Cancer Research Day 2026

Cancer Research Day is a seminar and networking event focused on cancer research in the Eastern Finland Collaboration area. It is organized by the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) Cancer Research Community, the Cancer Centre at the Kuopio University Hospital (KUH), and FICAN East.

The event is open to everyone interested in cancer research.

You are welcome to bring a poster presenting your research! Please inform us via the registration form if you are going to bring a poster. The maximum size for a poster is 115 cm (width) and 165 cm (height).

Registration is open until 12 November. Welcome!

Programme

Session I

9.00-9.05 Welcome and Opening of Session I, Chair Arto Mannermaa, Professor, UEF 

09.05-9.40 Cancer: Present and Future, 
Outi Kuittinen, Professor, UEF

9.40-10.20 Prostate Cancer: From Biology to Better Treatment, 
Kirsi Ketola, Professor, UEF, and Okko Kääriäinen, M.D., KUH Cancer Center 

10.20–11.00 Childhood Leukemia: From Molecular Insights to Treatment Response and Better Clinical Care, 
Merja Heinäniemi, Professor, UEF, and Stefan Becker, M.D., Pediatric Oncology, KUH

11.00-11.30 FICAN East, KUH Cancer Center and UEF Cancer RC: Multidisciplinary Collaboration to Strengthen Cancer Research and Care, 
Satu Tiainen, M.D., Director, FICAN East

11.30–12.15 Lunch (at own expense)

Session II

12.15-12.20 Opening of Session II, Chair Jaana Hartikainen, Research manager, UEF

12.20-13.00 CNS Tumors: Bridging Advanced Imaging and Neurosurgery, 
Alejandra Sierra Lopez, Professor, UEF, and Susanna Rantala, M.D., Neurosurgery, KUH NeuroCenter

13.00-13.40 Tumor Immunology and Real-World Immunotherapy: Research Meets Practice, 
Sanna Pasonen-Seppänen, Senior University Lecturer, UEF, and Aino Rönkä, M.D., KUH Cancer Center

13.40-14.00 Automating PD-L1 Analysis in Lung Cancer: Experience from Hospital Nova, 
Jouni Härkönen, Cell Biologist, Clinical Pathology, Hospital Nova

14.00-14.45 Posters and networking

Session III

14.45-14.50 Opening of Session III, Chair Outi Kuittinen, Professor, UEF

14.50–15.15 My Journey as a Clinician-Researcher: Advancing Breast Cancer Imaging and Patient Care, 
Amro Masarwah, M.D., KUH Clinical Radiology and Research Director, UEF

15.15-15.45 Biobanks: From Patient Samples to Research and Improved Care, 
Arto Mannermaa, Professor, UEF, Director, Biobank of Eastern Finland, and Tiina Jokela, Director, Biobank of Central Finland

15.45-16.00 Closing Remarks, Satu Tiainen, M.D., Director, FICAN East and Arto Mannermaa, Professor, UEF


For further information, please contact Maarit Sillanpää, email [email protected].