Programme

7.30am – 5.30pm

Registration desk open

8.30am - 10.30am

He Akoranga Whakahoungia

Mārire Goodall Keynote
Prof Misty Jenkins, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Hāpai te Hauora
Cheryl Davies, Kokiri Hauora and Jeannine Stairmand, University of Otago

Hei Āhuru Mōwai (Māori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa) - Reflection from W.I.C.C 2026

10.30am – 11.15am

Morning tea

11.15am – 1.20pm

Session two - Advocacy in Translation

11.20am
Future of lung cancer care and how China innovation may make a difference
Prof Tony Mok, Chinese University of Hong Kong

12.00pm
Inclusion of complex immunological analyses in cancer clinical trials in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Kirsten Ward-Hartstonge, University of Otago

12.10pm
From Patient Donation to Therapeutic Discovery: Insights from a Rapid Research Autopsy Program in Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer
Dr Karin Schelch, Medical University of Vienna

12.20pm
Characterisation of a ctDNA-based blood test for the detection of colorectal cancer in the symptomatic population
Dr Michael Dunnet, University of Otago

12.30pm - Pharmac Award
Head and Neck Cancer Incidence and Two-Year Mortality in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2009-2020
Dr Angad Chauhan, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley

12.40pm
Uncovering a New Driver of Glioblastoma: BCL6 Promotes Tumour Growth and Survival
Naychi Myo Min, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington

12.50pm - Pharmac Award
Multi-Drug Repurposing in Glioblastoma: Exploiting Synergy to Reduce Inter-Patient Variability
Freya Weth, Gillies McIndoe Research Institute & Victoria University of Wellington

1.00pm - Pharmac Award
Digitial Assessment of Potential Predictive Biomarkers for Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Response in Māori and Pacific Lung Cancer Patients
Grayson Schwalger, University of Auckland

1.10pm - Pharmac Award
Beyond the Genomic Report: Retrospective Analysis of the First 100 Cases Reviewed by Aotearoa New Zealand's National Molecular Tumour Board
Dr Yifei (Faye) Zhu, National Cancer Centre - Singapore

12.00pm - 1.20pm

Nursing breakout session

12.00pm
Whānau Voice – a conduit to Co-designing Māori Primary Care Pathways for Earlier Cancer Diagnosis
Gill Potaka-Osborne, Whakauae Research Services & Lucia Gribble, Whanganui Regional Health Network

12.40pm
Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment in the Community
Corina Jerram, Health New Zealand, Hastings

1.20pm – 2.50pm

Lunch

1.35pm – 2.35pm

Roche Lunch Symposium

Elevating Outcomes: Streamlining Care and Tailoring Treatment in Breast Cancer- Learnings from NZ’s First Funded SC Medicine

2.50pm – 5.00pm

Session three - Advocacy in Innovation

2.55pm
Bruce Cain Memorial Lecture
Prof Robert Weinkove, Malagan Institute of Medical Research

3.35pm
Exploring gastric cancer subtypes to uncover novel therapeutic vulnerabilities
Dr Silke Neumann, University of Otago

3.55pm
mRNA vaccines incorporating NKT cell agonists enhance immunotherapy efficacy in preclinical liver cancer models
Dr Olivia Burn, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research

4.05pm
Targeting mitochondrial and epigenetic vulnerabilities in acute myeloid leukaemia
Dr Annika Seddon, University of Otago

4.15pm - Pharmac Award
MRD-Seq: a flexible approach to residual disease monitoring in AML
Mariam Alhilali, University of Auckland

4.25pm - Pharmac Award
Mouse model-guided discovery of secreted biomarkers of early ovarian cancer
Dr Sarah Sczelecki, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington

4.35pm
Investigating accelerated epigenetic age as a molecular driver of early-onset colorectal cancer
Olivia Damiano, University of Otago

4.45pm
Chemoprevention of Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Dr Lyvianne Decourtye-Espiard, University of Otago

4.55pm - Pharmac Award
The Incidence of and Mortality from Biliary Tract Cancers in New Zealand: A Population-Based Study, 1997-2023
Dr Vicki Cho, Palmerston North Hospital

3.55pm - 5.00pm

Nursing breakout session

Dr Jo Bird, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, NHS Trust

5.00pm – 6.30pm

Poster session

Networking and poster presentations

7.00am – 3.30pm

Registration desk open

7.15am – 8.45am

MSD Breakfast Symposium

Beyond the Checkpoints: Exploring personalised immunotherapy approaches through experts in the field

8.45am - 10.30am

Session four - Advocacy in Implementation

8.45am
International speaker
Prof Chris Booth, Queen’s University Kingston - Canada

9.30am
Bowel Cancer New Zealand
Peter Huskinson

9.40am
Bridget Robinson Award Lecture
The Tumour Microenvironment: Surveillance, Suppression and Subversion in the Neighbourhood
A/Prof Margaret Currie, University of Otago

10.10am
Building the Foundations of a Person-Centred Exercise Oncology Model of Care in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study
Jessica Allan, University of Canterbury

10.20am
Taonga Ora – Advocacy in Action: Patient and Whanau-centred inter-disciplinary outpatient cancer support enabling equal access to standard Cancer Care
Dr Scott Babington, Canterbury Regional Cancer and Blood Service

10.30am - 11.15am

Morning tea

11.15am - 1.00pm

Session five - Advocacy in care delivery

11.20am
Post-Treatment Immune Related Toxicity: The Long Term Impact for Patients
Dr Jo Bird, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, NHS Trust

12.00pm
Patients can't wait: Acting whilst the system takes time to change
Lou James, Cancer Rehabilitation Foundation (PINC & STEEL)

12.20pm
From Bench to Belonging - A Relational Approach to Translational Cancer Research
CRTNZ NZSO Award winner Nikki Ross, University of Otago

12.30pm
Nga Hua o te Hononga: The Impact of a Maori Radiation Therapist Specialist in Oncology
India Mikaere-Girvin, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha

12.40pm
Te Puawaitanga Tuatahi: Ko te mana o nga wahine -The Management of Breast Cancer Risk in HDGC Whanau
Gemella Reynolds-Hatem, University of Otago

12.50pm - Pharmac Award
Pharmacist-Led Stewardship to Reduce Intravenous Cancer Treatment Drug Wastage in a Secondary Care Hospital: A Model for Equitable and Sustainable Cancer Care in Aotearoa
Gihwan Song, Health New Zealand, Lakes

1.00pm – 2.30pm

Lunch

1.15pm – 2.15pm

GSK Lunch Symposium

Advancing Personalised Care in Women’s Cancers

2.30pm - 4.00pm

Session six - Common Sense Oncology

2.35pm
Common Sense Oncology Panel
Facilitated by Prof Chris Jackson
Panel: Dr Chris Booth, Queen’s University Kingston -Canada
Dr Edmond Ang, Whangarei Base Hospital
Becky Upston, CNS, Christchurch Hospital
Cheryl Davies, University of Otago
Dr Rachel Purcell, Te Pūao Mātai Pukupuku

3.40pm
Roche Fellowship presentation - Quick fire presentations from previous recipients

3.50pm - 4.00pm

Conference closing

4.00pm

NZSO AGM

6.30pm – Midnight

Decode Science Conference dinner

Evening celebration and networking event
Theme: OSCARS: Oncology Scientific Cancer Care And Research Super Stars