More than 330 participants attended each day, with about 20% of the audience coming from outside the Oncode Institute community - including our invited speakers. The Scientific Committee – Oncode Investigators Kristina Ganzinger (AMOLF), Tineke Lenstra (NKI), and Hugo Snippert (Princess Maxima Center) - curated a programme that spanned the full breadth of cancer research, from the molecular choreography of chromosomes to the complex logic of immune–tumor interactions.

Curiosity-driven science and immune-tumor dynamics

One of the standout talks came from Bill Earnshaw (University of Edinburgh), who presented “Approaching mitotic chromosome structure from all directions.” His presentation, delivered on the first day, captured the spirit of playful, curiosity-driven exploration. Tineke Lenstra reflected on its impact: "Bill Earnshaw’s talk reminded us that pure curiosity is still one of the most powerful drivers of scientific discovery. His playful, open-ended approach led to truly surprising insights - exactly the kind of science that energizes a meeting like this."

A second highlight came on the second day of the event, from Anna Obenauf (IMP, Austria), who delivered “Unlocking immunity: Decoding and reprogramming the immune-evasive tumor microenvironment.” Her work resonated widely for both its clarity and creativity. Kristina Ganzinger shared: "Anna Obenauf’s talk really stood out to me because it was beautifully delivered, scientifically innovative, and deeply relevant. What I loved most about this year’s programme is how it spanned everything from immune responses to cancer evolution and therapy escape mechanisms."

Engaging the next generation of researchers

Like every year, a group of around 25 master’s students from the Concepts of Cancer Biology course joined the KIT meeting, continuing a long-standing collaboration with the programme. After an introduction to Oncode in the days beforehand, they followed the programme closely.

What stood out this year, however, were the Meet-the-Speaker sessions. With 80 young researchers - including both Oncode researchers and the visiting master’s students - taking part in small-group conversations with the invited speakers, these sessions created a uniquely accessible setting for informal scientific exchange. 

As Tineke Lenstra noted: "The Meet-the-Speaker sessions were truly special - students and postdocs could ask anything, from technical details to career questions. The energy in those rooms was fantastic."

The 2025 KIT Meeting once again proved to be a vibrant platform for scientific exchange, future collaborations, and inspiring conversations. From fundamental biology to translational insights, the depth and diversity of science presented this year set the tone for the research ahead.

We would like to thank all the speakers, the Scientific Committee, and all participants for making this event such a success. See you next year!