Explore the Agenda

8:30 am Check-In & Badge Collection

9:20 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

Elevating Preclinical Confidence with High‑Impact IO Modelling & Complex In Vitro 3D Systems

9:30 am Spotlighting Lessons Learned in Tumour Model Selection to Advance ADC Development

Director - Pharmacology, Adcendo ApS
  • Highlighting the pros and cons of CDX and PDX models
  • Discussing strategies to empower tumour model selection to better study underserved patient populations
  • Leveraging findings from the models to tackle ADC payload toxicity and dosing strategies for mice versus humans

10:00 am Developing & Leveraging Complex In Vitro 3D Models to De-Risk Preclinical Development

Research Associate, Roche
  • Understanding the rationale behind working with complex in vitro 3D models
  • Discussing best practice to culture/develop complex in vitro models that accurately recapitulate the patient context
  • Linking data from complex in vitro models with in vivo models and clinical data to uncover their translational relevance and enhance predictability power

10:30 am Morning Break & Speed Networking Session

As the tumour modelling community is reunited, this valuable session will ensure you get the chance to reconnect with peers and make brand new connections! This structured networking opportunity will pair you with fellow attendees for several 3-minute introductions, ensuring you have the opportunity to meet and network with your industry colleagues.

Probing the Translational Relevance of “Costly” Next-Generation Patient-Derived Models & Trusted In Vivo Models

11:45 am Breakout Roundtable Discussions

This session is your opportunity to share your most pressing challenges, and work as a group to come up with solutions that you can implement right away! Each topic area will have several small groups, and each group will have 30 minutes to discuss ways to overcome barriers in tumour model selection and preclinical oncology. Groups will then share their findings during the last 10 minutes with all attendees, giving you maximum exposure to new ideas!

Topics Include:

  1. Predictivity Power: Which Models Are Truly Translational Across Modalities?
  2. Cost vs Predictive Value: What’s the True ROI of Complex Tumour Models?
  3. Tumour Microenvironment Complexity: How Much is Enough for Each Modality?
  4. Benchmarking: Can We Standardise Tumour Model Quality & Validation?

12:30 pm Lunch Break

Assessing Robust & Cost-Effective Tumour Models to Empower Immunotherapy Studies

1:30 pm Optimising In Vivo Tumour Models for Translational Success: Exploring Strategies to Overcome Preclinical Oncology Modelling Limitations

Head of Immuno-Oncology, Orion Pharma
  • Evaluating in vivo systems for small molecules and immuno-oncology agents, and identifying factors that influence predictive accuracy
  • Addressing common pitfalls such as overinterpretation and variability in terminated studies to refine efficacy assessment
  • Implementing strategies to improve data relevance, including better understanding of tumour microenvironment and immune interactions

2:00 pm Modality-Specific Breakout Sessions

Take this opportunity to connect with peers working on similar tumour model modalities or

explore cross-disciplinary insights with those from different specialisms. These informal breakout

sessions are designed to help you soundboard challenges, share learnings, and build meaningful

connections. It’s also a great moment to reflect on the day’s discussions and strategise your next

steps. This session will take place in the conference room.

2:30 pm Afternoon Refreshments Break

Uncovering Model Selection Criteria Across Startups, Biotechs & Pharma & Probing Different Models Translational Relevance

3:00 pm Panel Discussion: Building a General Consensus on Model Selection Criteria Across Oncology Drug Development

Director, Head of Preclinical Pharmacology, Molecular Partners AG
Research Scientist, CataVax
Principal Research Scientist, Servier Symphogen
  • Understanding the different tumour models used in drug discovery and development across the field
  • Exploring the various questions and contexts of use for each main model type and how translatable and clinically relevant they truly are
  • How did you overcome hurdles encountered with your model when trying to better understand your drug/target?

3:45 pm Comparing & Contrasting Multiple Tumour Models to Dissect Their Translational Relevance

Chef De Projet, Gustave Roussy
  • Spotlighting the development and application of organoids and PDX models to study adaptive responses to targeted therapies and immunotherapies in prostate cancer
  • Demonstrating the translational relevance of patient-derived cell lines, CDX, PDX, PDOs and PDXOs and discussing their pros and cons
  • Using clinical data from Phase I and II trials to better understand mechanism of resistance and pathology to develop better therapeutic strategies with a focus on enhancing clinical relevance and predictability power of the models

4:15 pm Chair’s Closing Remarks