Keynote Speakers ⭐

World-class scientists, clinicians and patient advocates shaping the future of cancer research.

Keynote speakers at YS2C are not distant figures — they engage with early-career researchers through talks, discussion time and informal exchanges.

2026 Keynote Speakers

The confirmed speakers list is updated as invitations are accepted.

Keynote

Altuna Akalin

Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Berlin, Germany)

Computational genomics and AI technology: machine learning–driven multi-omics integration for biomarker discovery, disease classification, and precision medicine decision support.

Computational genomics Machine learning Biomarker discovery

Headline

Leona Knox

Patient advocate, Head of Research at Solving Kids’ Cancer UK

Bringing the patient perspective into cancer research priorities, unmet medical needs, and translational decision-making.

Patient voice Unmet needs Impact Pediatric oncology

Keynote

Florence Dalenc

IUCT-Oncopole (Toulouse, France)

Clinical trials and translational breast oncology: precision treatment strategies, therapeutic resistance, and biomarker-driven innovation in triple-negative and metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer Translational Clinical

Keynote

Chris Marine

VIB KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology (Leuven, Belgium)

Cancer evolution and epigenetic plasticity: cutting-edge technologies to decode non-mutational drivers of melanoma heterogeneity, metastasis, and therapy resistance.

Melanoma TME

Keynote

Marta Kovatcheva

Firc Institute of Molecular Oncology - IFOM (Milan, Italy)

Cell plasticity, senescence, and aging biology: molecular mechanisms linking cancer therapy response, metabolic regulation, and regenerative capacity across cancer and age-related disease.

Aging Cancer cell plasticity

Keynote

Sebastiaan van Heesch

Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Dark proteome and immuno-oncology technology: advanced multi-omics, computational biology, and cancer vaccine innovation to uncover non-canonical antigens for next-generation pediatric cancer immunotherapies.

Immuno-oncology Dark proteome Multi-omics Pediatric oncology

Keynote

Dafna Gold Melchior

Let's clarify it

Science communication and research impact: how to sharpen complex scientific messages for high-stakes audiences to secure funding, build collaborations, and accelerate translational influence.

Science communication How to speech?

Keynote

Daniela Marin

Senior Editor, The Lancet Hematology

Scientific publishing and research communication: editorial strategy, high-impact dissemination, and navigating publication standards in biomedical science.

Science communication How to get published Editorial insight

Meet them in Toulouse

Join YS2C to interact directly with keynote speakers through talks, discussion time and informal exchanges.