Welcome to the European Association for Cancer Research
Connecting cancer researchers together
Persister Cells: from Bacteria to Cancer
Lyon, France : 18 - 20 March 2025
Scientific programme
To download and print the programme, use the links below.
Listed times are in Central European Time (CET)
REGISTRATION & WELCOME LUNCH
CONFERENCE WELCOME
Persisters: Where are we now… and where are we going?
Is it really possible to give a definition of persister cells? Our Scientific Programme Committee comes together to discuss the aims of the meeting and the key questions in the field.
SESSION 1: Novel methodologies for studying persister cells
Jan Michiels VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Belgium
"Mechanistic Insights and Evolutionary Dynamics of Persistence in Escherichia coli"
Q&A: 14:15 - 14:25
Proffered Paper 1
Q&A: 14:35 - 14:40
EXHIBITOR INTRODUCTIONS
COFFEE BREAK, EXHIBITION & SOLO TRAVELLER MEET-UP
Yaara Oren Tel Aviv University, Israel
"The day after the drug- investing drug-induced cellular memory"
Q&A: 15:40 - 15:50
Direna Alonso-Curbelo IRB Barcelona, Spain
Q&A: 16:10 - 16:20
INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM
Cedric Blanpain Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
"Tumor States mediating Resistance to Chemotherapy"
Q&A: 17:10-17:20
POSTER SPOTLIGHTS 1
WELCOME RECEPTION
POSTER DISCUSSION SESSION 1
Listed times are in Central European Time (CET)
EARLY POSTER VIEWING
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Session 2: Deciphering the persister code: Molecular mechanisms
Susan Rosenberg Baylor College of Medicine, USA
"Drugging Bacterial and Cancer Evolution"
Q&A: 09:20 - 09:30
Proffered Paper 2
Q&A: 09:40 - 09:45
Mariangela Russo University of Torino, Italy
Q&A: 10:05 - 10:15
THE EMBO KEYNOTE LECTURE
Chris Marine VIB - KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Belgium
Q&A: 10:35 - 10:45
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Aaron Hata Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
“Understanding tumor cell adaptation and evolution in lung cancers treated with targeted therapies”
Q&A: 11:35 - 11:45
Proffered Paper 3
Q&A: 11:55 - 12:00
POSTER SPOTLIGHTS 2
INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM
LUNCH
POSTER DISCUSSION SESSION 2
Session 3: Emerging vulnerabilities: Targeting persister cells
Ultan McDermot AstraZeneca, UK
"Genome-wide CRISPR screens identify the YAP/TEAD axis as a driver of persister cells in EGFR mutant lung cancer"
Q&A: 15:30 - 15:40
Proffered Paper 4
Q&A: 15:50 - 15:55
Proffered Paper 5
Q&A: 16:05 - 16:10
Eduard Batlle IRB Barcelona, Spain
Q&A: 16:30 - 16:40
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Johannes Zuber IMP - Institute of Molecular Pathology, Austria
“Unveiling persister cell vulnerabilities through in-vivo CRISPR screens”
Q&A: 17:30 - 17:40
René Bernards Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands
"Identification of vulnerabilities of DTPs through functional genetics"
Q&A: 18:00 - 18:10
Early Career Advice: Managing the work life balance
CONFERENCE DINNER
Listed times are in Central European Time (CET)
EARLY POSTER VIEWING
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Session 4: Persister cells in the clinic
Wendy Mok UConn Health, USA
"Targeting Metabolism and Defenses to Eradicate Bacterial Persisters"
Q&A: 09:20 - 09:30
Shruti Bhatt National University of Singapore, Singapore
"Clonal Evolution of Drug-Tolerant Leukemia Cells: Implications for Treatment Resistance"
Q&A: 09:50 - 10:00
Proffered Paper 6
Q&A: 10:10 - 10:15
COFFEE BREAK & EXHIBITION
Caroline Robert Gustave Roussy, France
"Interactions of the Persister Cells with the tumor microenvironment"
Q&A: 11:05 - 11:15
Trever Bivona UCSF, USA
"Mechanisms of persister cell biology in lung cancer"
Q&A: 11:35 - 11:45
SUMMARY & CLOSE
DEPART
