Cancer Grand Challenges Conference: Spatial biology

This meeting will now be held in memory of Professor Greg Hannon who sadly passed away in April 2026. Greg was an extraordinary scientist, leader and collaborator. He was also a champion of Cancer Grand Challenges from its inception, through his leadership of the ground-breaking IMAXT and SPACE teams, and more recently as part of the ILLUMINE team. Greg was the Chair of the organising committee for this meeting and his incredible contributions to the field will be recognised in the programme.

This landmark event will bring together global leaders in cancer research, technology development and clinical practice to explore the transformative potential of spatial biology. Discover how cutting-edge tools and collaborative science are unlocking new insights into cancer and shaping the future of patient care.

SCIENTIFIC STEERING COMMITTEE

This conference is being organised by a dedicated steering committee and was chaired by Greg Hannon, 1964–2026 (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute). The committee members are: Gemma Balmer-Kemp (Cancer Grand Challenges), Dario Bressan (Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute), Gabriela Carreno (Cancer Grand Challenges), Sinem Saka (European Molecular Biology Laboratory), Nicholas Walton (Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge)

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The field of spatial biology is at an inflection point, driven by rapid advancements in AI-driven analysis and multi-omics integration. These emerging tools and technologies have allowed spatial mapping of tumour tissues, providing unprecedented insights into tumour heterogeneity, revealing complex cellular interactions within the microenvironment, enabling researchers to map cancer progression and resistance in three dimensions. By addressing key challenges such as the sheer volume of data being generated as well as the integration of vastly different approaches, spatial biology is now poised to move even further away from descriptive studies towards addressing important translational questions and becoming integrating in the clinic, with potential applications ranging from identifying predictive biomarkers and understanding treatment resistance mechanisms to informing precision medicine strategies.

This third edition of the Cancer Grand Challenges Conference Series aims to assemble researchers from across and beyond spatial biology, providing an interdisciplinary forum to stimulate discussions around the future of this exciting field. The transformative tools, exemplary multimodal datasets, and pioneering technologies that are driving spatial biology forward will be showcased, with a focus on their application in cancer research and beyond.

The purpose of this meeting, in addition to sharing cutting-edge science, is to further enhance and build upon an open, collaborative, and inclusive community that will rapidly advance the science for the benefit of patients. This conference will highlight how these methodologies are pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in cancer research.

Topics will include:

• Emerging tools and technologies

• Technology development

• Data visualisation, integration and management

• Tackling tissue and tumour heterogeneity

• Clinical applications and impact on cancer research

• The power of consortia and large-scale collaboration in the spatial biology space

• Future directions and unanswered questions

SPEAKERS

• Shahar Alon, Bar-Ilan University, IL
• Bernd Bodenmiller, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, CH
• Josephine Bunch, National Physical Laboratory, UK
• Fei Chen, Broad Institute, US
• Rong Fan, Yale University, US
• Elizabeth Hillman, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, US
• Joakim Lundeberg, SciLifeLab, SE
• Dana Peer, Sloan Kettering Institute, US
• Peter Sorger, Harvard University, US
• Jason Swedlow, University of Dundee (Delta Tissue), UK
• Adam Taylor, Sage Bionetworks, UK
• Sarah Teichmann, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
• Dario Bressan, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, UK
• Sinem Saka, EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory),ES
• Nicholas Walton, Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK

REGISTRATION

Registration will close on Monday 13 July 2026.

FEES

Registration includes VAT, a light breakfast, networking lunch and coffee breaks on all days, and a welcome reception on Tuesday 1 September. See fees below:

Student/PhD/Postdoc - £150

Academic/Clinical - £300

Industry - £500

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS

Abstract submissions will open on Monday 5 January along with registration and close on Friday 29 May 2026. There will be many opportunities for selected talks and poster presentations.

Abstract evaluation will start after the deadline and may take up to four weeks to complete depending on the number of submissions we receive. Acceptance notifications will go out via email before the end of June 2026. We appreciate your patience.

Please note that it is not required to submit an abstract to attend the conference.

CONTACT

If you have any questions about this event, please send us an email at [email protected]

We'll endeavour to respond to you within two working days.

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