Global oncology leaders, patient advocates, and policymakers gathered in Brussels for the World Cancer Research Day International Event 2026, marking the tenth anniversary of an initiative founded to highlight the importance of cancer research and strengthen international collaboration across the global cancer community.
Brussels Gathering Marks Ten Years of Global Research Advocacy
Cancer researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and patient communities converged at the headquarters of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer in Brussels for the World Cancer Research Day International Event 2026. The anniversary gathering took place at the facilities of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and was co-produced by EORTC alongside the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) under the banner Advancing Cancer Research Together.
Proceedings were presided over jointly by Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain—acting as Honorary President of both AECC and its Scientific Foundation—and HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, who serves as Honorary President of EORTC. Key figures from healthcare institutions, patient networks, advocacy groups, and cancer research bodies assembled during the occasion to deliberate on ways cooperative science can fast-track advancements in cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention, guaranteeing that these breakthroughs yield superior results for individuals impacted by the disease. Key attendees featured EORTC CEO Denis Lacombe; EORTC President Benjamin Besse; AECC President Ramon Reyes; AECC Scientific Director Marta Puyol; European Prostate Cancer Coalition Chair and patient advocate Erik Briers; Jens Lehmann representing LVR-University Hospital Essen; Jean-Pascal Machiels of Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc; Susana Rives Sola hailing from SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital; alongside additional delegates representing the worldwide oncology sector.
Marking a ten-year span of advancement, this landmark gathering looked back at the journey initiated back in 2016 by several international oncology entities intended to spotlight the significance of cancer studies and honor the efforts of investigators striving to improve cancer care, therapy, and prevention. Evolving steadily over the last ten years, this undertaking has blossomed into an international campaign uniting advocates, patients, clinicians, investigators, and institutions dedicated to speeding up victories over cancer. The 2026 commemoration looked back on ten years of successes while simultaneously shedding light on ongoing obstacles, such as broadening access to new innovations, bolstering clinical investigations, and guaranteeing global patient access to scientific breakthroughs.
Perspectives From Leadership on Academic Research and Patient Care
Presenters across the Brussels agenda underscored the critical nature of patient participation, evidence creation, clinical testing, and academic studies in defining the future of oncology. A primary takeaway delivered at the summit emphasized that moving oncology forward demands more than just creating novel medicines; it equally necessitates investigative methods capable of pinpointing which specific interventions deliver authentic advantages to separate patients. EORTC CEO Denis Lacombe underscored how vital academic cancer studies are for producing the data required to refine therapies and elevate patient treatment quality.
In her keynote address, Princess Dina Mired stressed the need to recognize cancer research as an essential and integral part of cancer care. Cancer research is not a luxury. It is not something we fund only when economies are doing well. It is not something separate from cancer. Research is cancer care,
she said. She underscored that keeping a sharp concentration on oncology studies is vital as a foundational pillar for boosting survival metrics, elevating life quality for sufferers, refining therapies, and warding off the disease. Princess Dina also underscored the importance of international cooperation and ensuring that advances in cancer research reach patients around the world. Jordan’s Ambassador to Brussels, Yousef Batayneh, also attended the event.