Day 1

Our Annual Congress 2024 began with a heartfelt welcome from conference chairs Monica Kleijn Evason and Tjebbe Tauber, underscoring Inspire2Live’s mission to unite voices against the impact of cancer worldwide and advocate for collaborative action. Monica introduced us to Death Coaching, an approach for cancer survivors facing existential crises, offering new perspectives on life after survival.

A touching In Memoriam segment honoured Nicole van Leeuwen, a passionate patient advocate and beloved member of our community. Her sister, Pascale, joined us, saying ‘We will continue our advocacy work as Nicole would have wanted’. The tribute included a video of Nicole sharing her journey after her diagnosis, underscoring her dedication to early detection and the deep connections she fostered with us all.

Our next speaker, Daniel Gomez, addressed The Patient in Silent Despair, exploring the unspoken struggles that patients often endure. He reminded us:

“It’s normal to have silent despair. Speak to people”

Daniel reflected on reality as a constant, though our perspectives, emotions, and beliefs shape our interpretation of it.

Following Daniel, Egge van der Poel from the Inspire2Live Supervisory Board, delivered an inspiring talk on shared goals and the critical role of data-sharing in cancer research. Using a physics analogy, he highlighted how what is noise to one might be a valuable signal to another, urging collaboration. He also recounted the Apollo 11 team’s achievements to show that ‘impossible goals are often a matter of perspective’.

Professor Dr. Ifeoma Okoye, a leader in oncology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, presented on cancer research and treatment in Africa. She emphasised on reshaping cancer narratives in Africa, sharing how advocacy groups play a key role in raising awareness, supporting patients, and influencing policy. Dr Ifeoma highlighted initiatives like Breast Without Spot, demonstrating how global collaborations are helping to end late-stage detection.

After a coffee and networking break, we gathered for the traditional group photo and then moved into rapid-fire talks. These spontaneous presentations brought fresh ideas to the stage, showcasing Inspire2Live’s commitment to including all voices to improve cancer care.

During a digital session on overcoming silent despair, Inspire2Live ambassador Professor Stephen Friend, of Oxford University and 4YouandMe, spoke about technologies that empower patients to become more aware of their symptoms. His message, ‘Be at the helm of the ship, not just a commentator’, inspired patients to take an active role in their health. The session closed with an energising movement activity led by Lex and Maria, bringing a renewed sense of presence to the room.

The day’s panel, Patient Education and Awareness: An Example and the Way to Go, moderated by Alejandra Mendez, brought together Franklin Mtei, Barbara Moss, Carmen Monge Montero, and Parag Mankeekar. Panelists shared impactful stories from their diverse backgrounds, underscoring how these stories— data with soul— are essential in advancing patient education and advocacy.

Following lunch, attendees participated in our annual Out in the City activities with three options:

• Group 1 visited the Dutch Cancer Institute, where Remond Fijneman and Henk van Kranen shared updates on liquid biopsy research.
• Group 2 attended a session on CAR-T therapy as a potential alternative to Bone Marrow Transplants at Amsterdam UMC, led by Anne Spanjaart, Elise Pennings, Jonathan Clark, and Peter Kapitein.
• Group 3 embarked on an empathy walk through Old Amsterdam North along the Pepijnpad, led by Gert Eijkelboom and Gaston Remmers, exploring how shared experiences can transform lives. This walk emphasised how connecting through silent despair can deepen human bonds.

After reuniting to share their reflections, the day closed with the Inspire2Live Patient Advocate Hero of Cancer Award presented by Piarella Peralta. This year’s award honoured Professor Dr. Ifeoma Okoye for her pioneering initiatives in early detection and outreach, particularly her efforts to empower women with knowledge on breast cancer prevention and screening.

A networking dinner with music by Mark Moss wrapped up Day 1, celebrating connections and shared purpose.

Day 2

We opened the day with conference chairs Monica Kleijn Evason and Tjebbe Tauber welcoming participants. Peter Kapitein highlighted our extended Inspire2Live community, emphasizing connections with members worldwide that transcend geographical and cultural barriers. A heartfelt video message from the SAID (Colorectal Cancer Awareness Association) in Lebanon followed, sending love and sharing their ongoing efforts despite the current crisis preventing their attendance. This moving moment led to a minute of silence in solidarity with those facing hardship.

The morning sessions were began with Dr. Tania Crombet from Cuba’s Center of Molecular Immunology, discussing how her country navigates cancer treatment under economic constraints. She shared insights into Cuba’s biotech sector, where significant efforts focus on cancer immunotherapy, emphasising that ‘science is our voice to change the future’. Following her talk, Lex and Maria led an inspiring movement session that energised the room.

A panel on precision medicine followed, moderated by Piarella Peralta, where speakers including Nibedita Rath  from OSPF India, Leila Arabi from the University of Mashhad, Iran, and Jeroen Adema from Illumina . The panel addressed barriers and progress in making precision medicine a global reality. Topics ranged from open-science frameworks to new T-cell engineering techniques and the potential impact of local collaborations, with Nathalie Seigneuret (IHI) underscoring the importance of cross-sector public-private partnerships in health research.

After a brief networking break and a group photo, we moved into a series of spontaneous rapid-fire talks. These spontaneous presentations brought fresh ideas and perspectives to the forefront. Later, Ahmed Hassan Abdelaziz from Ain Shams University in Cairo, presented data from Egypt’s breast cancer campaign, revealing that over 50% of cases were diagnosed at stages III or IV. He called for improved registries and value-based cancer care to address the pressing healthcare needs in Egypt.

The multi-cancer early detection (MCED) session, led by Kwasi Boahene of Pharm Access, took center stage. The session explored how MCED testing could bridge healthcare gaps in low- and middle-income countries. Speakers such as Sara Sukumar from the Johns Hopkins University and Mao Mao from SeekIn presented innovative approaches, from automated assays to AI-driven analysis of blood tumour markers. The session concluded with a panel discussion, during which Harry de Koning of the Erasmus University expressed cautious optimism about MCED’s potential to improve cancer detection, noting that over 70% of cancers currently lack screening tests. ‘We should be cautiously excited, he remarked’, he remarked.

In the afternoon, breakout sessions addressed critical topics:

• Improving the ageing experience, led by Maria Lourdes Chacon alongside researchers from CABIMER and the University of Southern California.
•  A workshop on advancing the Cancer Moonshot, led by Peter Kapitein and Ilona Schelle.
• Access to Medicines for global patients, featuring speakers such as Callie Weber from the IDA Foundation, Tarryn Davey from the ATM Foundation, and Giulia Segafredo from Medicine Patent Pool, who explored strategies for improving access.

The breakout session leads reported back during a final gathering, followed by closing remarks from Ilona Schelle.

The day concluded with a networking dinner accompanied by live music from Mark Moss, providing participants with a final opportunity to reflect on two transformative days of collaboration and hope.

Inspire2Live extends its gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the 2024 Annual Congress such a memorable and impactful event.

Talks & presentations

We invite you to read, watch, learn from and share this content with your networks. You can find the talks & presentations of this congress on the right sidebar.

Our Annual Congress in oneliners

Sponsors and Partners – 2024 Congress

We are thankful to this year’s sponsors of our Annual Congress: Illumina, Takeda, Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen, Daiichi-Sankyo, Janssen Oncology and AMGEN.

 

Partners – 2024 Congress

We are also thankful to this year’s partners at our Annual Congress: Ink Strategy, Practical Media, DNB, Access to Medicine Foundation, PharmAccess, Medicines Patent Pool and IDA.