpathophysiology workgroup, led by Prof Péter Hamar at Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. We investigate the anti-tumor effects of modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT), a special type of oncological hypethermia in breast cancer mouse model. MEHT is used in the clinics, primarily in combination with chemo-, immune- or radiotherapy. MEHT treatment induces apoptosis and heat shock in the tumor tissues, moreover our results confirm, that mEHT alone can effectively reduce tumour progression and tumor-promoting factors, like lnc-RNA H19.

What was a personal highlight of the congress for you?

For me, the most interesting session was the Interface between the Microbiome and Immune System and presentations like Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Influencing the Microbiome by Rinse K Weersma and The Tumor Microbiome and its Effects of the Tumor Immune Landscape and Response to Immunotherapy by Ravid Straussman. Also, i liked the presentations about the research possibilities and grants, available in Europe for early-career researchers, especially postdocs.

Were there any networking highlights you want to tell us about?

I spoke to a Russian PhD student, Ekaterina Stasevich, who presented a poster about the role of STAT3 enhancer RNA in chemoresistance in glioblastoma model. Our workgroup also investigated non-coding RNA, like H19, which seemed to be significantly influenced by the mEHT treatment we apply in our tumor model. This common interest in non-coding RNAs can be a basis of a possible collaboration with their workgroup.

How was this meeting different from others you have attended?

For me, the size of the conference, the number of participants was outstanding, this was the biggest scientific, oncology-related conference that I have ever participated. Also, this was the first time, I have been awarded with a Travel Grant. Also, the General Assembly & Awards Ceremony was very different, I’m used to much longer speaks from the presidents, and this event was very short and straightforward, which can be favorable.

How has the congress inspired you in your research?

With my workgroup, we work with electro-hyperthermia and it is known, that hyperthermia can improve anti-cancer immune response. We performed some experiments, where we combined hyperthermia treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors, but we didn’t get good results. Now, at the conference we got some new information about immune checkpoint inhibitors, that were succesfully applied in murines and also, we learned about the effect of the microbiome on the effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor therapy. Now, with this impressions we will restart our experiences, combining new types of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and hyperthermia.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

As a PhD student in my final year, right before my public PhD defense, I’m looking for opportunities to go abroad to improve, to acquire knowledge, new techniques, new attitudes in research. For me, the activity of European Research Council and the different types of available grants was a new information. It was a very likeable approach of the congress, that there was a lot of presentations for the early-career, young researchers, presenting the possibilities for us, and in general, the whole event had an impression, that it has a focus on young researchers, which is honourable.

PhD Student, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Job title: PhD Student
Home institute: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Research focus: I work in understanding post transcriptional regulation in Breast Cancers. If the DNA can be loosely considered the “Blueprint” and the proteins as the “soldiers or executers” of various function, my work is focussed on RNA who can very loosely be thought as “messengers or guiders” who translate the information from the blueprint to actions inside the cells by the executers. My work focuses on how the messengers can be misguided and the implications of such “improper or faulty translations” can affect the cells in the context of cancer.

What was a personal highlight of the congress for you?

My personal highlight of the congress was the keynote lecture on RNA binding proteins by Dr. Marisol Soengas. As a PhD student working on an RNA binding protein myself, the lecture by Dr. Soengas helped me a lot by giving me ideas on how to coherently structure my results. Also, the way she had displayed the work on STAU1 gave me a much-needed perspective on making the graphical abstract of a research article that I am currently in the process of writing. Further reading up about her work after attending her lecture also gave me a few interesting ideas with respect to experiment design for my future work. This is the first paper from my PhD research that I am writing independently and so I am extremely grateful for the ideas that I gleaned.

Were there any networking highlights you want to tell us about?

Being an introvert, I usually find it hard to network and make friends. But the EACR congress has been a very different story. I met some extremely kind and helpful people who made the experience very enriching. Dr. Singha, for instance, showed interest in collaborating with us and was so gracious that he took the time out to help me figure out some In silico analysis which would be a nice addition to my thesis. Further, we found potential industry collaborators for metabolomics analysis that has been in the pipeline for an upcoming project involving patient samples in the laboratory that I am working in. I was also on the lookout for new cell lines to help further my work and attending the congress definitely helped me in that regard.

How was this meeting different from others you have attended?

This was the first conference that I have attended outside India. The crowd, the science and the philosophy of research that I was exposed to was a very welcome and refreshing experience. Looking at the work of fellow graduate students from different labs helped me evaluate myself with respect to my own mettle and tenacity as a research student. The four days were a very wholesome and reassuring ordeal where I gained a lot of confidence about the progress of my own work. The poster session was a highlight. In my previous experiences, people ask questions “to” me regarding the work that I present. But in my presentation at the congress, a few researchers who visited my posters asked questions “with” me. Pitching ideas back and forth led to a lot of clarity regarding a few interesting questions that I have been trying to answer in my PhD thesis.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities in your free time outside of the congress?

Yes. I have always been a lover of art and history and so, visiting the Egyptian museum was one of the most memorable experiences of my travel. I did also manage to visit the Milan cathedral. I have been fascinated with the stained glassed ever since grade school where I saw one in the pages of an encyclopedia. Seeing them first hand at the cathedral stunned me into silence for a whole ten minutes. The Leonardo3 museum was another favourite experience which I was excited about.

How has the congress inspired you in your research?

Attending the congress was a very enriching experience in terms of the scientific exposure. The symposium on tumour dormancy and persistence was an eye opener for me. I had a few interesting results that I had obtained in the course of my research work but was unclear as to how to proceed with the said results and we were unsure if they would go into my thesis. But after understanding more about persistor cells, the results I had with me started making more sense and put a lot of things in perspective. After a discussion with my PhD supervisor (who was also very excited about this) we have designed a set of experiments now which might now be an important part of my PhD thesis. Further, talking to a few fellow graduate students who presented posters led me to learning 4 different experimental protocols which would be a vast improvement over the techniques that I have been using in the lab.

When you got home, is there anything from the congress that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

As the only person from my department who attended the congress, I made it a point to note down as much possible information that was being discussed and presented at the congress which related to the work of fellow graduate students of my department. I had taken with me brochures and information regarding antibodies and cell lines mainly and also about organoids (which a couple of my colleagues were struggling to optimise). It was a nice experience to have been able to help them. We also didn’t have much idea about FEBS fellowship and courses, and attending the congress gave us all an awareness about it.

Have you brought back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

As discussed in my previous answers, getting a comprehensive understanding about cancer cell dormancy, senescence and persistence is the most significant take home idea that I got from attending the congress. The lectures on STAU1, SHP2 allosteric inhibitor for RAS tumours and a few well-presented posters gave me a lot of ideas on how to present my data in a more coherent manner. Discussions with fellow poster presenters also gave me ideas on new experimental protocols that can be easily established in my lab, very interesting one being BioID. I have already tried to do immunostaining of tumour spheroids from the information that I got from another PhD student which has turned out well!

PhD Student, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

Job title: PhD Student
Home institute: Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia
Research focus: I am a PhD student working in the field of molecular oncology. The aim of my PhD project is to profile the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer using various molecular genetics and biochemistry methods. As part of my daily practice, I work in a molecular genetics lab where I conduct diagnostic tests to detect mutations in the EGFR, KRAS, and BRAF genes for patients with lung, colorectal, and skin cancer.

What was a personal highlight of the congress for you?

Every event organised by EACR thus far has consistently surpassed my expectations. It provided me with the invaluable opportunity to critically assess my own research from a fresh perspective, while also gaining new insights through engaging lectures, enabling the further refinement and expansion of my ideas.

Were there any social/networking highlights you want to tell us about?

I found the career discovery session particularly enjoyable as it facilitated direct interaction with accomplished scientists who have highly successful careers in both industry and academia. I would really like to have more frequent opportunities to participate in sessions of this nature, as they offer invaluable insights and inspiration.

How was this meeting different from others you have attended?

During this meeting, I had the opportunity to connect with a significantly larger number of colleagues compared to the previous one I attended last year. I attribute this to the excellent organization of the poster session and congress generally as well as my personal growth, which enabled me to engage in more profound discussions compared to previous congresses. Thanks to the EACR Congress, I was able to establish connections with researchers from different areas of oncology research for potential future collaborations. Moreover, it was truly gratifying to reconnect with colleagues I had met the previous year, further strengthening our professional relationships.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities in your free time outside of the congress?

Turin exceeded all my expectations and I can freely say that it is the most beautiful Italian city I have visited so far.

How has the congress inspired you in your research?

The aspect that truly inspired me was the expanding research field surrounding circulating RNA, encompassing their detection and characterisation.

When you got home, is there anything from the congress that you immediately wanted to tell your colleagues about?

I am very pleased that after the congress I was able to discuss current research with my colleagues and to at least partly bring the spirit from Turin to Belgrade to the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia.

Have you brought back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

At the congress, I had the opportunity to listen to an excellent lecture on the topic of digital PCR during the QIAGEN-sponsored session. Considering that we are currently working on the implementation of digital PCR in our lab, the lecture on that topic helped me a lot in clarifying the difficulties I encountered so far. Also, this lecture gave me an idea of how we could design some future research using digital PCR.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to EACR once again for the invaluable opportunity to participate in this year’s congress. Unfortunately, the current financial situation in Serbia presents significant challenges in securing funds for attending congresses, making the Travel Grant provided by EACR extremely meaningful to researchers. Additionally, I had the privilege of attending the EACR congress this year as a member of the organizing committee for the Serbian Association for Cancer Researchers (SDIR). It was a honor to invite EACR members to join us at the upcoming SDIR congress in October, and I am truly grateful to EACR for supporting us in promoting this congress.

PhD Student, University of Melbourne, Australia

Job title: PhD Student
Home institute: University of Melbourne, Australia
Research focus: When a brain cancer grows, the body immune system attacks cancer cells as a defence mechanism. This includes a type of immune cells called macrophage. As cancer cells are smart cells, they manipulate macrophages, which are capable of killing them, to support their growth. My research is looking at the characteristics of these ‘good-turned-evil’ macrophages to find a way to convert them back to ‘good’ macrophages, so they can regain their cancer-killing abilities.

What was a personal highlight of the congress for you?

I felt honoured to receive the travel grant, which enabled me to fly from Melbourne, Australia to Turin, Italy. It was indeed an invaluable experience to attend the congress and listen to talks from international speakers. As I am currently in my 3rd year of PhD, I used the opportunity to expand my network to help me find a job as a postdoctoral researcher after my PhD.

Were there any social/networking highlights you want to tell us about?

I had the privilege of having a conversation with Prof. Johanna Joyce, the esteemed recipient of the Pezcoller-Marina Larcher Fogazzaro-EACR Women in Cancer Research Award. Her remarkable and inspiring presentation on the tumour microenvironment at the EACR Congress 2023 left a lasting impact on me as the topic coincides with the focus of my PhD project. It was such an invaluable experience to have a personal conversation with her and gain some insights for my research and career progression from her. I greatly admire her for her leadership and advocacy for women in science, as well as her remarkable scientific contributions.

How was this meeting different from others you have attended?

This meeting was attended by >2,000 registrants, the biggest number of conference attendees I have ever seen in my life. There was so much great science presented every day from a broad range of topics on basic cancer research, through oral talks and poster presentations which never bored me. There were so many industry representatives who are ready to help us with our questions regarding the latest advancement of their products.

Did you take part in any interesting local/cultural activities in your free time outside of the congress?

Yes! On the last day of the congress, I had a chance to visit the Royal Palace of Turin, which houses the Royal Museums. The highlight of the visit was the opportunity to see the rooms inside the Royal Palace with all the well-preserved details, paintings on the ceilings, and ornaments. Beside the museum visit, I really enjoyed eating pizza at different restaurants in Turin. I never got disappointed!

Have you brought back any specific knowledge that has benefited your research?

A particular topic that was presented by many researchers and industry representatives at the congress was spatial biology. I was amazed at how advanced spatial biology has become. What I witnessed at the congress was how the applications of spatial biology, from transcriptomics to proteomics, have answered numerous pivotal research questions. I am currently planning to integrate the technology into my PhD project to better answer my research question.