Welcome to the European Association for Cancer Research
Connecting cancer researchers together
Cancer Neuroscience
Bilbao, Spain : 14 - 16 October 2025
Scientific programme
To download and print the programme, use the links below.
Listed times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST)
REGISTRATION
Light refreshments will be served at 12:00
WELCOME TO DAY ONE
Session 1: Neural influences on cancer cells
Chair: Frank Winkler
Opening Keynote Lecture
Michelle Monje Stanford University, US
'The Neuroscience of Brain Cancers'
Q&A: 13:40-13:55
Varun Venkataramani University of Heidelberg, Germany
'Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing'
Q&A: 14:15-14:25
Matteo Bergami University Hospital Cologne, Germany
Proffered Paper 1: 'Functional synapses between small cell lung cancer and glutamatergic neurons'
Q&A: 14:35-14:40
EXHIBITOR INTRODUCTIONS
COFFEE BREAK, EXHIBITON AND SOLO TRAVELLER MEET-UP
Humsa Venkatesh (Virtual Presentation) Harvard Medical School, US
'Neural Communication Axes in Small Cell Lung Cancer'
Q&A: 15:40-15:50
Vera Thiel German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Germany
'Trace-Me(tastasis)-if-you-CAN (Cancer-Associated-Neurons): Unravelling how cancer-associated neurons shape the tumor microenvironment'
Q&A: 16:10-16:20
Karen Sleiman IBDM, France
Proffered Paper 2: 'Matrix stiffness and its impact on cancer innervation'
Q&A: 16:30-16:35
Molecular Oncology: Call for Content
POSTER SPOTLIGHTS 1
Poster 01 - Sena Oten (USA) 'Regional functional connectivity shapes neuron-glioma interactions in oligodendroglioma'
Poster 30 - Mirela Perla (Netherlands) 'Characterizing innervation in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer'
Poster 60 - Carmen Mota Reyes (Germany) 'Tumor Cell Neural Mimicry Orchestrates Neural Invasion in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Insights of a Multiomic Approach'
Meet the Scientific Programme Committee
An informal session where the organisers for the conference will join together to share their own personal and professional experiences of their path to scientific leadership.
WELCOME RECEPTION
POSTER DISCUSSION SESSION 1
Led by members of the Scientific Programme Committee
Listed times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST)
EARLY POSTER VIEWING (with coffee & biscuits)
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT - biomodal
Leonardo Motta biomodal
'The 6-base genome as a tool to reveal novel biomarkers and mechanistic insight in cancer neuroscience'
Session 2: Neural influences on the tumor environment
Chair: Michelle Monje
Erica Sloan Monash University, Australia
'Neural-tumour crosstalk drives breast cancer metastasis and impairs treatment response'
Q&A: 09.20-09.30
Anastasia Maria Zavitsanou (Virtual Presentation) Columbia University, USA
Proffered Paper 3: 'Investigating how lung cancer alters behavior via regulating the internal sensory system'
Q&A: 09.40-09.45
Sebastien Talbot Queen's University, Canada
'Nociceptor neurons impact anti-tumor immunity'
Q&A: 10:05-10:15
Linda Douw Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands
'Multiscale network neuroscience in neuro-oncological patients: from cell to circuit to cognition'
Q&A: 10:35-10:45
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Barbara Marte: Meet the Editors
Join us in this session led by Barbara Marte, Senior Editor at Nature (UK), to hear advice and insight about being an editor.
Meike Thijssen Maastricht University Medical Center, Netherlands
Proffered Paper 4: 'Adrenergic Signaling affects Tumor-associated B cell Maturation in Colorectal Cancer'
Q&A: 11:55-12:00
POSTER SPOTLIGHTS 2
Poster 70 - Jai Sidpra (UK) 'A prognostic human brain network for diffuse midline glioma'
Poster 100 - Tara Moghiseh (Germany) 'Activity-Dependent Glutamatergic Synaptic Signaling Drives Brain Metastasis Proliferation'
Poster 120 - Andreia Gonçalves (Portugal) 'Neuro-immune regulation of metastatic breast cancer dormancy in the liver'
INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM - LUNAPHORE
Müge Akpinar-Puchalla and Daniel Azorín Lunaphore and ETH Zurich
'Spatial Multiomics for Cancer Neuroscience: Mapping Neuron-Tumor Interactions in Glioblastoma and Other Tumors'
Q&A: 12:30-12:40
LUNCH
Light refreshments will be served.
POSTER DISCUSSION SESSION 2
Led by members of the Scientific Programme Committee
Session 3: Influences of cancer on the nervous system
Chair: Barbara Marte
Timothy Wang Columbia University, US
'Nociceptive neurons interact directly with gastric cancer cells via a CGRP/Ramp1 axis to promote tumour progression'
Q&A: 15:20-15:30
Valentina Lind University College London, UK
Proffered Paper 5: 'Glioblastoma neural activity maps to a prognostic human brain network'
Q&A: 15:40-15:45
EANO SPEAKER
Manuel Valiente CNIO, Spain
'Molecular and cellular rationale underlying the heterogeneous impact of metastases on brain activity'
Q&A: 16:05-16:15
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Benjamin Deneen Baylor College, US
'Decoding the Language of Brain Tumor and Neuron Communication'
Q&A: 17:05-17:15
Shawn Hervey-Jumper UCSF, USA
'A Multiscale Framework for Neuromodulation in Glioma-Infiltrated Cortex'
Q&A: 17:35-17:45
Panel Discussion
Which technologies do we need for the further advance of Cancer Neuroscience? How can we best educate future Cancer Neuroscientists? What do we need for successful development of Neuroscience-instructed Cancer Therapies?
Scheduled to end at 18:45
CONFERENCE DINNER
The conference dinner will take place at Kafe Antzokia Restaurant. After dinner, we will enjoy music and dancing with a live DJ. Optional ticketed event.
Listed times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST)
EARLY POSTER VIEWING (with coffee & biscuits)
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT - Cell Signaling Technology
Maxime Jacquet Cell Signaling Technology
'From Chimeric Antibodies to SignalStarTM: CST's Innovative Solutions for Cancer Neuroscience Research'
Session 4: Cancer-intrinsic neural mechanisms
Chair: Erica Sloan
Frank Winkler University Hospital Heidelberg & DKFZ, Germany
'Neural influences on brain tumor progression and therapy resistance: from fundamental insights to clinical trials'
Q&A: 09:20 - 09:30
Itay Tirosh Weizmann Institute, Israel
'Cancer cell states and their neuronal associations'
Q&A: 09:50 - 10:00
Melina Müller University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany
Proffered Paper 6: 'KCa3.1 inhibition increases antitumor effects of radiotherapy in glioblastoma models'
Q&A: 10:10 - 10:15
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Sofia Micheli Institute of Anatomy, Switzerland
Proffered Paper 7: 'Peripheral glia drive the initiation of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma'
Q&A: 10:55-11:00
Leanne Li Crick Institute, UK
'Genetically engineered mouse models in cancer neuroscience research'
Q&A: 11:20 - 11:30
THE EMBO Closing Keynote Lecture
Doug Hanahan EPFL, Switzerland
'The neuronal RNA-binding protein FMRP is a master regulator of the immuno-evasive tumor microenvironment'
Q&A: 12:00 - 12:15
SUMMARY & CLOSE
Key dates
Travel Grant application deadline:
30 June 2025
Abstract submission deadline:
30 June 2025
Registration and Payment deadline:
15 September 2025
