13th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research (Call for Proposals)

Accepted abstracts will be selected for presentation as one of three formats (see below). The titles and authors of all accepted abstracts will be available for viewing on the meeting’s event page leading up to and following the Symposium. Accepted abstracts that prepare a presentation at ASGCR will be published in a special supplement of AACR’s Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention. Rapid-fire and oral presentations will be recorded and posted on the Symposium website.

PRESENTATION FORMAT

• Oral presentation: 10-minute, live presentation and questions and answers from the audience during one of the plenary oral abstract sessions.
• Rapid-fire: 3-minute, live presentation during one of the Meet-the-Authors rapid-fire sessions.
• ePoster: Virtual e-poster available to view on the meeting’s event page throughout and following the conference.

GUIDELINES FOR PREPRARATION AND SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

ASGCR Abstract Submission System. Authors must submit abstracts for presentation at the ASGCR 2025 using the ASGCR submission system, which is available at here. You can create, modify, and submit abstracts until the abstract deadline, January 17, 2025.

Submission Content. Each abstract must contain the sections with the following headings: Purpose, Methods, Results, Conclusion.

Length of Abstract. Abstracts must not exceed 2,500 characters, should be written in English and should not contain figures or tables. In-text citations are not required.

Responsibility of Submitting Author. By submitting your abstract, you agree to be the primary contact responsible for all communications and coordination on behalf of all authors and take responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided.

Presenting Author. Abstracts must have one presenter listed who will be responsible for participating in the corresponding session, if accepted.

Authorship Requirements. Abstracts highlighting research or programs in a low- or middle-income country (LMIC) must have representation of at least one author affiliated with an institution in the same LMIC. This decision aligns with similar requirements by journals and with ASCGR's focus on supporting and highlighting authors from LMICs, where most new cancer cases will occur over the next two decades.

Abstract Category. You must select a category for your abstract. See below for details.

Publication Requirements. Unless otherwise stated by the submitting author, all abstracts will be published in AACR’s Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention. Every accepted abstract considered for publication must have a corresponding presentation at the meeting. If the designated presenter is unable to participate in the session, a different coauthor may be appointed to present on their behalf. Abstracts should be carefully proofread to avoid errors in the published literature. Abstracts will be published as submitted. No copyediting will be provided.

Submission Deadline. The deadline for abstract submissions is 11:59 p.m. U.S. ET, January 17, 2025. Abstracts submitted after the deadline will not be considered. No significant changes may be made to abstracts after the deadline.

ABSTRACT REVIEW PROCESS

Editorial Review
Only abstracts that comply with all the above guidelines will be considered for review. Submissions will undergo an initial editorial review by the abstract subcommittee. Submissions will be judged on how well the described research or program fit the scope of the meeting. Abstracts that meet these standards are sent for peer review. Abstracts that do not meet these standards will be returned to authors at this stage.

Peer Review
The peer review process is managed by the abstract subcommittee, responsible for assigning appropriate reviewers based on the scientific content (selected category) of the abstract. Abstracts will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Relevance: Addresses a key scientific topic in global cancer research and control and/or leverages unique scientific opportunities afforded by collaboration with global partners. 
• Methodology: Methods are adequately described and appropriate for research, project, or program.
• Impact: Information presented adds something new or provides new insight to the field to improve global cancer control equitably.
• Clarity of Ideas: Clearly and succinctly communicates research, project, or program.

Scientific sessions will provide an opportunity to convene speakers to address a current topic in global cancer research and control that aligns with the theme, engages the audience, and seeks to highlight concrete ways to advance the field. Submitters of accepted sessions will be responsible for developing the 60-minute session with the support of the Scientific Steering Committee. These sessions will take place live and will be recorded and posted on the Symposium website.

GUIDELINES FOR PREPRARATION AND SUBMISSION OF SESSION PROPOSALS

ASGCR Proposal Submission System. Session organizers must submit their session proposals for presentation at the ASGCR 2025 using the ASGCR submission system, which is available here. You can create, modify, and submit session proposals until the deadline, January 17, 2025.

Submission Content. Each submission must contain the following:

• Title (250 characters). Provide a succinct title that clearly summarizes your proposal or illustrates what attendees will take away from your session.
• Description (2500 characters). Provide a clear and succinct summary of your proposed session as it would appear in the meeting program. Do not use speaker names or the titles of their presentations in the description.
• Aims (500 characters). Up to three sentences describing the aim of your proposed session (what do you hope the audience will take away), a justification for why this is a priority topic of global interest, and how the session aligns with the Symposium theme: New models for participatory research in global oncology: Elevating the voices of patients and providers.

Timing. All session proposals should be 60 minutes, inclusive of discussion/question and answer time.

Person roles. Sessions must have one organizer, one moderator (can be the same as the organizer), and up to three speakers, including at least speaker affiliated with an institution in an LMIC.

• Organizer (required). The organizer is the primary contact responsible for coordination of the session and liaising with the ASGCR organizers and speakers. This will include working alongside the ASGCR Steering Committee to ensure that the accepted session is integrated into the overall theme and objectives of the ASGCR program. Any proposed changes to the session after acceptance must be communicated with the Steering Committee in a timely manner.
• Speakers (required). List of up to three presenters and/or panelists. Speakers must have agreed to roles prior to submission
• Moderator (required). List one moderator. The moderator monitors the time, pace, and tone of the session and facilitates the Q&A part of the session.

Session Category. You must select a category for your session. See below for details.

SCHEDULING NOTE:
Please ensure your moderator and speakers are available to participate at any time between 8AM – 12PM US EDT on Monday, May 5 through Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Diversity statement. ASGCR selection process leans towards proposals that bring together a variety of points of view on the material presented in the session. This includes scientific discipline, professional roles, institutions, geographic locations, and identities, including gender, racial, and ethnic.

REVIEW CRITERIA FOR SESSIONS

Session proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Relevance: Addresses a key scientific topic in global cancer research and control and/or leverages unique scientific opportunities afforded by collaboration with global partners.
• Relevance to Theme: New models for participatory research in global oncology: Elevating the voices of patients and providers
• Value to Attendees: The proposal adds something new to the existing dialogue in the field. Participants should leave the session with new knowledge, methods, and/or practical tools that they can adapt/use and put into practice in their own local settings.
• Clarity of Ideas: Session proposal clearly and succinctly communicates the topic it will cover and learning objectives.
• Diversity & Representation: Extra consideration will be given to proposals that include diverse perspectives. Diversity encompasses many dimensions such as racial identities, ethnic identities, gender identities, geographic locations, disciplines, and career levels.

Submission Deadline. The deadline for session submissions is 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST, January 17, 2025. Sessions submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

The 2025 categories are listed below. Please choose the appropriate category that best describes the content of the abstract or session submission and the audience you wish to reach. This information will be utilized by the members of the Steering Committee to identify appropriate reviewers and session planning. Before making your selection, please review the entire list for the most appropriate category.

1. Cancer Biology and Etiology

   Submissions focusing on research that seeks to understand the biology of how cancer progresses and the origins of cancer in global populations, such as risk factors or biomarkers associated with developing cancer and outcomes.

   Examples

   • Cancers with regionally high incidence or distinct etiologies (e.g., esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in East Africa, nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Southern China)
   • Early-stage discovery for population-specific cancer biomarkers in low resource settings
   • Occupational or environmental risk factors for cancer
   • Mechanistic and epidemiologic investigations of cancers associated with chronic infections (e.g., HPV, helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr Virus HTLV-1/2, and liver flukes)
   • Exploration of genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to cancer susceptibility in different populations
   • Study of dietary and lifestyle factors influencing cancer risk in diverse global settings


2. Cancer Clinical Trials

   Submissions highlighting results of clinical trials that test ways to prevent, detect, treat, or manage cancer in global populations. These include creating generalizable evidence for cancer control by evaluating interventions in diverse populations, health systems, and geographic settings. They also include evaluating lower-cost, lower-intensity interventions in settings where standard approaches from high-income countries are not well established and accelerating progress for cancers that are rare in the United States but common in other parts of the world.

   Examples

   • Evaluation of generics, biosimilars, and agents with broad international regulatory approval applied in contextually relevant ways
   • Evaluation of optimization strategies (dose, interval, duration), and other de-escalation trials
   • Evidence generation that informs clinical decision making among patients, providers, health systems, communities, and policymakers in LMICs
   • Exploration of integrative approaches combining traditional and modern treatments to enhance cancer care in diverse settings


3. Cancer Health Disparities

   Submissions that explore the determinants of or addresses the differences in cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality, survivorship, burden, and/or response to treatment in racial/ethnic minorities and/or underserved populations. Submission may also examine the outcomes of interventions to address inequities at individual, community, national, and/or geographic levels.

   Examples

   • Investigating genetic or epigenetic variations that may contribute to inequities in risk/outcome of cancer among minority and/or underserved populations
   • Developing interventions that improve access to cancer control interventions across the care cascade (screening/diagnosis, referral/follow-up, treatment, survivorship) among disadvantaged population groups
   • Identifying social, behavioral, genetic/biological, and environmental factors contributing to cancer inequities in disadvantaged populations
   • Examining patient outcomes, cancer treatment delivery, and healthcare utilization among disadvantaged populations
   • Presentation of conceptual models of root causes of observed disparities with underlying theory of mechanisms that could be tested (or has been tested)
   • Developing or utilizing models to understand the relationships between multiple factors which have been associated with cancer inequities


4. Cancer Prevention, Screening, and Early Detection

   Submissions that explore interventions and strategies to reduce cancer exposure to cancer risk factors, improve access to cancer screening programs, and identification and testing of cancer markers, imaging, and other methods for early detection and/or diagnosis of cancer.

   Examples

   • Methods and models for risk assessment and stratification
   • Primary prevention strategies for infection-related cancers, such as HPV and HBV vaccination
   • Primary prevention strategies targeted to known environmental and behavioral cancer risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, diet, and physical inactivity.
   • Implementation of effective cancer screening programs (considerations made for overall test effectiveness, feasibility, context, linkage to diagnosis, access to treatment)


5. Cancer Program Evaluation & Implementation Science

   Submissions examining the impact of cancer control and population science on the health and health care of the population and fostering the development and examples of development and testing of strategies to enable sustained implementation of cancer control interventions. This category may also include research aimed to investigate effective strategies to disseminate and translate evidence into practice.

   Examples

   • Local adaptation of evidence-based practices
   • Testing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dissemination or implementation strategies
   • Scale-up and sustainability of implementation strategies to support evidenced-based cancer care across the continuum in resource constrained settings
   • Studies examining or examples of effective policy and program implementation
   • Studies testing methods and models for broad stakeholder engagement across health sectors to support bidirectional learning in evidence generation and translation.


6. Cancer Research Training

   Submissions highlighting programs that seek to support global cancer research training and strengthen institutional research capacity and build research environments to conduct locally relevant cancer research in LMICs.

   Examples

   • Implementation of training programs that utilize technology-enabled bi-directional learning models to exchange scientific knowledge
   • Implementation of training in competencies for cancer research, such as research design, methods, and analytical techniques tailored to the specific needs and contexts of LMICs
   • Strategies to improve cancer research capacity in LMICs aimed at fostering robust research environment
   • Establishment of training programs that promote the creation of global research networks
   • Evaluation of early career investigator training and mentorship programs in LMICs
   • Design and execution of DEIA-centered training programs that address barriers faced by underrepresented groups in cancer research.


7. Cancer Surveillance

   Submissions highlighting research or programs that seek to establish or strengthen cancer surveillance systems or workflows in LMICs. Submissions may also include original reports using data from population-based cancer registries and mortality surveillance to examine the cancer burden, including cancer incidence, mortality, and survival; and reports using data from cancer screening registries and population-based surveys of the prevalence of cancer risk factors.

   Examples

   • Research to develop or scale cancer surveillance infrastructure including cancer and cancer screening registries
   • Surveillance, epidemiology and end results reporting
   • Surveillance of cancer risk factors and co-morbidities
   • Epidemiological research leveraging data from population-based cancer registries


8. Supportive Care and Survivorship

   Submissions focusing on research or programs that work to understand and respond to the needs of people living with and affected by cancer to prevent, minimize, or manage adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. This includes work that is led and co-created by patients, caregivers, and the community, and focuses on the psychosocial and long-term impacts of a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

   Examples

   • Research into patient-centered and patient-reported outcomes
   • Financial toxicity related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation
   • Barriers to palliative and survivorship care
   • Sexual and reproductive issues post-cancer treatment
   • Psychosocial needs of people living with and affected by cancers
   • Interventions to support family members and caregivers
   • Interventions to strengthen peer support and primary care readiness to support people living with and affected by cancer
   • Integrative health (including complementary and alternative medicine) strategies to support survivorship


9. Technologies for Global Cancer Control

   Abstracts that fall under this category will include research or programs that seek to accelerate the development of innovative, effective, and deployable (scalable) technologies for global cancer control.

   Examples

   • Development and validation of affordable, point-of-care technologies designed for rural and resource-constrained settings
   • Portable imaging modalities for cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment monitoring (e.g., optical imaging, spectroscopy, and ultrasound)
   • Applications of artificial intelligence to preclinical and clinical imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes
   • Innovation and validation of resource-appropriate technologies that may aid standard treatment modalities (e.g., surgical tools, ablative treatments)
   • Development, validation, feasibility, and effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth), electronic health (eHealth), or digital health interventions suited for low-resource settings
   • Design of integrated systems for real-time monitoring and management of cancer patients in low-resource settings.

• October 2024: Online proposal submission opens
• January 17, 2025: Submission deadline. All abstract and session proposals must be submitted to the online portal..
• March 2025: Notification of proposal acceptance/rejection and abstract presentation type. Additional session-related information to be shared with accepted session organizers.
• March and April 2025
  • Registration: All accepted speakers and presenters, including session speakers and moderators and abstract presenters must register (free of charge) for the Symposium.
  • Presentations and speaker information: All speakers, including session speakers and moderators and oral abstract presenters must submit a speaker bio and headshot to Symposium organizers. Additional session-related information to be shared with accepted session leads.
  • All abstract poster presenters must submit their poster to Symposium organizers
• May 5-8, 2025: Annual Symposium for Global Cancer Research

For all questions regarding session and abstract proposals, please contact Linsey Eldridge: linsey.eldridge@nih.gov