The 2nd SRUK/CERU Cancer Research Networking Day will take place on September 18th, 2023, in Madrid at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), a leading research institution focused on advancing the understanding of cancer biology and developing innovative cancer therapies. The networking day will provide an opportunity to bring together experts from diverse backgrounds and fields of expertise to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and foster new collaborations in the areas of liquid biopsy, immunotherapy and cancer stem cells.
Registration for this event is free but mandatory, with limited availability. Book your ticket using SRUK/CERU EventBrite. Everyone is welcome! Deadline 13th September or until all the spaces are taken. So we recommend registering sooner rather than later!
Free event and meal included!
In order to facilitate the attendance of SRUK/CERU members residing in the UK, we are offering microgrants partly supporting travel expenses. Members can apply for a microgrant until the 13th September via the SRUK/CERU Member Zone. If you wish to become a member, you can sig up here as well.
The call for abstracts for short talks is now open for postdocs and predocs until 13th September. Membership is not mandatory.
Programme
Please be aware that the session themes and programme are both subject to change as detailed planning continues.

9:30 | Registration | |
9:45 | Institutional Welcome Dr María A. Blasco. Director of Spanish National Cancer Research Centre Dr Eva Ortega Paíno. Secretary General of RAICEX Ms Irene Echeverria Altuna. President of SRUK/CERU | |
10:30 | Keynote. Towards a personalised prevention of pancreatic cancer. Dr Nuria Malats, CNIO (Madrid, Spain). | |
11:00 | Session I – Liquid Biopsy Clinical practice implementation of liquid biopsy in lung cancer. Dr Elosia Jantus, Universitat Politècnica de València (Valencia, Spain) Clinical utility of liquid biopsy for Lung Cancer management. Dr Atocha Romero, Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) Early detection of pancreatic cancer Prof Stephen Pereira, University College London (London, UK) | |
12:00 | Networking coffee | |
12:40 | Session II – Cancer Stem Cells Targeting Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Cancer: From bench to “almost» bedside. Dr Bruno Sainz, Conexión Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas «Alberto Sols» (UAM-CSIC) (Madrid, Spain) Human Pluripotent Stem Cell models for the study of pediatric leukemia. Dr Verónica Ramos Mejia, Pfizer – Universidad de Granada – Junta de Andalucía Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (GENYO) (Granada, Spain) | |
13:20 | Funding, Grants & Awards Estela Cepeda Cores, Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) Jesús Sánchez, CRIS contra el cáncer SRUK/CERU: our Grants and Awards | |
14:00 | Lunch | |
15:00 | Short Talks | |
15:40 | Session III – Immunotherapy Non-viral engineering of therapeutic cells for cancer immunotherapy Dr Diana Campillo Davó, CEBE, University of Antwerp (Belgium) Novel CAR T Cells Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia Dr Andoni Garitano, CERFA, University Hospital Würzburg (Germany) | |
16:20 | Networking coffee | |
16:50 | Session III – Immunotherapy Targeting CD40 on Myeloid Cells to Reverse the Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment & Enhance T Cell Priming Dr Yago Pico de Coaña, ACES (Sweden) Building a CAR-T cell therapy program for pediatric malignancies in a public hospital in Spain Dr Antonio Pérez Martínez, La Paz University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) | |
17:30 | Closing ceremony and awards |

For those of you who have been granted a microgrant*, SRUK/CERU will be determined based on the following percentages**:
*Limited number of microgrants up to £150.
**If the cost of your return ticket is £40, SRUK/CERU will pay 60% of the price and reimburse you £24. It is highly recommended that you book your train tickets in advance and avoid first-class tickets if you intend to claim a microgrant. For any inquiries, please feel free to contact the Cancer Committee at [email protected].