A special report from one of the EACR’s affiliated national societies, as part of our ongoing National Society Spotlight series.
ASPIC, the Portuguese Association for Cancer Research (www.aspic.pt), is Portugal’s national forum for multidisciplinary cancer research. Founded in 2013, following its launch with the support of the EACR in 2012, ASPIC’s mission is to promote cancer research and the dissemination of science in Oncology. Currently, with 449 members, ASPIC brings together researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals to advance cancer research and promote collaboration across the cancer research continuum.
Connecting Portugal to the international cancer research community
Scientific meetings remain central to ASPIC’s activities. In 2025, ASPIC played a leading role in several high-profile events that highlighted the quality and diversity of cancer research in Portugal and abroad.
The ASPIC–EACR Joint Symposium, held during the EACR Annual Congress 2025 in Lisbon, showcased Portuguese excellence in areas such as cancer immunotherapy, zebrafish cancer avatars, leukaemia biology and hereditary cancer genetics, providing a valuable international platform for national researchers. ASPIC also co-organised the Joint EACR–ASPIC Symposium: Cancer Therapy Resistance, bringing together international experts to discuss one of the most pressing challenges in oncology.
ASPIC further strengthened international collaboration through the IV ASEICA–ASPIC International Meeting in Santiago de Compostela, which promoted dialogue between Portuguese and Spanish researchers across basic, translational and clinical cancer research.
A major milestone was the 7th ASPIC International Congress, held in Porto in 2026. Bringing together national and international experts, with four keynote lectures supported by EACR, EAU Urological Research Section, ASEICA and USA-PT Initiative against Cancer, the congress showcased advances in cancer biology, precision oncology, liquid biopsy, biomarker-driven clinical trials and immunotherapy. A particular highlight was the continued Patients’ Advocacy Poster Walkthrough, reinforcing ASPIC’s commitment to connecting research with patient needs and societal impact.
Building bridges between research and society
A key ASPIC priority is ensuring that cancer research remains closely connected to patients, caregivers and society.
This commitment was reflected in the Conference on Gynaecological and Urological Cancers – Prevention, Treatment and Challenges, which brought together clinicians, researchers, patient advocates, and members of the public to discuss prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. More broadly, ASPIC actively promotes cancer research as a driver of better healthcare outcomes and raises awareness of its importance in improving patients’ lives.
Through its website and communication channels, ASPIC regularly shares information on scientific meetings, funding opportunities, awards, training initiatives and career opportunities, helping to keep the Portuguese cancer research community informed and connected.
Investing in the next generation
Supporting early-career researchers remains one of ASPIC’s defining priorities. At a time when the sustainability of research funding and long-term career opportunities remain major challenges in Portugal, ASPIC invests in initiatives that help young investigators thrive.
These efforts include free registration fees and travel support for the EACR and ASEICA-ASPIC International Meeting, training opportunities of excellence such as the 2nd International Portugal-USA Summer Course in Cancer Research (which enabled promising starting researchers to learn from and interact with an outstanding faculty that included two noble prize laureates), and activities that foster networking and international collaboration. ASPIC also recently established four dedicated Working Groups – Young Researchers, Dissemination & Outreach, A Bridge to Patients and Caregivers, and Artificial Intelligence – to strengthen engagement across the community, support the next generation of researchers, enhance science communication and encourage innovation in cancer research.
Building the future of Portuguese cancer research
“ASPIC remains committed to supporting excellence in cancer research, fostering collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and strengthening connections between researchers, clinicians, patients and society. We are proud of the resilience and achievements of the Portuguese cancer research community and look forward to creating new opportunities for innovation, international collaboration and impact in the years ahead.”
Carmen Jerónimo (ASPIC Past President) and João Barata (ASPIC Past Vice-President & current President)
About National Societies affiliated with the EACR
The MOT is one of the 14 National Societies that have chosen to affiliate with the European Association for Cancer Research and give their members EACR membership at no extra cost to each member. Click here to find out more about these affiliated National Societies.
