Elevating the Patient Voice: A Moving Session on Patient Engagement

One of the most impactful moments of the meeting came during the Patient Engagement (PE) session, introduced by Oncode Investigator Leila Akkari, who is part of Oncode Institute’s Patient Perspective Program since the early beginnings. The session featured a powerful and deeply personal keynote by Rachel Giles, who shared her journey from cancer patient to internationally recognised advocate and patient expert.

Diagnosed with cancer in 2008, with further recurrences in 2011 and 2023, Rachel made the bold decision to leave her tenured Associate Professor position in 2019 and dedicate herself to patient advocacy full-time. As founder and long-time chair of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC), she built a global network supporting over 1.4 million patients across 37 countries. Her work has influenced global health policy, from advising the WHO and EMA to helping overturn regulatory decisions, and championing access to palliative care through initiatives like the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated oral morphine project.

Through her advocacy, Rachel highlighted the crucial role of evidence-based patient involvement—from shaping clinical trial design to ensuring quality-of-life data is truly considered in care decisions. She is now with Patvocates, one of the partners of the upcoming SYMMETRIAN initiative—a patient-led European platform setting new standards for meaningful, structured collaboration between patient experts and research teams.

Her talk left a lasting impression on the audience, sparking discussions about how researchers can better integrate patient voices into their work - not just as subjects, but as partners in discovery.

Spotlight on Science: From Chemistry to Genomics

The scientific programme featured 34 high-level talks across a wide spectrum of cancer research. Among the standout presentations was one by J. Miguel Mata from the lab of Oncode Investigator Sebastian Pomplun. Taking the stage late on the first day, Mata delivered a TED-style presentation that stood out for its clarity, visual creativity, and accessibility - particularly impressive given that his subject matter was chemistry in a room full of biologists.

Mata introduced a novel label-free hit identification platform, designed for rapid screening of macrocyclic peptides. With the potential to synthesise and test millions of compounds within weeks, the approach promises a faster, more scalable path to drug discovery. His talk demonstrated not just the power of the technology, but the importance of clear, engaging science communication.

Also of note was the presentation by Joep de Ligt, who showcased tools developed by the Hartwig Medical Foundation and made widely available to the oncology research community. His work underscored the value of shared infrastructure in enabling large-scale genomic analysis - a cornerstone for personalised cancer treatment.

Posters That Sparked Conversations

The poster sessions added to the lively atmosphere and peer-to-peer exchange. With more than eighty posters displayed across the two days, attendees had the chance to engage directly with early-career researchers and discuss cutting-edge work.

Through a mix of jury and public vote, poster prizes were awarded to:

• Day 1: Saskia Vijver (Linde Meyaard lab) and Jos Meeussen (Tineke Lenstra lab)
• Day 2: Maartje Witsen (Emile Voest lab) and Yanis Zekri (Wilbert Zwart lab)

Each winner demonstrated outstanding scientific insight – showing the quality and potential of Oncode Institute’s young researchers.

Reimagining Funding: The Philanthropy Knowledge Session

Oncode Institute also hosted a knowledge session titled “Funding Through Co-Creation” in collaboration with FIN (the Dutch Association of Foundations) and KWF Kankerbestrijding. The session brought together foundation board members and philanthropy professionals to explore how trust-based funding models can lead to greater impact, including in complex fields like paediatric oncology as demonstrated by Oncode Investigator Jeroen de Ridder.

Speaker Sanne ten Bokkel Huinink, Director of Fonds1818 and Board member of the FIN, sharde a provocative question he is often asked, which sparked deep reflection: “How many of the 5,000+ projects we fund turned out to be fraudulent?” The answer - surprisingly few - served as a powerful reminder that excessive control may not be the best route to accountability. Instead, speakers argued for co-creation, mutual respect, and shared ownership between funders and grantees.

Atmosphere of Connection

Throughout the event, the atmosphere was filled with curiosity and openness. Whether during coffee breaks, Q&A sessions, or informal chats by the poster boards, participants had the opportunity to connect across disciplines, institutions, and experience levels.

From thought-provoking patient perspectives to high-impact science and innovative funding discussions, the 2025 Annual Meeting reaffirmed the Oncode Institute’s aim to foster collaboration and empower researchers, all with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for people with cancer.