Oncology showcase event returns to Croke Park

The upcoming Gathering Around Cancer 2026 will explore advances in cancer research, treatment, and patient care

Gathering Around Cancer 2026 will take place on 19 and 20 November at the Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin. The two-day conference will bring together healthcare professionals and researchers to discuss developments in cancer research, treatment, and patient care.

The organising committee of the meeting comprises: Prof John McCaffrey, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH), Dublin; Prof David Gallagher, St James’s Hospital, Dublin; Dr Megan Greally, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; and Dr Roisin O’Cearbhaill, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (MSKCC), New York, US.

“We aim to focus on the topics that change the way we approach the management of cancer, with a focus on clinical updates, amending care pathways as the evidence and circumstances change, while still fostering research collaborations,” according to the organisers.

The programme will cover a wide range of topics, including precision medicine, cancer genetics, gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancers, lifestyle and integrative care, breast cancer, nursing and psychological support, and medical oncology. Two sessions will also showcase research from young investigators.

The conference will open with a welcome address from Prof Deborah McNamara, Director, National Cancer Control Programme.

Young investigators: Part one

Chaired by Dr Emily Harrold, St James’s Hospital; and Dr Karen Duffy, Letterkenny University Hospital, the first session will offer a platform for young investigators and will feature four presentations.

Dr Orla Fitzpatrick, MSKCC, will present a talk on precision medicine in hepatobiliary cancers.

Dr Eileen Geoghegan, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, will discuss ‘CAPTURE: A phase two randomised study to evaluate Alpelisib + Fulvestrant Versus Capecitabine in ER+, HER2-ve ABC in patients with PIK3CA mutant circulating DNA’.

‘Genomic analysis using liquid biopsy: Considerations for pre-test counselling’ is the title of the talk by Dr David McMahon, Galway University Hospital.

Dr Ciara McNevin, Beaumont Hospital, will discuss the subject of cancer genetics data in Ireland.

Gastrointestinal and genitourinary cancer

A second session will focus on gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary cancer. It will be chaired by Dr Emmet Jordan, University Hospital Waterford; and Prof Adrian Murphy, Beaumont Hospital.

Prof David Galvin, Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry (IPCOR), will discuss the potential impact of a clinical quality registry such as IPCOR.

Dr Gopa Iyer, MSKCC, will deliver a talk titled ‘Treatment options for metastatic urothelial cancer in a post-EV world’.

Prof James Harding, MSKCC, will present on targeting HER2 in biliary tract cancer.

Established biomarkers and emerging targets in gastroesophageal cancer will be discussed by Dr Ronan McLaughlin, Beaumont Hospital, while his Beaumont colleague Prof Danny Cheriyan will deliver a talk on the endoscopic management of early upper GI cancer.

Prof Grainne O’Kane, St James’s Hospital, will conclude the presentations in this session with a discussion on pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer.

Lifestyle and integrative care

Chaired by Dr Miriam O’Connor, University Hospital Waterford; and Ms Nikki Gallagher, Irish Cancer Society (ICS), this session will explore supportive care and the wider experience of living with cancer.

Dr Jason Konner, MMUH, will discuss psychedelic medicine and cancer care.

Ms Veronica McSharry, ICS, will present on eating well during cancer treatment, while Mr Andrew Dunne, Personal Health, will talk about how cancer patients can benefit from exercise.

People Before Profit Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett will address the patient journey; and Dr Cliona Ní Cheallaigh, St James’s Hospital, will conclude the session with a presentation on ‘Inclusion health’.

Breast cancer

The first day will conclude with a breast cancer update, chaired by Prof Janice Walshe, St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin; and Prof Maccon Keane, Galway University Hospital.

Dr Elaine Walsh, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, will deliver a talk titled ‘Updates in HR+ breast cancer’.

The evolving treatment approaches in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer will be discussed by Dr Ciara O’Sullivan, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, US.

Dr Jill Nicholson, MMUH, will examine approaches to optimising breast cancer radiotherapy, before Dr Tiffany Traina, MSKCC, concludes the session with a talk titled ‘New standards for first-line metastatic TNBC [triple-negative breast cancer]’.

The first day will close with a networking event.

Young investigators: Part two

The second day will open with a welcome from Prof McCaffrey and Dr Greally from the organising committee.

Chaired by Dr Hazel O’Sullivan, Cork University Hospital; and Dr Greg Leonard, Galway University Hospital, the second young investigators session will feature research spanning sarcoma, breast cancer, immunotherapy, and prostate cancer.

Dr Catherine Weadick, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada, will present a talk titled ‘Outcomes in ultra-rare sarcomas and surrogate endpoints in sarcoma clinical trials’.

Dr Kate Murphy, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, will discuss brain metastases in breast cancer.

Dr Rachel Keogh, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, US, will examine biology-informed therapeutic strategies to overcome immunotherapy resistance.

Dr Simon Barry, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK, will conclude the session with a focus on phase one trials in prostate cancer.

Nursing and psychological support

This session, chaired by Ms Debbie O’Doherty, Beaumont Hospital; and Ms Fionnuala Keane, MMUH, will focus on patient-centred care, sexual health, and inclusion in oncology.

Dr Jeanne Carter, MSKCC, will present a talk titled ‘Sexual and women’s health after cancer – Challenges and solutions to promote connection and healing’. Sexual health in female cancer patients will also be the subject of a presentation from Dr Carter’s colleague at MSKCC Ms Margaret Cheng.

‘Closing the cancer care gap, inclusion health and oncology’ is the title of a talk from Ms Eileen O’Connor, MMUH.

The session will also feature a discussion ‘The inpatient pal: How patients and psychologists co-designed a digital companion for the hospital journey’, with contributions from Dr Sinead Lynch, MMUH; Dr Susan O’Flanagan, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, and patient advocate Ms Emma Butler.

Medical oncology

The final scientific session will bring together updates across several areas of oncology, chaired by Dr Lynda McSorley, St Vincent’s Hospital; and Dr Jane Sui, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin.

The final scientific session will bring together updates across several areas of oncology, chaired by Dr Lynda McSorley, St Vincent’s Hospital; and Dr Jane Sui, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin

Prof Brian Bird, Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, will deliver a talk titled ‘BiTEs and CAR-T in solid tumours – The future is bright’.

Dr O’Cearbhaill from the organising committee will present an update on gynaecologic oncology, followed by Dr Mark Doherty, St Vincent’s University Hospital, on sarcoma.

‘Intercepting lung cancer: Leveraging the immune system for earlier detection and prevention’ is the title of a talk by Dr Fionnuala Crowley, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, US.

Dr Emma Woodward, Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Manchester, UK, will conclude the scientific programme with the presentation ‘Hereditary cancer predisposition in children and young people: Data linkage, refining risk, and advancing early detection’.

The conference will close with the presentation of ‘The Spirit of The Gathering Award’, followed by closing remarks and lunch.

Over the two days, Gathering Around Cancer 2026 will cover advances in cancer research and treatment alongside supportive care, patient experience, and collaboration across the cancer community.