The programme reflected the breadth of work happening across the Centre, and highlighted how innovation often happens at the intersection of disciplines.
The day opened with a session on 'New to Oxford', which featured talks from:
- Dr Lucy Brooks, who examined how developmental processes shape glioblastoma progression
- Professor Dame Molly Stevens, who showcased new bioengineering approaches that could transform how cancer is detected and treated.
- Professor David Withers spoke about how immune cells adapt within the tumour microenvironment—research that could inform future immunotherapies.
- Bringing a population-level perspective, Professor Prabhat Jha presented powerful evidence on the global impact of smoking and the life-saving potential of cessation.
- Finally, Professor Philip Awadalla outlined how combining genomic data with large population studies could help identify cancers earlier, pointing to a future where diagnosis happens sooner and outcomes improve.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the keynote address from Professor Christian Blank of the Netherlands Cancer Institute. He walked the audience through the journey of neoadjuvant therapy in melanoma, from early-stage research to treatments now making a real difference for patients, offering a clear example of how research can translate into clinical impact.
The symposium also made space for important conversations around inclusion in research. Associate Professor Toral Gathani and Oxford Cancer's own Julliet Lwiindi spoke about the role of patient and public involvement in research, emphasising that better research comes from listening to and involving the communities it aims to serve.
The day concluded with eight flash talks from speakers across the Departments of Oncology, Medicine and Population Health. Offering a glimpse of the next wave of research coming through Oxford, talks spanned topics including colorectal, breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, immune evasion, epidemiology, and innovative radiotherapy approaches.
Across every session, a common message emerged: progress in cancer research depends on innovation and collaboration. Closing the Symposium, Co-Director Professor Mark Middleton, remarked:
“This Symposium shows the very best of what we can achieve together. Team science is demonstrably delivering real impact, and it’s inspiring to see the next generation of researchers from across disciplines coming through and working together. The future of cancer research is in very good hands.”